Question About Pinched Harmonics

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Question About Pinched Harmonics

ActiveX View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:06 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:06 PM	GMC:er Posts: 241 Joined: 7-October 07 From: Vancouver, Canada	This week I decided to tackle pinched harmonics, which is a first for me. I have an interesting problem; with one of my guitars, I'm able to generate a decent harmonic sound fairly consistently, but with my other guitar, I cannot make a decent harmonic sound. Does the type of guitar or the type of pickup affect this at all, or is this all in my head? I'm using an Ibanez GSA 60 (single passive humbucker pickup), and an ESP MH400 (2 EMG active humbucker pickups). With the Ibanez, I can produce the harmonics much easier than with the ESP...why? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Unleash-The-Shre... Unleash-The-Shred View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:10 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:10 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.397 Joined: 12-August 07 From: Pittsfield, Massachusetts	QUOTE (ActiveX @ Dec 10 2007, 03:06 PM) This week I decided to tackle pinched harmonics, which is a first for me. I have an interesting problem; with one of my guitars, I'm able to generate a decent harmonic sound fairly consistently, but with my other guitar, I cannot make a decent harmonic sound. Does the type of guitar or the type of pickup affect this at all, or is this all in my head? I'm using an Ibanez GSA 60 (single passive humbucker pickup), and an ESP MH400 (2 EMG active humbucker pickups). With the Ibanez, I can produce the harmonics much easier than with the ESP...why? I think it depends somewhat on the guitar. But here this may help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinch_harmonic You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

ZakkWylde View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:11 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:11 PM	Learning Tone Master Posts: 3.185 Joined: 22-June 07 From: Germany	It must be easier with the active humbuckers... strange You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars? What string size do you use on each guitar? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Gear: - Jackson USA Select KV2 King V with EMG 81/85 - Gibson Les Paul Custom Arctic White with EMG 81/85 - Ibanez Rg 8527 J Custom 7-String with DiMarzio Evolution and Air Norton - Peavey 6505+ head with Marshall 1960AV 4x12 cab - Peavey Vypyr 30 Practice Amp - Dunlop Crybaby From Hell, Maxon OD808, Boss TU-2, MXR CarbonCopy, ISP Decimator, MXR Custom Audio Electronics Booster

Unleash-The-Shre... Unleash-The-Shred View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:13 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:13 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.397 Joined: 12-August 07 From: Pittsfield, Massachusetts	QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Dec 10 2007, 03:11 PM) It must be easier with the active humbuckers... strange You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars? What string size do you use on each guitar? He said it is harder with the guitar with the EMG's. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Goliath View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:16 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:16 PM	GMC:er Posts: 667 Joined: 6-July 07 From: Atlanta, GA, USA	The actives should make the harmonics scream even more. The problem is probably with where you're striking the string as each guitar has it's own sweet spots for pinch harmonics , you're probably not hitting the right spot. Do some experimenting striking over different areas, and kind of use your pickups as a map. My HSH pickups in my S470 and RG550 are great for remembering the sweet spots. On the S470, the best one is over the split in the neck pickup, on the RG550, it's on the bridge edge of the neck pickup. Either way, you should be hearing the pinches if you play unplugged. On the thicker strings it helps if you bend/add vibrato to the pinch. I don't know why this works, but more often than not on the 6th string you'll see people either bend or add vibrato to an artifical harmonic. Practice makes perfect, just keep after it and you'll find it, I'm certain. As for the pickups, the IBZ1s in my RG550 snag the pinches reliably and play them at a decent level, but the Evos in my S make the pinches SCREAM. When I want to piss off my roommate i'll plug that in then improvise with all pinched harmonics . You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "King V" enthusiast

ActiveX View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:17 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:17 PM	GMC:er Posts: 241 Joined: 7-October 07 From: Vancouver, Canada	QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Dec 10 2007, 12:11 PM) It must be easier with the active humbuckers... strange You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars? What string size do you use on each guitar? All the same, except now that you mention it, I'm not sure what size strings the ESP has...I just got it a couple of weeks ago, and it still has the stock ESP strings on it...I have size 9's (GHS) on the Ibanez. Then again, maybe I'm having more trouble with the ESP since it is new, and I'm not that used to it yet. QUOTE (Goliath @ Dec 10 2007, 12:16 PM) The actives should make the harmonics scream even more. The problem is probably with where you're striking the string as each guitar has it's own sweet spots for pinch harmonics , you're probably not hitting the right spot. Do some experimenting striking over different areas, and kind of use your pickups as a map. Thanks Goliath, that's probably it...I might just need to experiment with it some more... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by ActiveX: Dec 10 2007, 09:22 PM

Goliath View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 09:36 PM
Dec 10 2007, 09:36 PM	GMC:er Posts: 667 Joined: 6-July 07 From: Atlanta, GA, USA	If you're using standard tuning, check out your D and G strings, those are the ones I can get to ring out even when I hit them sloppily, then kind of transpose your discoveries to other strings and with practice you'll be able to hit them like second nature. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "King V" enthusiast

SLASH91 View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 10:47 PM
Dec 10 2007, 10:47 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.259 Joined: 6-June 07 From: Louisiana	It also just takes a ton of practice; get good enough with them and you can do them on a crappy acoustic guitar. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "Remember to live, eat, sleep and breathe music for the mind, play from your heart and never be swayed by the current trends"- Rusty Cooley My gear: Marshall Valvstate Digitech Distortion Factory Jackson RR24 (Randy Rhoads) Ibanez RG2550e A ripoff brand acoustic guitar and a Yamaha Classical guitar :)

Chris Evans View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 11:00 PM
Dec 10 2007, 11:00 PM	Learning Tone Guru - Community Coordinator & Moderator Posts: 6.319 Joined: 24-September 07 From: Sittingbourne, UK	QUOTE (ActiveX @ Dec 10 2007, 08:17 PM) All the same, except now that you mention it, I'm not sure what size strings the ESP has...I just got it a couple of weeks ago, and it still has the stock ESP strings on it...I have size 9's (GHS) on the Ibanez. Then again, maybe I'm having more trouble with the ESP since it is new, and I'm not that used to it yet. Thanks Goliath, that's probably it...I might just need to experiment with it some more... Just follow the advice on here, the harmonics will ring out in slighty different places, my Jackson and fender are totally different, if its a new guitar then maybe ya just need to adjust to find where they are, you`ll get em no sweat then you`ll be squeelin to yer hearts content You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Show us what part of the world you live in and get yourself ON THE GMC:er Location MAP

ActiveX View Member Profile	Dec 10 2007, 11:57 PM
Dec 10 2007, 11:57 PM	GMC:er Posts: 241 Joined: 7-October 07 From: Vancouver, Canada	Thanks a lot, guys. I'll just keep on practicing... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

David.C.Bond View Member Profile	Dec 11 2007, 01:58 AM
Dec 11 2007, 01:58 AM	GMC:er Posts: 442 Joined: 1-December 07 From: Leeds, UK.	QUOTE (SLASH91 @ Dec 10 2007, 09:47 PM) It also just takes a ton of practice; get good enough with them and you can do them on a crappy acoustic guitar. +1 Slash Also make sure you've got new strings on your guitars, old strings tend to get harmonically 'dead' after some time. The active EMGs will certainly make the harmonics squeal more if you are doing it right. Try altering your picking position about, and generally just mess about until you figure it out! They do take some time to learn to do consistently though. David You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Bond Tuition - Online guitar lessons and guitar lessons Leeds

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