Alright...i need help....i dont know what to practice for speed....i mean my speed is decent..but nothing like kris..or pavel...i need something to practice so i can get to that speed..what would guys recommend!!!

And also...pinch harmonics....jezzzzz...lol...i am holding the pick right..and i have my thumb sticking out about hte same length as my pick...but i dont know..if its right now not....what im asking here..is when i pick...what i am doing..is kinda muting the string slightly with my thumb and picking all in the same motion..but i dont know if its the right sound or not...I hear the PH..in solos and stuff..but there playing it 2 fast for me to catch the sound well enough to understand it....so what does it sound like...and am i doing it right...(I believe I am)...

If you could help me just a little bit..on those..or point me in the right direction on where to get what i need...that would be greatly appreciated...

For speed and accuracy, you MUST use a metronome, and know all of the subdivisions. After you know that, you can start applying exercises, I recommend you take one or two of the speed picking licks that Kris taught in his videos and work them up! Start at a really slow speed so you know for sure that your picking is clean and accurate...and of course, you're doing constant alternate picking ( Or else Kris will slap you ) I also find three note per string exercises alot easier than two note per string exercises, it may be just me and my lack of skill, I'm not sure, but, try starting with that, and let me know how it's going for you,

For pinch harmonics, it's all a matter of practicing it constantly, there are no exercises. Pick at different spots, and I'm positive you'll find the one that 'squeals' the most. Good luck!

Mike

This post has been edited by Chooch: Mar 14 2007, 06:03 AM

Why don't you start building speed with Pavel's most recent alternate picking lesson? It's a great pattern to practice for hours and hours!

Kristofer

Pinch harmonics were tricky for me until I accidentally figured out how to do it. It sounds like you have the right technique, but are making the same mistake I did.

Make sure you hit the string HARD. You need to strike it A LOT harder than a normal picked note. Once you get better, you can stop bashing the strings, but it really helped me to exaggerate the picking motion for a few weeks.

Also, you'll get better harmonics depending on where you strike the string. Imagine your guitar has a middle pickup (real easy if it does!), and try to do the pinch harmonic right over it. If nothing sounds, try picking the note a little in front or behind the pickup.

To expand on the position comments a little - what you are actually doing is creating a false harmonic, and what harmonic you get (if any) is dependent on where you hit the string, as that becomes one of the nodes of the harmonic. So not only is position important, but different positions will give you a different effect (an octave, a 5th). To get an octave harmonic, you need to hit the string pretty close to half way between where you have fretted the note and the bridge. If you move the position you are fretting, you need to move where you hit a corresponding amount - half the distance.

In practice, if you crank up the treble and hit it hard you'll get some sort of harmonic no matter where you hit it, but position is important, and you can try different positions to "tune" the effect for the best squeal.

Alright...thx a bunch guys........ill shall try all of what u have told me!!!!!!!!!