canuckguitarist Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 So, heres the story... I can now, after reading a couple tutorials on the net hit harmonics pretty consistently on only a couple places on the neck. My question is...is there some tip/trick to being able to hit them all over the neck? It sucks wanting to put a harmonic in a song and then having to build the entire song around this 5th fret G-string harmonic(IMO the easiest one). Simply put... Do I just need to practice more or am I missing a step? Thanks, Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Bell Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Depends on the type of harmonics. I think that you are talking about natural harmonics, if so there are only a few places on the neck where they will sound clearly (known as harmonic nodes) - the 12th fret, 7th, 5th, 4th, 3.2, 2.8, 2.3, etc. The closer you get towards the bridge the harder they will get, generally they are easier on the thicker strings too. If you use you bridge humbucker with plenty of gain they should all sound clearly. Another type of harmonics which you will hear a lot are pinch harmonics (listen to some Dimebag or Zak Wylde riffs). Getting a consistent sound here is harder and more complicated as notes are generally fretted down moving the nodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Yup and it used to get me trying to play some of Jeff Becks work till I figured out my own techique for playing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 I would really recommend you listen to a lot of Roy Buchanan for the 'pincher' technique. You really gotta hold the pick so that there's almost NO pick showing, it's hard to explain, it's really pick and flesh in the right proportions...but you can really get pretty much any note to squeal if you get the right-hand pick-holding technique down... And Roy was 'DA MASTAH' ad dat... Zakk would have been bowing at da mastahs' feets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 practice....you'll get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roli Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Since I don't use any picks, I used to finger a note then I put the index finger of my picking hand onto the place that is 1/2 of the fingered fret to bridge distance, then I pick the string with my thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted October 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 I would really recommend you listen to a lot of Roy Buchanan for the 'pincher' technique. You really gotta hold the pick so that there's almost NO pick showing, it's hard to explain, it's really pick and flesh in the right proportions...but you can really get pretty much any note to squeal if you get the right-hand pick-holding technique down... And Roy was 'DA MASTAH' ad dat... Zakk would have been bowing at da mastahs' feets.. yup, thats what I do. Only its so hard to get harmonics to sound any where but the 3rd string G (and a couple of other places). Oh well, I'll take wes' advice and just practice more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedy McFeely Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 yep, practice. i am pretty good at harmonics now becuase of practice. besides it's the only way to find them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakk Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Check out the top left corner on this side. It´s the homepage of Mathias IA Eklundh, plays guitar in Freak Kitchen... Freak Guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Check out the top left corner on this side. It´s the homepage of Mathias IA Eklundh, plays guitar in Freak Kitchen... Freak Guitar hey cool link. Now...I've got my definitions all confused. These are natural harmonics??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakk Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Yes, they are natural harmonics. Not pinched (I think that's the word) harmonics like the ones Zakk does. When Zakk plays he uses both the pick and his thumb. Hold the pick so that only the tip of it shows and "hit" the string with the edge of the pick and your thumb. Natural harmonics is what Zakk plays in Stillborn, Low E 2:nd fret (F#) Touch the string without pressing it down... Some tones are VERY hard to play but when you get the hang of it you can do some really cool stuff!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 uhm...i think i'll just stick with pinched ones for now this is too much for my small brain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DividedByJames Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 For natural, remember that it's mirrored across the 12th fret. so the 5th fret harmoics is on the 17th fret too (I think...don't have a guitar here at work). Also what i like to do is do natural harmonics while fretting...takes a little work and stretching of your hand, but I can fret with my index and hit the harmonic (lower ones) with my pinky. I haven't worked that into a song yet...but maybe I should start looking into that. My fav's are 5th and 7th natural harmonics. I like to use them in conjunction with fretted notes and ringing open strings since the notes are in the same key (E minor - i think). Pinch harmonics are cool too. Just listen to the La Grange solo by ZZtop. Zack Wylde in No More Tears is good for the pinch harmonic to vibrato move. I use that a lot. But not in the cheesy 80's sounding way that he does it. j/k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 I have a video of IA explaining some of his insane harmonics techniques, he definitely is the M4$T4 of natural harmonics...he uses the whammy bar as a support, though, depressing it slightly just before he hits the harmonic, then letting the bar return and then vibrating the hell out of it. so long ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezerboy Posted October 28, 2003 Report Share Posted October 28, 2003 pinch/squeal harmonics can be achieved anywhere as long as you have the right technique....hold the pick very tightly with very little pick showing and strike the string at a right angle to the bridge (ie straight down) hope that helps dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullmuzzler Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Since I don't use any picks, I used to finger a note then I put the index finger of my picking hand onto the place that is 1/2 of the fingered fret to bridge distance, then I pick the string with my thumb. Playing au naturel like the greats of Mark Knopfler & Jeff Beck, aren't we? That's a technique worth learning. I've studied classic guitar myself for years and It is completely different approach to playing and tone. mullmuzzler | OSSMT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisllub Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 That is the Chet Atkins / Lenny Breau right hand harmonic. Brilliant when mixed with pull ofs around the same fret (esp 7). Listen to Doyle Dykes or Tommy Emmanuel and you will get what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wylde1919 Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Something most people forget to metion with "pinch harmonics" is that your right hand can make the difference. try moving it up closer to the neck and down towards the bridge. I slao tend to put a little bit of my thumb knuckle into it as well. and remember thatt if you rig is saturated in choruses and reverbs and you've got your mids scooped out, it chokes the harmoinc. it doesnt5 make it impossible but it sure makes it hard! oh and when you do get it down take a tip from Zakk and shake the note like its a dead cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis P Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 thought I would revive this thread because I dont understand Artificial and Pinch Harmonics From what i understand, a pinch harmonic is where you do a harmonic and let the pick and a bit of your finger touch the string to get it to squeal, am I right? I have not a clue on artificial harmonics Curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swirlslave Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 (edited) artificial and pinch harmonic are the same thing. sometimes in tab book you see pinch, or certain other books you see artificial. your right about the method , the only thing is that depending on where you pick the string (ex:more closer to the neck pickup or more close to bridge) it will make different harmonic tone. hope that helps p.s. i didnt read the whole thread so maybe that part was explained earlier on, lol..... Edited September 1, 2004 by swirlslave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis P Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 OK, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLS Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Yeh, a pinch harmonic is when you pick the string then let your thumb hit the string which causes a squeal. Zakk Wylde does this ALOT. I find it much easier to do a pinch harmonic using Dunlop Jazz III's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smitty Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Zakk plays on boomers if you were wondering. btw. 2222 posts curtis. nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivin Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 For some reason, I can make my guitars squeal like no tomorrow on the last 3 strings, but on the first 3 strings I find it very difficult to get good solid pinch harmonics over a decent range, as there is only 1 'sweet spot' for me, and its like... over the fretboard On the bottom 3 strings i can hit em anywhere with a lot of different .. pitches? Ah well, ive just put it down to bad technique... more practice is needed i guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorecki Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Yeh, a pinch harmonic is when you pick the string then let your thumb hit the string which causes a squeal. Zakk Wylde does this ALOT. I find it much easier to do a pinch harmonic using Dunlop Jazz III's. Zakk does it TOO MUCH IMO! On the Ozzy Live Budokan it gets annoying he does it so much. I've used Jazz III blacks for years (and yes they are different from the reds), regular picks feel huge to me these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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