Pop in C — muted strums

Level 1 pop

The same C-G-Am-Em grid played with palm muting: the edge of the palm rests permanently on the strings, right in front of the bridge, while the pick keeps strumming normally. The resulting sound is short and muted rather than ringing out — a texture often used to mark a quieter verse before a chorus that lets the same chords ring out fully.

Tips

Place the palm before strumming, not at the same time: a palm that arrives late lets the start of each chord ring before muting it.
Shift the palm slightly if the sound stays too clear or becomes inaudible: the spot that mutes just the right amount is narrow and found by trial, not a fixed position.
Alternate a few muted bars with a few fully-ringing bars on the same grid: it's this contrast, not the isolated technique, that makes it useful in a real situation.

Understanding this type of exercise

C-G-Am-Em with muted strums

The pop loop played with the palm resting on the strings near the bridge: each chord sounds short and percussive instead of ringing. Palm pressure controls the note length; keep it resting continuously. It's a verse sound, to contrast with a chorus on open strings.

Palm mute → · Rhythm sheets