When playing power cords with the root on the 5th string i have a hard time damping the low E string while playing. Any suggestions?

I use my thumb for that and for open chords that dont use the e string.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Fret the fifth string a little higher than needed so that your index finger touches the low E from the side.

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Tim

+1 on the whole pointer finger muting it out. That's the easiest way I know of.

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Keep rockin'

+2

Yep, I'd agree with that.

BTW, a Power Cord is what you plug your amp in with. Were taling about Power Chords, right?

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+1, s'what i do.

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riley

As stated the index finger takes care of that, mine just touches the low E on the side of the string. Just practice with a progression that uses just root 5 chords and you should get it down pretty fast. To be honest this is one of those things that I dont even think about which comes with practice.

Another thumb user here!

CC

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You change your tactics on the fly as your position on the neck changes. Whatever it takes to mute the stray notes is what you do. You can use left hand thumbs & fingers, right hand digits, right hand palm mutes, whatever it takes. You can't always count on your left thumb being available. Sometimes the rotation of your hand makes thumb muting impossible and sometimes your thumb won't even reach anyway even if the rotation is appropriate for it. For example I usually play a lot of triads on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings and sometimes I'll knock the open 5th string into motion by accident and there's no way my thumb will reach that without compromising my fretting. Or worse, actually fretting the 6th string with the thumb during the attempt to mute the 5th. You learn to do whatever it takes. Practice, practice, practice.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

How can you possibly use your thumb to mute the low e string when your playing power chords?? My thumbs nice and firm behind the fretbord.

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riley

thumb user as well riley, as you play more you will use your thumb, it just happens when your guitar playing matures a bit, it takes some work to get it right but you will.

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