What you’ll learn
- Palm-mute without choking the note.
- Create accents.
- Keep sixteenth notes steady.
Before you practice
Rest the edge of your picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge. Moving too far from the bridge muffles the notes excessively.
Accents change the groove even when you play the same note repeatedly. Practice slowly and emphasize the contrast between strong and weak beats.
Keep the picking motion small and relaxed in fast passages. Clear subdivisions matter more than force.
Lesson exercise
- Play eight palm-muted eighth notes on E5.
- Accent beats 1 and 3, then 2 and 4.
- Alternate two muted bars with two open bars.