Question on higher-gain soloing/scales

[Zach Trowbridge]

I have a question. I've started trying to work on my speed a little bit as far as solos and such go, and one thing I've noticed a lot is that I have a TOOOOOOOOOOOON of ringing notes. For example, say I was running a quick passage of the a minor pentatonic scale, from lowest to highest string, I almost always end up with the lower string still ringing out when I move on to the next string, and it sounds like crap. I've generally heard that you should try and mute the other strings when you move on, but I'm not sure what the proper technique is. Left-hand mute, or right hand? How about when employing string skipping? It seems a lot harder to mute with my right hand that way.

Any advice, pics, or vids would be appreciated.

[Andrew]

It depends on what I'm playing, but I use a combination of both left and right hand muting.

I noticed that when I fret a note almost anywhere on the neck, my finger is actually touching the string (but not fretting the note) directly above. For example, when I play a note on the G string, my finger makes incidental contact with the D string.

Also, the way I hold my left hand, my index finger happens to mute the strings below the note I'm fretting. So using the above example again, when I play a note on the G string, my index finger mutes the B and E strings.

Finally, I've spent years perfecting my technique for muting strings with my right hand. I actually use my wrist to mute the low strings while my outstretched fingers mute the high strings. I don't even realize I'm doing it until I am forced to examine my technique (as I did today).

[Erik]

I'm with Andrew...I never really noticed what I do until now. If I'm trying to pick every single note, I tend to mute with my right (picking) hand. During legato phrasing, I tend to mute with my left hand...weird. I do a lot of combinations of the two in my soloing...and noticed using both techniques...now you've got me thinking about it and I'm sure it'll botch my playing at the next gig!!! :(

[FrankiePRS]

I refuse to think about it. But I mute with my right hand. But I don't think about it, and you can't make me.

[Zach Trowbridge]

I refuse to think about it. But I mute with my right hand. But I don't think about it, and you can't make me.
Damn you! Think about it right now!