Noise when palm blocking

Travis Bubenik · From: Marfa, Texas

Hope this question makes sense and isn't terribly stupid - but here's something I've been struggling with a lot lately that I wonder if others deal with/have some advice on:

Whenever I'm practicing unplugged - or at low amp volume - I feel like I'm making good progress on palm blocking better. Good rhythm, notes ringing out clearly and separately from one another, just overall feels good.

But then when I turn my amp up to what you might consider "live" volume - not BLARING - but you know, not bedroom quiet - I just get a lot of "thumping" sound out of the amp from my palm edge hitting the strings.

Is this mostly a technique problem - bouncing the hand around too much, picking too aggressively, etc. - or maybe a hand placement problem (I tend to lay it right over the pickup) - or a tone issue perhaps (too much bass??) I don't think my pickup is totally microphonic - can't hear myself through the amp when I yell into it, etc.

I guess it's probably all of the above, but just curious to hear any tips/tricks/advice on this sorta thing. Thanks y'all.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

When I get a thumping sound from the amp it's because I am pushing the 10 string down onto the pickup, and it goes "thunk" when the string touches the magnet

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

It sounds more like the strings hitting the pickup, so the pickup is too close to the strings. Try doing a quick pat on the strings right over the pickup and see if you get the same thump. Pickup should be about the thickness of 2 quarters (coions) from the strings.

If it's not that, get in touch with me, I teach and advise folks on palm blocking. I'm personally now a hybrid palm+pick blocker.

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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The thumping noise is from your hand jumping up and down and pushing the lower strings towards the pickup. (The strings actually hitting the pickup normally makes more of a clicking or knocking noise.)

Yes, this is a technique problem, pure and simple. Your hand should NOT be jumping up and down when you play; your palm should barely move, and the blocking done with the edge of your hand should require only a slight movement. In fact, blocking is really more like "unblocking" as you play. You rest the edge of your hand very lightly on the strings, normally, and you only lift the edge of your hand when you want those lower strings to sound. Most all of the movement should be from your fingers alone when you're picking. And when you are doing blocking movements on the higher strings, it's usually done with the edge (or knuckle) of your little finger. But those block/unblocking movements usually do not produce a thumping noise because the mass of the fine strings is so much less.

Hope this helps!

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Travis Bubenik · From: Marfa, Texas

Yea Donny what you’re saying sounds about what I was thinking. It is indeed mostly on the bass strings - aha! I’ll try to keep that right hand calmer. I’ve heard the “unblocking” concept before and it’s spot on but man sometimes hard to keep in mind in the moment huh. Okay thanks!!

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

A bouncing hand leads to what I refer to as choppy playing. Instead of nice smooth transitions between notes, it can sound more like an Uzi firing off the notes (although that effect can be what is called for at times). I say spend your time practicing the "unblocking" technique only until you are not thinking about how to block. Blocking should be an automatic response.
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Andrew Goulet · Posted 11 Aug 2023 5:34 am

Work on the palm technique, for sure, but don't hesitate to also work on pick and knuckle blocking. Personally, I find myself palm blocking at slower tempos and pick/knuckle blocking for faster tunes. You may find a hybrid method that feels more natural with your movements.
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Dale Rottacker · From: Walla Walla Washington, USA

Not being around other Steel Players starting out, I was left to my own interpretation of how Palm Blocking was accomplished and my interpretation looked like I was having severe exaggerated tremors. The closer you can keep your hand to the strings the less you'll look like I did back when. I think you'll also find how little you really have to make contact with the strings you want to block to block them.

The thumping you're hearing I've experienced as well, but not from palm blocking so much as finding that I had the pickup set to close to the strings and taking very little pressure on the strings, even just resting the hand to get that thumping sound, and its usually happening on the lower strings where the tension is less than say on the 3rd string.
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Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Just keep blocking as you are. Over time your hand will become more relaxed and move up and down less distance as your muscle memory progresses. The problem you are having will slowly fade away!

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