That *popping* sound on acoustic guitar

Think like this...(the sound I'm spealking of is most evident at the very beginning of the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCOBunz0ZVE

I also hear it a lot when listening to raggae...it's funky and poppy, almost like the strings are being muted(?). I was wondering if it was strings, style - personal or picking, or my untrained ear hearing something too common to worry about...

I'm a long time music fan, but am only at the most begginer stages (to be honest, I haven't even decided on the best begginers name/model - advice there is welcomed as well - I've merely being studying theory). I truly hope I'm describing the sound I'm speaking of properly.

Or, should I just pick up a frickin' guitar and shut my word hole?

That popping sound is most likely the bass. That, or I'm not hearing what you are.

Thanks,
I thought that might happen, I should have used another word for it...it's a sound that seems to me to have no resonance whatsoever, but it's higher in tone than a bass...I think...I could be wrong. I'm wrong. This is all a big mistake really...I should just stick with playing the fool, not the guitar...

:)

yeah it is the muting of the strings your hearing. it is to give the guitar a more percussive sound to add the the songs percussive rhythm. so if your playing by yourself it give the very slight effect that there is percussive interments counting the rhythm. bad habit to get into no saying you shouldn't do it just know when you are. when you do it automatically it sticks I should know

I just thought it was the slap bass

you can only really hear it in the very very beginning when it is only the guitar