Editing Palm mute (section)

{{Short description|Muting technique for guitar}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Palm mute by punkettaro.gif|thumb|A demonstration of a guitarist palm muting]]
[[File:Palm muting (audio).ogg|thumb|right|Guitar phrase without and with palm mute]]

The '''palm mute''' is a technique for [[guitar]] and [[bass guitar]] known for its muted sound. It is performed by placing the side of the picking hand across the guitar's strings, close to the bridge, while picking. The name is a [[misnomer]] as the muting is not performed using the player's palm.<ref>
{{cite web |
first= Dan|
last= Cross|title=Guitar Lesson 10 - Palm Mute|
url= http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa062401b.htm|
access-date= 2012-01-30|
publisher= About.com }}
</ref>

Palm muting is a standard technique used by both classical and [[electric guitar]]ists. It is widely used in [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and [[rock music]] but it is often found in any style of music that features electric guitars with [[distortion (music)|distortion]]. It is responsible for the characteristic "chugging" and "crunch" sound of distorted guitar music. Palm muting can also be used in conjunction with a [[wah pedal]] to produce the distinctive scratching sound often heard in [[disco]] music.

Palm muting is also used by electric bassists in order to obtain a warm, "thumpy" tone which is sometimes similar to that of a finger-picked [[double bass]] (as noted above). The strings may be plucked with the thumb or with a pick, which gives a more percussive tone.