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Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 05:27 PM

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my tapped harmonics i understand the concept and have watched numerous videos on the subject but can not get them to sound example muris EVH lesson i can get the first 2 to sound but the rest of them just die out fast pleass help! here is my equipment and the things i have tryed


Jackson dk2 dinky
Line 6 spider III
Korg PX4d

Changing pickup Height
Pole Peace height
Turning the gain to 10
Action height

yes iam hitting directly above frett before anyone says it aside from getting a pro setup and or new pickups which are not cheap (i was looking at a EMG 81/SA/SA config)Iam at a loss can someone point out the obvious to the dumb brit BOO HOO iam gonna cry

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 07:21 PM

Come on guys 20 views surely someone can help me out pretty please with a cherry on top

Posted by: Zephyr Dec 24 2007, 07:25 PM

It sounds like either your technique just might need some practice, or sustain might be your problem. The notes should sound no matter what your setup is, even unplugged, if you're doing them right. But if they're sounding and just dying out to fast for your liking, then it's probably sustain that's the problem. This can be increased by using a neck-through/fixed bridge guitar, turning the gain up, using a compressor, things like that. But answers from someone who really knows what they're talking about would be awesome...

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 07:29 PM

i have a bolt on neck and a floyd rose could try some more compression i suppose

Posted by: Zephyr Dec 24 2007, 07:36 PM

Yep, both of those take away from sustain, and compression should help! And I see your gain is all the way up to 10 as well. You might want to try playing unplugged and making sure all of the notes are being played correctly. With harmonics especially, being just a little off, either with the tapping hand or with the fretting hand can make a big difference.

And where are you, GMC? This is kind of weird, people are usually all over these threads, but no one is posting...

Posted by: Smells Dec 24 2007, 10:54 PM

Hi Bondy, if your talking about Muris`s EVH lesson the first two are the easiest, it is the absolute lightest of touch, I find that they ring out a little better on the b & high E string just behind the fret wire, if you study Muris`s fingers on the fretboard in the video you`ll see what I mean, he`s not playing them in the center of the fret, the same sort of area you`d play the note on the fret, kinda difficult to explain, again study the video, your certainly not going to go wrong watching Muris, its such a slight touch and just requires practice, you`ll get it

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 10:56 PM

thanks for the advice smells it just seems to be taking over my practice and i feel i cant move on till i get it right

Posted by: Smells Dec 24 2007, 11:04 PM

I do that mate, I dont move on till I get something thats bugging me, I`ll sit for hours sometimes

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 11:09 PM

belive it or not just hooked up my guitar and did what u said hitting just behind the frett and the notes are sounding not perfect but better i have been trying to nail the centre evey time thanks again smells your a good lad and future senior for sure your always there giving me good advice cheers much appricated

Posted by: Smells Dec 24 2007, 11:12 PM

Its such a light touch mate, just enough to stop the string vibrating, and you gotta bring your finger away real quick to allow the harmonic to ring, sorry just picked the guitar up myself to sorta demonstrate to myself to try and put it in words lol!!

and your welcome mate, I try my best to help wherever I can

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 11:15 PM

what delay settings do u use for that lesson smells

Posted by: Smells Dec 24 2007, 11:18 PM

I only use one setting m8, I dont really try to get the same sounds as the lessons deliberatly, I just set a delay up that I like (time wise & feedback ) and I only ever alter the level of the effect depending on if its a slow piece or fast.

sorry the delay time I use is usually around 400ms - 500ms

Posted by: Bondy Dec 24 2007, 11:24 PM

Thanks

Posted by: Muris Dec 25 2007, 01:58 AM

Just saw the thread,looks like I've caused you some issue,wasn't intention indeed
Anyhow,just try to add more gain//drive and high/treble on your sound.
Just like Smells said,I hit those harmonics not really 100%
on the center of the fret but just a little bit more to the left,
mostly cause finger is curved and tip comes from the left side when I tap
tho it seems like it's working good.
Hope this help a bit,keep us updated on your progress.

Posted by: Bondy Dec 25 2007, 09:01 AM

Thanks muris

Posted by: Bondy Dec 26 2007, 12:26 PM

Thanks for all ya help guys but after all the fuss i made i think its my guitar not me.I went round my mum and dads last night picked up my brothers Bottom of the range Ibanez with crapy pickups and was tapping harmonics for ages with no bother.As soon as the techy gets back of holiday iam gonna give it to him for a complete setup cause somthings not right with it i even checked out the pickups and the ones i have aren't std its actuly the pickup Dave Mustain uses but the trembucker version so they should be fine.

Posted by: Muris Dec 26 2007, 02:37 PM

Yeah,might be because of pickups,
you need something really heavy in bridge for these harmonics