What is palm muting?
Definition
Palm muting (written P.M. in tab) means resting the outer edge of your picking hand lightly on the strings, just in front of the bridge, while you pick. The notes still have pitch, but the sustain is cut short, giving the tight, percussive "chug" at the heart of metal rhythm guitar.
Why it matters
With high gain, every string rings on and turns into a wash of noise. Palm muting keeps your riffs tight and lets you switch between short chugs and big open accents.
Quick tips
- Too close to the neck and the note dies. On top of the bridge and nothing gets muted. The sweet spot is a few millimeters in front of the saddles.
- Keep the pressure the same on every hit.
- Lift slightly for open accents, then land back in the same spot.
The full lesson, with a tab exercise: palm muting and tight metal rhythm.