I've noticed when I play fingerstyle songs that have open notes in the bass, the notes seem to ring out, even when the notation says it shouldn't ring out. My question is if there is a certain technique to mute bass notes when playing a classical or fingerstyle guitar.
Steve-0
Normal muting technique applies. Either lift a fretting finger, mute with a fretting-hand finger, or touch the string with your picking hand. It takes some practice, but it's second nature after a while.
The great man himself, Andres Segovia, developed a technique where he used the thumb to mute a bass string after he'd played it by pressing the nail-side of the thumb up against the string he wanted to mute. It's not easy, by any stretch of the imagination.
Best,
A :-)
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As a matter of fact, that's exactly what I do. I didn't suggest it here since I wasn't sure if it was considered good technique or not. I arrived at it as a natural growth from using a floating thumb technique on the bass when I started plucking with my thumb. I'm not familiar with Segovia's technique, but I don't generally use the nail itself to mute. I use the skin, although I do use the skin right where the nail begins.
