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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Pinch Harmonics
Posted by: Markwnjr Jun 26 2008, 05:31 AM
Everyone i envy can shred and pull off a pinch harmonic like nothing. how do you pinch harmonic? i've done it before on accident, and dont it before on purpose, but im not understanding the actuall concept. my friend told me it had something to do with your pickups and your pickup placement, but that's not fair. i only have 1 humbucker! 
I used an SG with active pickups and i could do it anywhere on the fretboard but on accident. im just looking for some advice on straightening out this mess in my head.
Posted by: Daniel Robinson Jun 26 2008, 07:51 AM
Don't let your friends tell you pinch harmonics has anything to do with pickups. Since you can actually do pinch harmonics on an acoustic guitar (its not easy mind you) Generally speaking from a gear stand point its easier to do pinch harmonics with more gain, and a cranked up amp.
What pinch harmonics actually are are natural points on the string that will resonate if you "Pinch" the string off at a certain point without muting it. Basically you are shortning the string artificially giving you that squeal.
Now it is true that every guitar is different and pickups can play a role in how and where you can catch a harmonic.
The key to pulling one off though is knowing where on the picking area you can achieve the sound with your own guitar, some guitars are just very easy to do it on, others are more difficult. But every guitar can achieve one.
The key to a good pinch harmonic is your touch on the string with your picking hand, pluck the note with your pick, and as the pick moves away from the string very very lightly touch it with the side of your thumb and pull away quickly. Now the trick here is to keep moving your picking hand to different area's of the picking area between the neck and bridge to find the "Sweet spot" for your own instrument. Once you find that spot you just have to learn to hit that area when you go for a pinch harmonic, the other thing is there may be several area's that give you a harmonic that is different in pitch. Generally speaking for myself, i know i can get 3 or 4 location on the same fret just by moving to a different picking area. So you can get the squeal you are looking for.
Also check out Trond's lesson on pinch harmonics, its an excellent lesson that might be able to help you as well.
Daniel
Posted by: DeepRoots Jun 26 2008, 07:58 AM
Check out the spoken video on this lesson : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/artificial-natural-harmonics/
ANd as Daniel said, this would be a cool one to practise:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/pinch-harmonics/
Posted by: Vasilis Jun 26 2008, 09:07 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFSgY8Be6Bw
hope this helps
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 26 2008, 11:49 AM
Pinched harmonics don't depend on picks, you can make pinched harmonics on any stringed isntrument, even acoustic one. Certain preset or pickup can only increase the effect, but the quality of the pinched harmonic comes from the fingers itself.
Posted by: Pablo Vazquez Jun 26 2008, 06:03 PM
What pinch harmonics actually are are natural points on the string that will resonate if you "Pinch" the string off at a certain point without muting it. Basically you are shortning the string artificially giving you that squeal.
Now it is true that every guitar is different and pickups can play a role in how and where you can catch a harmonic.
The key to pulling one off though is knowing where on the picking area you can achieve the sound with your own guitar, some guitars are just very easy to do it on, others are more difficult. But every guitar can achieve one.
The key to a good pinch harmonic is your touch on the string with your picking hand, pluck the note with your pick, and as the pick moves away from the string very very lightly touch it with the side of your thumb and pull away quickly. Now the trick here is to keep moving your picking hand to different area's of the picking area between the neck and bridge to find the "Sweet spot" for your own instrument. Once you find that spot you just have to learn to hit that area when you go for a pinch harmonic, the other thing is there may be several area's that give you a harmonic that is different in pitch. Generally speaking for myself, i know i can get 3 or 4 location on the same fret just by moving to a different picking area. So you can get the squeal you are looking for.
Also check out Trond's lesson on pinch harmonics, its an excellent lesson that might be able to help you as well.
Daniel
+1 Sure!
Posted by: Markwnjr Jun 27 2008, 03:36 AM
What pinch harmonics actually are are natural points on the string that will resonate if you "Pinch" the string off at a certain point without muting it. Basically you are shortning the string artificially giving you that squeal.
Now it is true that every guitar is different and pickups can play a role in how and where you can catch a harmonic.
The key to pulling one off though is knowing where on the picking area you can achieve the sound with your own guitar, some guitars are just very easy to do it on, others are more difficult. But every guitar can achieve one.
The key to a good pinch harmonic is your touch on the string with your picking hand, pluck the note with your pick, and as the pick moves away from the string very very lightly touch it with the side of your thumb and pull away quickly. Now the trick here is to keep moving your picking hand to different area's of the picking area between the neck and bridge to find the "Sweet spot" for your own instrument. Once you find that spot you just have to learn to hit that area when you go for a pinch harmonic, the other thing is there may be several area's that give you a harmonic that is different in pitch. Generally speaking for myself, i know i can get 3 or 4 location on the same fret just by moving to a different picking area. So you can get the squeal you are looking for.
Also check out Trond's lesson on pinch harmonics, its an excellent lesson that might be able to help you as well.
Daniel
I did it! thank you all so much. i watched that video too. they helped a lot. i understand where your coming from. thank youso much!
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