Extended VS. Curled Fingers AND Palm mute while chopping?

**jackmalonis** · Aug-09-2012, 10:01pm

Is it out of the ordinary, and possibly bad habit forming, if I curl my fingers when picking individual notes, but extend my fingers when strumming or chopping?

The reason I extend my fingers when chopping is that I like to "slap" my palm down on the upbeat when I chop, to add to the percussive feel; and when I curl my fingers while doing that, they get in the way.

... Which leads me to my next question!

Is it bad to palm mute as I've described when I chop? To clarify I don't use my palm alone to mute/muffle the cord but I think adding it gives a nice thunk.

Thanks guys!

**Mike Bunting** · Aug-09-2012, 10:07pm

Originally Posted by jackmalonis

Is it bad to palm mute as I've described when I chop? To clarify I don't use my palm alone to mute/muffle the cord but I think adding it gives a nice thunk.

Thanks guys!

If that's the only way you can do it then it's wrong. Have you ever seen Monroe, Grisman, Thile etc. mute with their palm? The answer is self evident. There will be people who do it but I suspect they'll agree when I say it shouldn't be the only way you can fake a chop. It's better to be able to do a real chop.

**jackmalonis** · Aug-09-2012, 10:12pm

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

If that's the only way you can do it then it's wrong. Have you ever seen Monroe, Grisman, Thile etc. mute with their palm? The answer is self evident. There will be people who do it but I suspect they'll agree when I say it shouldn't be the only way you can fake a chop. It's better to be able to do a real chop.

No I was saying that I do not JUST use my palm, but rather use it in conjugation with the "real" chop (applying pressure to the strings on the upbeat, muting with pinky etc.)

Sorry for the misunderstanding!

**Mike Bunting** · Aug-09-2012, 10:40pm

Actually, it's my error, you did say that it was not the only way that you chop. If it works for you then keep it up.

**Charlieshafer** · Aug-10-2012, 6:31am

Oh, heck, I use the palm mute all the time with open chords, as sometimes you want the lower voicing on chords. I'm always a proponent of perfect technique, but then again, if we're not perfect, and not striving to play Carnegie Hall, then, does it really matter?