Pinch harmonics

rogue · 05-20-2006, 04:39 PM

hi all, can someone give me some pointers to nailing pinch harmonics every time. im really struggling

thanks

Regor · 05-20-2006, 04:46 PM

LOTS of practice.

There's 2 ways to do it. With your thumb and with your fingernail.

Thumb: Immediately after picking the string, touch the string with the outside of your thumb. Don't be afraid to dig in! You may end up muting the string at first, but soon you'll get the feel for when it's too much. But you do it too lightly and you'll miss it, not to mention sound bad.

Fingernail: Touch the fingernail of your index finger to the string while picking. I can't give too much advice on this, as I use the thumb method. Either work.

Also, there are 'sweet spots' on the string itself that'll help the harmonics ring out better. First is directly between the 2 humbuckers, the 2nd is just at the inside of the neck pickup. You can achieve 2 different harmonics from the same fretted note like that. Also, lots of high gain, and vibrato helps.

And for practice purposes... run a scale up and down the fretboard while trying to get the pinch harmonics. I've done that for years, and I can hit them anywhere on the fretboard, including open strings.

distressed_romeo · 05-20-2006, 04:47 PM

OK...try imagining virtual frets above the fretboard, and try and pinch above what would be 12 or 24 frets above the note you're fretting. Use your pickups as reference points if you need to, use your bridge pickup and a fair amount of upper mids. I usually use the octave harmonics described above, as they're the strongest in the overtone series, but there are more if you wanna experiment. Just remember the 'virtual fret' method.
I've heard the Michael Lee Firkins used to use magic markers to draw frets on the strings higher than the fretboard would allow to make the above method easier...

rogue · 05-20-2006, 05:59 PM

thanks guys just wanted to check i wasnt doing it totaly wrong. i find that i only seem to get them if i bend the strign a lot in my fretting hand, is this normal and will it come with time. im also getting new dizmario pups which will be much better quality so is this likley to help aswell?

rogue

telecaster90 · 05-20-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogue

thanks guys just wanted to check i wasnt doing it totaly wrong. i find that i only seem to get them if i bend the strign a lot in my fretting hand, is this normal and will it come with time. im also getting new dizmario pups which will be much better quality so is this likley to help aswell?

rogue

Yeah, to make them really squeal, use alot of vibrato. The DiMarzio's should help as well once you get those. Which ones are you getting?

Regor · 05-20-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

Just remember the 'virtual fret' method.

Wow. I'm so glad I already know how to do them... cuz that sounds like a whole lotta thinking.

rogue · 05-21-2006, 10:45 AM

im getting blaze and air norton, took a lot of deciding. i thought about EMG's but that involved routing so i went dimarzio's

rogue

metalfiend666 · 05-21-2006, 11:12 AM

Just follow Regor & DR's advice and it'll come. It takes a lot of practice to master. One of my favourites is fretting the 4th fret of the G string and picking just slightly neckward of the inner pole pieces of the neck pickup. That fucker really screams. I use the thumb method too.

You'll need to experiment with where you pick as there are several harmonic points, you just need to find the best ones for each string. Have patience and you'll get it.

05-20-2006, 04:39 PM	#1
rogue metal is forever Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: essex, england Posts: 694 Real Name: james Main Seven: bc rich 7 string NJ series warlock, trans black Rig: bos gt8/line6 30watt Thanked: 0	Pinch harmonics hi all, can someone give me some pointers to nailing pinch harmonics every time. im really struggling thanks if its too loud, your too old

05-20-2006, 04:46 PM	#2
Regor God Bless Mike Join Date: May 2005 Location: Detroit Rawk City Posts: 3,774 Real Name: Mr.Luxury Yacht Main Seven: Ibz RG2127X (The Japanez) Rig: TriAxis/G-Force/2:90 Thanked: 62	LOTS of practice. There's 2 ways to do it. With your thumb and with your fingernail. Thumb: Immediately after picking the string, touch the string with the outside of your thumb. Don't be afraid to dig in! You may end up muting the string at first, but soon you'll get the feel for when it's too much. But you do it too lightly and you'll miss it, not to mention sound bad. Fingernail: Touch the fingernail of your index finger to the string while picking. I can't give too much advice on this, as I use the thumb method. Either work. Also, there are 'sweet spots' on the string itself that'll help the harmonics ring out better. First is directly between the 2 humbuckers, the 2nd is just at the inside of the neck pickup. You can achieve 2 different harmonics from the same fretted note like that. Also, lots of high gain, and vibrato helps. And for practice purposes... run a scale up and down the fretboard while trying to get the pinch harmonics. I've done that for years, and I can hit them anywhere on the fretboard, including open strings. *Metal... Nuff Said!!* NEXT SHOW: None Scheduled Website: www.justdefymetal.com MySpace: myspace.com/justdefymetal

05-20-2006, 04:47 PM	#3
distressed_romeo Bringin' UR Kaos! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albion Posts: 9,567 Real Name: I have many... Main Seven: C7 Hellraiser Main ERG: Aria bass tuned in fifths Rig: POD v2.0 Thanked: 200	OK...try imagining virtual frets above the fretboard, and try and pinch above what would be 12 or 24 frets above the note you're fretting. Use your pickups as reference points if you need to, use your bridge pickup and a fair amount of upper mids. I usually use the octave harmonics described above, as they're the strongest in the overtone series, but there are more if you wanna experiment. Just remember the 'virtual fret' method. I've heard the Michael Lee Firkins used to use magic markers to draw frets on the strings higher than the fretboard would allow to make the above method easier... Nothing like a good depressant to chase the blues away! www.soundclick.com/distressed_romeo http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

05-21-2006, 11:12 AM	#8
metalfiend666 - Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Basildon, Essex, England Posts: 9,619 Real Name: James Main Seven: Death Warrior/KXK Sii-7 Rig: Dual Rec->Trace 3x12 Thanked: 43	Just follow Regor & DR's advice and it'll come. It takes a lot of practice to master. One of my favourites is fretting the 4th fret of the G string and picking just slightly neckward of the inner pole pieces of the neck pickup. That fucker really screams. I use the thumb method too. You'll need to experiment with where you pick as there are several harmonic points, you just need to find the best ones for each string. Have patience and you'll get it. www.metalguitarist.org

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05-20-2006, 05:59 PM	#4
rogue metal is forever Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: essex, england Posts: 694 Real Name: james Main Seven: bc rich 7 string NJ series warlock, trans black Rig: bos gt8/line6 30watt Thanked: 0	thanks guys just wanted to check i wasnt doing it totaly wrong. i find that i only seem to get them if i bend the strign a lot in my fretting hand, is this normal and will it come with time. im also getting new dizmario pups which will be much better quality so is this likley to help aswell? rogue

05-21-2006, 10:45 AM	#7
rogue metal is forever Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: essex, england Posts: 694 Real Name: james Main Seven: bc rich 7 string NJ series warlock, trans black Rig: bos gt8/line6 30watt Thanked: 0	im getting blaze and air norton, took a lot of deciding. i thought about EMG's but that involved routing so i went dimarzio's rogue

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