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Pinch Harmonics....whats The Secret?
fkalich
Apr 14 2007, 04:10 AM
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QUOTE (brainlesswonder @ Apr 14 2007, 03:43 AM) *
I didn't realize there was so many spots on the various strings, and the digging certainly did help me out.


For any musical instrument (except percussion) the note will have a base frequency, but will also present the frequency twice that of the base, 3 times the base, 4 times the base, etc. etc. A guitar does this, an Oboe does this. The relative magnitudes of these harmonics (along with any noise element present) are what gives the instrument its characteristic sound.

You have to hit one of these nodes on the fretted string to get a harmonic, pinched or otherwise. That is, where the string divides in two place, in three places, in four places, etc. You can hit anyone one of these, and get a harmonic. Depending on which you hit, it will sound different. For example if you hit the node where the string divides into three parts, you are really hitting the note that is one and a half octaves above your base note. The higher the harmonic node that you choose, the more squeal that is possible. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to hit them correctly, the more granular you get. I would think that the 7th harmonic would be the one where the most squeal would be possible, in theory. As I said above, a 7 year old with tiny fingers will have an advantage with the real high level harmonics.

EDIT: Ok, figured this out. Don't need a spectral analysis.

1) When you pluck a string, the string vibrates as a whole, in haves, in thirds, 4ths, etc. etc.
2) In effect you are really hitting a chord when you puck a string. For example when you pluck a C, these are the harmonics that sound

Base Note: C
1st Harmonic: C above last C
2nd Harmonic: G above last C
3rd Harmonic: C above last G
4th Harmonic: F above last C
5th Harmonic: G above last F
6th Harmonic: * see below
7th Harmonic C above last F
8th Harmonic D above last C
etc. etc.

*The 6th harmonic does not correspond to any note on the chromatic scale. It is not far from the minor seventh, but not exactly that.


The point is, the higher the harmonics, the more dissonant the sound. Pinch harmonics accentuate the higher level harmonics of the note. What you are really getting when you do a pinch harmonic properly is a dissonant chord of sorts, VERY HIGH PITCHED! And this comes off as SQUEAL.

There you have it, heard it first here on GMC, and I don't even work here.

Another Edit: I have since concluded that the squeal is more than just high pitch. That is essential to it, but you are doing something else, maybe getting a bit of the actual base note into it I am able to do that, bu not sure what I am doing. However it sound to me like I am getting a bit of the base note into it, along with the high pitch harmonics, by some fashion.


And Another Edit: I just listened to his video again, and tried it on my Telecaster. Dramatically easier than my Gibson's with humbuckers. If you listen to his video, he did not emphasize the fact that his special guitar pickups and whatever device(s) he was using really make it a LOT easier to get those, especially the high pitched ones. Not just a little easier. MUCH easier. I can get harmonics on my Tele, that I cannot even hardly hear on some of my other guitars. And whatever setup he has there goes a long way past my Tele I am sure.

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This post has been edited by fkalich: Apr 16 2007, 06:25 AM
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fkalich
Apr 16 2007, 06:13 AM
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QUOTE (Doug @ Apr 13 2007, 03:04 PM) *
Off topic...but how about those Gators!!!


Well, they seemed to get it together when it mattered most, 2 years in a row. Also Donovan is great.
He will reload quickly. Not next year, but you will be back the year after that. He has turned that into one of the top programs in the country. Although, I still think you guys will always love football more. Sort of like Texas.

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Ryan
Apr 17 2007, 01:52 AM
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ok sorry, this just popped into my head...i always see ppl do pinch harmonics for 1 string....is there anyway possible..to do 2 strings at the same time, or maybe like a chord or somehting??? just wondering

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fkalich
Apr 17 2007, 02:32 AM
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QUOTE (fkalich @ Apr 16 2007, 06:13 AM) *
Well, they seemed to get it together when it mattered most, 2 years in a row. Also Donovan is great.
He will reload quickly. Not next year, but you will be back the year after that. He has turned that into one of the top programs in the country. Although, I still think you guys will always love football more. Sort of like Texas.


Don't know of anyone who does. But good idea. I just did that myself, sounds very usable, the kind of thing a lot of people here would like. Hard to describe.

You don't necessarily have to bar the two strings to do this, I just did one on the top two strings, with my 2nd string one fret higher than my 1st string (4 semitones difference in the two fretted notes). As usable harmonic nodes on the two strings in such a case will not likely exactly line up, you will probably have to sweep the two strings at an angle when you are not fretting both at the same fret.

Anyway, had not heard of this, great idea, thanks!

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This post has been edited by fkalich: Apr 17 2007, 02:36 AM
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Ryan
Apr 17 2007, 02:39 AM
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so it would be possible..just hard..to do...like a full chord...like say Em.....or something

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