Cleaning up riffage?

[espm1000]

I've been playing for a few years and had to take an absence from playing due to personal issues, pain, and a few more reasons. I am just now getting back, but still am struggling to keep parts like this clean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------7h6---10--10---9---9---9---------7p6---10--10-9--12--12-------------
0-000-0-----0---0----0---0---0---0-000-0-----0---0---0--0--0----------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------9--9---7-7--7---------------
--------10h9---12-12--10--10---10---------10p9------------------------------
8-888-8------8---8---8---8---8----7-777-7-----7---7--7--7-7-----------------

I try palm muting, muting with my figners, and what not, but no matter how much I practice I can't clean it up nearly as good as I want to! Any suggestions?

 

[BlackMetalWhiteGuy]

By "keeping it clean," do you mean muting the zeros after you're done playing them, or am I misunderstanding the question?

 

[espm1000]

Yea, just eliminating excess slop.

 

[BlackMetalWhiteGuy]

Have you tried muting them with your thumb?