Hey, Ed. Welcome to GT!

Originally Posted by: edfreed1

Right now I am in the beginner lessons, just learning how to move between the 5 power chords. I have some questions on muting and am not sure if this is the place to address this.

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This is fine place to ask questions. You can also ask the instructor directly in their instructor forum at the bottom of the forum home page. For example, Lisa's forum is here:

https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/threads.php?f=46

Originally Posted by: edfreed1

When playing melodies and moving from string 1 towards string 6, my ring finger if kept close to the pick and a little low mutes just fine, almost automatic. The problem I have is when moving from string 6 towards string 1, I have no idea how to mute.

Great question. You can use your picking hand palm to lightly mute any lower strings. You can use your fretting hand fingers to lightly touch or graze lower strings also.

More generally, when we start learning guitar the first struggle is to make notes & chords sound clearly & cleanly. After we can do that, then we want to clean up our playing with muting!

Essentially, you want to use both hands to mute any and all strings that your do NOT want to make sound. I cover a basic intro to right hand muting in this lesson:

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=12112&s_id=359

And a basic intro to left hand muting here:

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=12171&s_id=358

[quote=edfreed1]

Second question is on chords. When and how do you mute on chords? Do you just let the chord ring as long as you play it? Do you mute when changing chords? What is the easiest way to mute chords?

This depends on the musical effect you are after. Sometimes you want chords to ring, other times you want to mute them. But in general, you use the picking hand palm to lightly rest against the strings by the bridge to mute them when you want that to happen. And you use the fretting hand fingers to mute the strings also.

Quite often it helps to lift your fingers off of the strings jsut enough so they stop sounding the note. But still maintain contact with the string so it doesn't make unwanted sound.

Hope this helps! If you have more questions, please ask. Best of success!