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Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 21 2018, 08:34 PM

INTRO
This time let's combine two bits that we've worked on in to one lick. Let's do a familiar scale run pattern using the blues scale (this pattern typically just uses the pentatonic without the blues note), and end the lick on a pinch harmonic. The Pinch is, again, on a wound string. Don't let this throw you. There is only one pinch in the lick at the very end. Then let's try the same lick one octave up on the neck by moving to the 12th fret. The lick is in the key of E. So this lick will work with pretty much any backing in the key of E.

KEEP A GOOD PALM MUTE on this. Try to make sure you plant your palm on the bridge and try to pick with the thumb and first finger without moving your hand. I have been seeing a lot of folks lately who could use a bit of work on this sort of picking technique, thus this Quick Licks! It's a simple lick that can get your technique back on track. Also, we are doing a bit of vibrato on the pinch. It helps it ring out and sounds cool This is another chance to work on Vibrato but in the context of a pinch licks


*Make sure to watch the vid!.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 22 2018, 01:12 AM

I've been trying out a lot of picks lately and I'm using a Green Dunlop Sharp in this latest vid.



These picks are pointy, but they are not quite thick enough for me. It's a .88 so just under 1.0 mm. Also, not quite thick enough to have a bevel on the edge. They are better than the standard green turtle pick at this width due to the point. However, it's certainly not on the level of a V-Pick or VonHotch or other custom pick with a beveled edge and thicker width/stiffer material.

Posted by: fzalfa Jul 27 2018, 07:42 PM

Hi Todd

i work on since the start of the week, but oit's not really easy !!

Cheers

Laurent

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 28 2018, 01:24 AM

You can do it!!! Which part is causing trouble?

Todd

Posted by: Phil66 Nov 20 2018, 09:33 PM

WOW, thinking of giving up on this one. Tried for an hour and a half, 7 different guitars all with humbuckers, many settings in Helix and I can't get any kind of pinch harmonic on the 2nd fret on the D string. I can get the 14th fret one sometimes.

I've worn the side of my thumb out


UPDATE:

After another 15 minutes it started to happen but it was the end of my session. I guess it will be back to square 1 tomorrow

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 20 2018, 10:44 PM

If you can grab the low one, that would be more than enough. I'm just showing what it sounds like up high for demo purposes.

Let your brain sleep on it Sometimes it helps to let it cook over night!. Pinches are more difficult to grab on the wound strings and even more difficult to grab past the 12th fret. I'm using quite a bit of gain here but it will work with less.Todd

Posted by: Phil66 Nov 21 2018, 07:19 AM

Is the other way around for me buddy. I'm struggling on the 2nd fret not the 14th

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 21 2018, 08:52 PM

That's interesting for sure. Most folks have much more troubling getting a pinch higher up!! Can you post a quick vid so I can see how it's going I might be able to give you some tips? This is one of my fave techniques of all time as you probably know

Posted by: onetabmat Nov 22 2018, 08:44 PM

Posted by: Phil66 Nov 25 2018, 09:45 PM

Take 1 for scrutiny Todd. The pinches are weak but I've put another video showing just pinches. Sorry, but in the first video the whole guitar is a little flat but it is in tune with itself.

https://youtu.be/VrVNvUYchzM



https://youtu.be/ScEdNwgpaQw



Cheers

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 26 2018, 08:54 PM

Nice!! This one is very close to the previous Quick Licks so I figured I'd do both in one go. You are doing well with these. Try to throw them in when you are playing a solo. You'll notice that the tone of the pinch changes based on where you make the strike. So if you make the strike near the bridge, you get one sort of pinch tone, if you make it near the neck, you get another type of pinch tone. Practice doing them all the way between bridge and neck! Well played! You just..
LEVELED UP!!!

It sounds like you are using the neck pickup? Typically, pinches work a "pinch" better using the bridge pickup as the bridge it often a bit hotter and geared toward higher frequencies. So they are easier to pull on the bridge pickup typically. That said, you are welcome to use any pickup/tone you are happy with! It looks like you are getting the hang of the pinch!! You are using a fairly low gain setting it sounds like which does make them a bit more hard to get, but again, it's all up to you. Given that you are using a lower gain patch and neck pickup, I'm very impressed you are able to get these!! Well done!! You just...
LEVELED UP!!!!

Posted by: Phil66 Nov 26 2018, 09:01 PM

Thanks Todd,

I deliberately used a lower gain setting because I saw a YT video showing one of the top players, Eric Johnson, Paul Gilbert or someone like that showing pinch harmonics on an electric guitar unplugged. They were saying once you can get them unplugged, you've nailed them

I didn't know about the neck/bridge pickup thing.

Cheers

Phil

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 26 2018, 10:31 PM

Thats very true!! if you can get them with the amp off, you got it. It's a great way to practice them. It does take a bit longer to get them going good enough to do it with zero gain. But it's a goal worth shooting for!! It's just a bit easier with high gain and bridge pup

Posted by: Caelumamittendum May 18 2019, 05:25 AM

Posted by: Todd Simpson May 25 2019, 08:56 PM

Impressive! You got every single note in both octaves. This too is a tricky bit of blues since it does not coform to the way one typically runs this lick. You play it with dexterity and authority. Good palm mute as well. Without a good mute, this lick can get noisey. You have clean strikes and good temp. You nailed it! In other words you just..

LEVELED UP!!!

Posted by: Adam Dec 2 2020, 10:49 PM

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 4 2020, 02:41 AM

The ending on this one is difficult by design. You nailed it!! This is a great solo lick. If you are working with a backing in the key of E, this lick works great!! Give it a whirl!

You clearly have this one well in hand. Keep moving through these!!

You just..

LEVELED UP!!!

Onward!
Todd