String Dampeners

This topic has 20 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by ShadyDave.

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- January 1, 2010 at 11:00 pm
TheAngusBurger
Member

Wasn’t quite sure where to put this, it would fit equally well under gear I suppose. Just curious about everybody’s view on using string dampeners? (IE tying cloth around the neck or using a hairband to mute strings) I’ve started using one a bit, getting into 7 and 8 finger tapping, I find it helps a lot to clean things up.

However, I can’t help but feel I’m cheating a little, but that said, if the tools are at my disposal, why shouldn’t I use them?

Opinions? This seems to be quite a touchy subject.

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- February 8, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Mosjem
Member

@JMinoia 10411 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GALsQRi24hw

This one is for Herman Li……No dampener needed and he still plays some nasty licks ! 😀

He’s a cheat!!! He was using his middle finger on his right hand to pick notes instead of using just the pick.:D:D Those were some tasty licks……:cool::cool:
- February 8, 2010 at 8:30 pm
JMinoia
Member

@Mosjem 10412 wrote:

He’s a cheat!!! He was using his middle finger on his right hand to pick notes instead of using just the pick.:D:D Those were some tasty licks……:cool::cool:

lol! 😀 Right right, I almost forgot !
- February 9, 2010 at 10:40 am
Mandz
Member

I might mark someone down for sloppy technique (I am often guilty of sloppy playing) but “cheating”? Ludicrous.

I’ve watched Dragonforce live 3 times and Herman Li is massively overrated. He’s not any better on his Youtube videos. When playing live he’s a good entertainer. I very much enjoyed their high-energy performances (even with their out-of-time playing, wrong notes everywhere and out-of-tune bends and vibrato).

As a musician though, he’s not in a position to pass judgment upon anyone. Incredibly sloppy player who would sound much cleaner/better if he used a dampener. Sam Totman is cleaner, but still nothing to write home about.
- April 28, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Richard Lundmark
Member

IMO, string-dampeners are just a tool. Like a Capo sometimes is needed to be able to physically play a piece that would otherwise be impossible (and thus limit your creative process in the process), and string-mute will open possibilities for two-handed playing otherwise impossible. When I was younger I did a lot of 8-finger playing (being in my teens when Jeniffer Batten hit the scene with her rendition of Bumblebee, which I practiced like a madman until I nailed, but even then I used a mute to minimize the risk of any unwanted noise in higher gain settings). Later on, I took 8-finger tapping up, for more chordal work-stuff ( like int his tutorial https://www.infiniteguitar.com/guitar-lesson-tutorial.php?tutorial=145 ) I hardly ever do this stuff anymore, but do tap a LOT, with my more pentatonic-based tapping style. However, I have worked a lot on my muting technique, since my style playing requires me to move seamlessly between tapping, regular playing and open strings, so a string mute would totally cripple me. But cheating now? If it suits your style then use it!
- April 29, 2010 at 9:38 pm
ShadyDave
Member

I think perhaps that those individuals who refer to the use of a Dampener as cheating are referring to the use of one whilst playing lines that you should be able to mute with perfectly normal palm/fretting hand muting but can’t for whatever reason….using them to compensate for bad technique does equate to cheating in my book.

Using them whilst performing 8 finger tapping, or to get a super-clean take whilst recording, or to keep a phrase clean when you simply couldn’t physically mute it isn’t cheating – it’s merely acting as another piece of musical equipment in exactly the same way as an amp, or noise gate, or pick…

What I do find offensive is that some people choose colours which clash violently with the exact shade of their guitar….:)