This is a nice way to work on fretting-hand muting. You crank the amp to Tufnellian proportions and play an Ab major scale. Only difference being is that, with the picking-hand, you strum all six strings in a Townsendian fashion. Hammer it as hard as you can. You can windmill if you like. If your fretting-hand muting is good, then you’ll only hear an ascending Ab Major scale. But most of you will hear a yearning Ab scale warring against those petulant open strings, crying out for a bitonal Supernanny to come and whip you into shape.

This exercise is a really good one to demonstrate to a parent when they ask, ‘so, how’s the music going?’.

‘Why, have a listen to this, Mater…’