Phase 1 · Day 1. The muting test

Exercise 2. Muting

The test. Fret C on the G string, 5th fret. Pick it once. Let it ring four beats. Listen. Anything besides that C is a fail.

Two fixes, both at once

1. Picking hand. Heel of the palm rests on the low E and A strings, right at the bridge saddles. Not pressing. Touching.
2. Fretting hand. The index finger lies flat across the thinner strings (D, B, e), touching them, not pressing. The tip frets the note; the rest of the finger silences the neighbours.

Play the C. Four beats. Stop it with the palm. Ten times. Then D string 5th fret (G), ten. Then B string 5th fret (E), ten.

Then a four-note line

Each note two beats. Nothing bleeds. Ten times.