You’re going to learn another important nuance that is found in all types of music. I call it the…
Muting Technique
It allows you to cut off the note that you have played so you can play notes short and staccato.
Watch the video below to see how it’s done!
Muting Technique – Basic Left Hand Oud Technique
Difficulty: Easy
Why?
The ability to mute the notes you’re playing is important because it gives your playing some variety. Sometimes certain melodies sound nicer when the notes are short and crisp, or maybe the composer intended to make certain notes short. The Western musical term for these short notes is “staccato”. Making notes staccato adds suspense or energy to passages. It also helps emphasize certain notes in passages making the phrase more interesting.
How?
While plucking any note on the fingerboard, quickly lift off your finger from the fingerboard without allowing your finger to leave the string. That means you just release the pressure of your finger on the fingerboard enough to stop the sound. The finger that presses the string never stops touching the string, it just stops it from vibrating.
If you want to mute an open string, then you simply play an open string and rest any finger or all three of your fingers on the strings over the fingerboard to mute the string.
The basic order of motions are as follows:
1. Hold finger down to play note and pluck.
2. Release the tension in your finger resting the finger on the string to stop the note.
Tips for success:
If you are struggling, try this: First pretend you are going to play a note on the fingerboard. Instead of pressing your finger down, just rest your finger on the string over the position of the note you’re playing and pluck the string. It should not make a sound, except for a muted sound. Now press your finger down and play the note as normal. Then slowly pull off your finger and rest it on string to muted position. Repeat this process until you can do it faster and faster.
What Next?
Keep practicing this muting technique until you can play it faster and faster. It will come in handy.
