Palm muting is a standard guitar technique where the edge of the picking hand lightly rests on the strings near the bridge while playing, producing a muted, percussive tone. It became a defining sound in heavy metal and hardcore punk for its rhythmic chugging, and is also common in rock, surf and funk playing. Online, short palm mute clips are shared as isolated effects so editors can borrow that choked attack without recording a full guitar part, using it for emphasis, transitions and rhythm in videos and memes.