[mclina]

They say there's no such thing as a stupid question, but I'm not so sure.

I am an oldish guy who took up guitar a month ago. The best time for me to play is at night when my kids are in bed, but they complain that I am playing too loud (yes, I see the irony in that).

Is there a way to mute an acoustic guitar? I didn't want to start stuffing things willy nilly into the sound hole without checking first.

And I'll take any other advice you all want to throw my way. So far, I have been borrowing books from the library and teaching myself how to play, and I think I am doing fairly well.

Thanks

[dadfad]

First of all, welcome to GTU. And lots of pretty good players have started later in life. Yes, rags or towels inside will help to a degree (as will merely covering the sound-hole will help slightly). You CAN actually put something to absorb vibration (and thus sound-transference) between the strings and saddle (like a thin strip of thick paper, strip of matchbook-cover, etc) but I'd try simply stuffing the box first.

[diebrucke]

You've provided the answer yourself - muting, or as it is better known palm muting. Then again it's probably not an ideal method for a beginner I must admit...I'd go with the towels. None the less, it's a great technique to master. Necessity, and fear of being beaten up by neighbours and kids, is the mother of invention. When you do learn a bit more control, you can play just by using a very light touch (if you're playing with fingers and not a pick that is) and muting ie. placing the palm of your hand onto the strings near the bridge, and only allowing the strings to ring a little bit.

[mclina]

Thanks for the info guys. That's kind of what I thought. I have been playing with a pick, and until recently, I was mostly playing notes, scales, and simple tunes (Red river valley, etc.) and it's easy to keep quiet. Lately I have been working on strumming patterns (still with a pick) and it gets a little louder. I've tried strumming without a pick, but I'm not as good at it yet.

The other problem with the kids is that the only song I have learned all the way through is "Sloop John B.", and they hate it. I must have sang it 10 times last night until they begged me to stop.

Eventually, I will just move my practicing out to the yard, if it ever stops raining!!!

Thanks again.

[jeffnvon]

I've made a hash of this. I can play guitar but can't use a computer.

My suggestion for quiet practicing is to buy a semi acoustic. I have an Ibanez AM73 next to my sofa and quietly play even when everyone in the room is watching TV. Even a cheap electric guitar can save you a lot of grief when practicing new song, chords etc.

This post has been edited by jeffnvon: 28 May 2005 - 04:14 AM

[jeffnvon]

Thanks again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

This post has been edited by jeffnvon: 28 May 2005 - 04:18 AM

[jeffnvon]

Palm muting is an essential part of playing but I wouldn't recommend getting into the habit of palm muting every time you practice.

This post has been edited by jeffnvon: 28 May 2005 - 04:17 AM

[grzegorz_panek]

There's been a couple of questions likethat lately.

When I come to think of it, I practice a lot in the evenings these days, like between 9 or 10 and 12 pm.

I don't stuff the soundhole with anything. I just don't take the dreadnought, it's for the day. Instead I take a classical and actually control the volume by picking lightly.

If a classical is still to loud, I take an unplugged solid body electric.


There's a lot you can do with your fingers, and palm muting helps too. Try that, and don't use big boxes in the evening.

[diebrucke]

Palm muting is an essential part of playing but I wouldn't recommend getting into the habit of palm muting every time you practice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll be honest here .... I admit there's something deceptive in my reply. Palm muting is quite difficult for a beginner to master, but when they get the hang of it, it opens up all kinds of other possibilities that the same old up/down up/down type of strumming that is the same the world over doesn't. Ditto fingerpicking v. using a pick. Not saying one is better than the other, they just take you in different directions creatively.

[jeffnvon]

I totally agree.
What I was trying to say is not get into the habit of palm muting all of the time.
I still think that a semi or solid body is the best solution for late night practice where noise is a problem.

[-=FreeBird=-]

Put some blue painters masking tape over your sound hole, the more layers the more muffled...