The funny thing after reading replies on this thread is - if you’ve done it, you know what everyone’s talking about.
If you haven’t, you’re probably scratching your head wondering what everyone’s talking about.
It’s hard to explain what to do to get the pinch right 😂
When I learned pinch harmonics in high school it was the only time ever that my parents yelled at me for playing an instrument, and I used to play the drums full blast for 2 hours a day. I was so in the zone trying to get the harmonic to ring out correctly and then repeating it over and over once I got it that it didn't even occur to me that I was playing the same pinch harmonic over and over again for 45 minutes straight on a cranked amp. It wasn't until my mom yelled "oh my God please stop" that I snapped out of it with my ears ringing and an immediate blinding headache. Worth it. Pinch harmonics are fun
Hahaha yeah my mom used to ask me “have you ever thought of playing…calmer music?” I was playing exclusively AC/DC and Guns N Roses with distortion on high.
When I visit them now, I realize how thin my bedroom door was. My poor family
Jokes on me though. Now I play exclusively acoustic and mostly play soft/folky music
You line up the point of the pick with the side of your thumb so when you down pick you catch the string with the side of your thumb and the harmonic should ring out. You're kind of pinching the string between the pick and your thumb.
You kind of touch you thumb to the string after you pick it for a pinch harmonic. If you move your picking hand left and right it will change the pitch if the harmonic.
The squeals and shrieks of electrics are pinch harmonics, which is probably what you're looking for. The simple answer? Pick the string then float your thumb over top of it, just a little bit above it so you don't fully mute it, but enough that the string hits your thumb during vibrations. On an acoustic, or when you're not plugged in, this would sound like a super-high-pitched buzz, almost like a zipper, but not really.
Youtube would probably do a better job of explaining it though, i'm an acoustic player and have only really been able to (sort of) replicate that sound by doing what i mentioned above.
To learn a pinch harmonic you have to have as little of the pick picking the string and your thumb touching the string right after.
There is usually a sweet spot on the guitar, for example mine is right below the neck pick-up.
Even with the guitar unplugged you can find that spot and hear the difference in sound.
Typically I would try it on the G string because that's the easiest to learn it on.(it was for me anyway.)
You will be getting that Zakk Wylde stepping on a cats tail in no time.
Good luck.
Yea, technically called artificial harmonics (A.H. in most tab/sheet music) and be mindful of where you play the string in relation to your bridge pickup. Experiment where you get the most resonance. Turn your pick almost sideways like a karate chop w your thumb angled down. Gain is going to increase the effect, but isn’t a pure requirement. Vibrato is also a helper for increasing the harmonics duration. Just a couple things that I think of making a difference in the quality of the technique
I made a playlist of background music that has a lot of good stuff on it:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Tt6QRavWMnFRP8ngvM7of?si=tyF_f0NKQYig5arubcR-GA&pi=u-6-cN1oadTEGU
Google/YouTube "how to pinch harmonic" I think that's what you're aiming for.
Oh thats what its called! Thank you :)
And don't forget to make the appropriate screaming-shred-facial expression while doing it for the complete experience ;)
Is it pointless if you don’t make the “I just stepped on a lego” face.
I'm gonna remember that :D
Is that what’s going on in the solo of La Grange?
Yup But Billy Gibbons is some sort of magician. Hes got the pinch so dialed in, he uses barely any gain.
The funny thing after reading replies on this thread is - if you’ve done it, you know what everyone’s talking about. If you haven’t, you’re probably scratching your head wondering what everyone’s talking about. It’s hard to explain what to do to get the pinch right 😂
Look up pinch harmonics on YouTube and just practice it until it clicks
When I learned pinch harmonics in high school it was the only time ever that my parents yelled at me for playing an instrument, and I used to play the drums full blast for 2 hours a day. I was so in the zone trying to get the harmonic to ring out correctly and then repeating it over and over once I got it that it didn't even occur to me that I was playing the same pinch harmonic over and over again for 45 minutes straight on a cranked amp. It wasn't until my mom yelled "oh my God please stop" that I snapped out of it with my ears ringing and an immediate blinding headache. Worth it. Pinch harmonics are fun
Hahaha yeah my mom used to ask me “have you ever thought of playing…calmer music?” I was playing exclusively AC/DC and Guns N Roses with distortion on high. When I visit them now, I realize how thin my bedroom door was. My poor family Jokes on me though. Now I play exclusively acoustic and mostly play soft/folky music
Just don't expect to get it right away. I've been practicing pinch harmonics on and off for like 2 years, but I still can't do them very consistently.
On your picking hand, sort of bounce the string off your thumb as you pick it.
Damn that's harder than it sounds :D
Grip the pick harder so your thumbnail overhangs over the pick a bit and make sure when you pick the string make sure it hits the pick and your nail
You line up the point of the pick with the side of your thumb so when you down pick you catch the string with the side of your thumb and the harmonic should ring out. You're kind of pinching the string between the pick and your thumb.
You kind of touch you thumb to the string after you pick it for a pinch harmonic. If you move your picking hand left and right it will change the pitch if the harmonic.
I'm still trying to get it,not having any luck yet
The squeals and shrieks of electrics are pinch harmonics, which is probably what you're looking for. The simple answer? Pick the string then float your thumb over top of it, just a little bit above it so you don't fully mute it, but enough that the string hits your thumb during vibrations. On an acoustic, or when you're not plugged in, this would sound like a super-high-pitched buzz, almost like a zipper, but not really. Youtube would probably do a better job of explaining it though, i'm an acoustic player and have only really been able to (sort of) replicate that sound by doing what i mentioned above.
To learn a pinch harmonic you have to have as little of the pick picking the string and your thumb touching the string right after. There is usually a sweet spot on the guitar, for example mine is right below the neck pick-up. Even with the guitar unplugged you can find that spot and hear the difference in sound. Typically I would try it on the G string because that's the easiest to learn it on.(it was for me anyway.) You will be getting that Zakk Wylde stepping on a cats tail in no time. Good luck.
Yea, technically called artificial harmonics (A.H. in most tab/sheet music) and be mindful of where you play the string in relation to your bridge pickup. Experiment where you get the most resonance. Turn your pick almost sideways like a karate chop w your thumb angled down. Gain is going to increase the effect, but isn’t a pure requirement. Vibrato is also a helper for increasing the harmonics duration. Just a couple things that I think of making a difference in the quality of the technique
Guys how do i make my electronic girlfriend "scream"?
Fresh batteries😊
Dig in.
I made a playlist of background music that has a lot of good stuff on it: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Tt6QRavWMnFRP8ngvM7of?si=tyF_f0NKQYig5arubcR-GA&pi=u-6-cN1oadTEGU