Palm muting is a technique where you rest the side of your picking hand lightly near the bridge to damp the ringing as you play. It produces a short, thick, muffled sound.
The basic idea
The position and the pressure of your hand change how much the note sustains. The basic idea is not to stop the note completely but to leave enough ring for the pitch to be heard.
Using it in performance and programming
Use it for chugging guitar and bass parts, locking with the kick for a tight rhythm. When programming, choose palm-muted samples or articulations.
Difference from related terms
Palm muting is a specific technique for damping the strings. Muting is a broader idea of silencing or attenuating sound.
Use it where you want to tighten the rhythm, and it also creates contrast with unmuted notes.
