Muting C Chord

[albert_d]

I sometimes use my pinky and lay it across the strings to mute them. Other times I can mute by just relaxing the pressure on my fretting hand. One can also palm mute with your strumming hand. All just take a little practice and will eventually come naturally once you build the muscle memory.

[JohnWP]

Don’t have any tips except to say I had issues with the c cord as well, but now after a few months of playing I am finally comfortable with it and have moved onto trying to perfect the f cord.. Good luck though!

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

Thank you, I appreciate it. Just an act of patience

[Moose408]

I struggled with learning the c chord. Some things to try.

– Make sure your knuckles are parallel to the fretboard. This is typically done by moving your elbow closer to your body.

– slide your thumb lower on the back of the neck so your fingers rotate more around the fretboard. Makes it easier to have just the tips of your fingers on the strings.

– slow down. Fret your C chord and then play each string individually. Make small finger adjustments until no stings are muted. Do a final strum then take your fingers off and repeat. Do this for 5 mins every day for a month or more (it took me 7 weeks of this daily practice to really get the C chord)

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

Thank you appreciate it!

[Beatrice]

this video could help some of your issues especially around the 6.35 mark… https://youtu.be/7nHdOebrma8

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Beatrice.

[petelanger]

Thanks for posting that video. Just watched it and I think it helped me a lot, especially the pressing too hard with your fretting hand thing!

[Beatrice]

you’re welcome. Some good nuggets in his videos

[TerriG]

C chord always gives me grief (and the F chord too). I did learn after time that I was doing two things wrong. First, if you’re muting the strings it might mean you’re not pressing down hard enough to get a clear note. I’m guilty of this. Second, I’ve learn to use my thumb on the back of the neck for better finger leverage. I took notice that my fingers were slightly touching the next string; thus, muting them. The thumb leverage helped making the fingers more perpendicular to the strings. I don’t know if this will help you; but, you can definitely learn from my mistakes. Good luck!

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

Thank you I appreciate all advice

[petelanger]

I mute frequently on the C but not as much as I used to. What helped me was making sure to get my hand well underneath the neck making it easier for my fingers to come at the strings perpendicular.

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

Thank you it is much appreciated! I am getting better everyday with it! Still muting but coming

[Loraine]

@michaelsbicycles1gmail-com You are not alone with this. In fact, I probably see this comment more than any other basic chord. I had the same problem when I was newer.

You’ve received some great feedback. The only thing I’ll add that I did was to push my index finger up (even infringing upon the low E – 6th string. You’ll mute the low E, but that’s okay, because that is not a string that you play with the C chord. By pushing the index finger up, your index won’t hang over the string and mute the d, and it allows your middle finger a little wiggle room for fretting the D string.

[Loraine]

Photos

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

Thank you so much for the advice I will definitely try that

[Knowtown]

I am new around here (just joined today) and I only want to say that I struggle with C and F both, so I think we are both normal. Sounds like these finger positions are challenging for us who are just starting out. It was actually my attempts to find good practice tips, techniques and ideas for these two challenging chords that led me here. So thank you for asking this great question and letting me eavesdrop on the great advice in here!

I am slowly getting better at playing it without muting and am able to hear each note, now I just need to learn how to transition in and out of the chord. Slow and steady wins the race.

[michaelsbicycles1gmail-com]

You can eavesdrop anytime! We are all learning together, this is so much fun!

[Paul_B]

2 things I am working on right now are – Not allowing the palm of my hand touch the neck, just my thumb. Sitting up straight, this is hard for me because i have always played hunched over my guitar. My back feels much better, it keeps my wrist straighter and it seems like I am getting cleaner notes and chords.

[Beatrice]

another video with useful info… visuals sometimes work better

https://youtu.be/g_VshIPV2SU