Yes...I finally learned pinch harmonics

Congrats!

Now you can teach me! :D

man, I don't even know what a harmonic is.

I'm still not even sure what pinch harmonics are.....someone suggested listening to "Legs" by ZZ Top, said that was a good example.....is he right? And how do you do pinch harmonics?

:D :D :D

Vic

Pinched Harmonics are that sweet high pitched squeel you here on heavy metal solos (the ones where you wonder how the hell they do it).Not that hard to do but takes years to master.Its basically hitting the string with the plectrum and the edge of your thumb almost simultaneously.

Listen to lots of Zakk Wylde stuff, and you will hear many many pinched harmonics (also known as 'squealies'). Thats great that you learned them Andrew =). Now you can expriment doing them in different places with your right hand (produces different pitches).

I'm still not even sure what pinch harmonics are.....someone suggested listening to "Legs" by ZZ Top, said that was a good example.....is he right? And how do you do pinch harmonics?Wow, good timing, Vic. The March issue of Guitar One has Billy F. Gibbons on the cover, and a lesson inside (and on the included CD) by Billy. He does discuss pinch harmonics briefly.
From there, it's practice, practice, practice. "Grab that slab, plug it in, and tear it up."
"A'how, how, how to play the blues." 8)

squealies- ha I like that.

I'm sure I have heard pinch harmonics before with vibrato added. How is this done, is it with the tremelo arm because I was under the impression that no note was fretted when playing a harmonic?

As far as I know pinched harmonics are "produced" by fretting any note and then plugging the string with your pick but immediately lightly toching it again with a part of your strumming hand (eg thumb).
I think you can create this harmonics with every fretted note on the guitar.
The principle of harmonics remains always the same. divide any lenght of a string by lightly touching it so only a specific range of frequencies stays hearable.

And yeah you can add vibrato or bends, that'll make for some crazy sounds :lol:

...one day I'm getting them right... :roll:

I was under the impression that no note was fretted when playing a harmonic?

Those are touch harmonics, Martin - pinch harmonics are done with the right (picking) hand, normally on fretted notes, and of course vibrato is a great addition to the sound. Here's a good article with clips http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/harmonics/pinch/index.php on the basics.

You'll find pinch harmonics are commonly spoken of done on downstrokes; I don't know who else does it, but I use them on upstrokes a lot, using the flesh of my forefinger to 'pinch' - 'brush' would be more descriptive - the string lightly. Delicious effect - takes practice but feels and sounds wonderful 8)

Something not everyone mentions: it's actually easier to get these sounding right at least initially with plenty of gain - a nice thick sound works easiest, which is why these are so good on a Les Paul - but you'll find lovely subtle clean-ish effects are possible once you get into it. Think Tele or Strat neck pickup on a Blues Jnr ... these sound especially tasty on the upstrokes I mentioned.

aha - so that's what they're called...
Have been practicing some lately too. Can make them, but not yet really use them in playing - practice more, practice more!! I've found out that straightening the index finger a little on downstrokes works pretty well. Then it is just about finding out where on the strings they sound (good).

PVTele: that is a great technique - have to angle the hand so that the front (well, closest to the headstock) of the pick hits the string first and then the index finger - dunno if that's what you mean, but it seems to work for me - thanks

Lars

PVTele: that is a great technique - have to angle the hand so that the front (well, closest to the headstock) of the pick hits the string first and then the index finger - dunno if that's what you mean, but it seems to work for me - thanks

Lars

Absolutely, Lars, that's exactly what I meant! 8) Great that it's working for you - you'll find it comes very easy in a while, fits right into the flow of the solo - I just have to watch I don't overdo it & so spoil the effect!

Mike

Kind of off topic but I was inspired to learn by watching this video

http://www.youtube.com/w/Dimebag-Squealing-Lesson?v=oFnoOm7q1jg&search=dimebag

I'ts dimebags way of getting those "squealies" and it's sweet. My electric guitar cable is broken so I couldn't learn those so instead I learned the pinch harmonics.

Quote:
PVTele: that is a great technique - have to angle the hand so that the front (well, closest to the headstock) of the pick hits the string first and then the index finger - dunno if that's what you mean, but it seems to work for me - thanks

Lars

I think thats a slightly different tehnique to pinched harmonics.With that technique you can move your picking hand up and down the fret board in relation to your fretting hand to acheive a different harmonic.

I may be wrong!