Here is the lesson I gave on Pinch Harmonics over at the Musician's Lounge...
This weeks lesson as promised is all about Pinch Harmonics.
There are other names for this technique such as artificial harmonics, zingers, pings, trick harmonics etc... but I use the 80's term.
To understand Pinch Harmonics first you must have a basic understanding of guitar harmonics in general.
Natural harmonics can be sounded by lightly touching a string directly above certain fretwires ( and other places but to keep it simple... ).
Try lightly touching the 4th string directly above the 12th fretwire, pick the string and release ( raise finger off of string ) immediatly afterwards. You should hear a bell-like tone that matches the G note at the 12 fret. Since this is an open string then essentially you have a one octave note increase... make sence.
Why does this occur? There are several points along the lenth of the string where nodes occur ( above the 5th, 7th, 12th, 17th, 19th frets are common reference points but there are many more ), this is where no vibration takes place. Confused... don't be. When you sound any note the node tone is always sounded too but becomes part of then entier "package" of what you hear. In the case of sounding the Natural harmonic you are causing only the node point harmonic tone/note to sound.
Now experiment with this technique and slowly start from the nut moving your finger lightly across the string right up to the bridge sounding all Natural Harmonics along the way. Do this on all strings. I recommend using a good multi octave tuner to "see" the harmonics you are sounding.
Pinch Harmonics are this same basic technique performed in a different manner.
The flesh of your thumb ( most common ) or index finger that grips the plectrum can be used to momentarily touch or in better words brush by the string ( being picked ) just after it has been sounded. Doing this at a node points will produce Pinch Harmonics. Doing this at any other point will deaden or mute the sounded note.
I recommend you use a good multi octave tuner when doing this so you can "see" the note being produced.
Now comes the tricky part ( of trick harmonics )... getting these Pinch Harmonics to sound KILLER.
Getting Pinch Harmonics to sound clearly can be a hit and miss situation if you do not spend the time praticing the physical aspects of this technique. By this I mean getting your thumb and index to co-operate. The right amount of pick attack and momentary flesh contact must be achieved and the only way to do this is experiment and practice. Everyone has a slightly different pick grip and thumb/finger profile. So first you must get this aspect DOWN. Second nature if you will.
Next you will need to become familiar with where to locate the node points and this is best achieved by relentless experimentation. When practicing the physical aspects of this technique move your picking hand along the lenth of the string in a similar fasion as mentioned in Natural harmonics.
You will hear the Pinch Harmonics "Jump out" as you do this and now you must remember these locations. A good place to start is along the area above your guitar's pickups... this allows a good reference point.
There is a lot on the internet and I have discussed this technique to no end with other players and some love it and some hate it. Lovers have the technique down and have put in the practice/experimentation time and have commited to memory the necassary info to pull it off consistantly. Haters have not commited and usually blame it on thier guitar, amp, pickups, strings, picks... the list goes on. Therefor I will say this...
{:strat:} PRACTICE ALL HARMONIC TECHNIQUES UNPLUGGED WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF AN AMPLIFIER. {:smithstrat:}
Once you can effeciantly perform Pinch Harmonics this way you will be much more happy with the results plugged in and amped up.
Having said that here are a few tips to make Pinch harmonics sound KILLER plugged in.
Use your Bridge Pickup... preferable a humbucker. This in no way excludes other pickups.
Use a healthy dose of gain but not oversaturation. Remember you should be able to do this unplugged so even at crystal clean amp settings Pinch Harmonics should sound loud and clear.
No the EQ settings make no difference to your ability to sound Pinch Harmonics. EQ settings are meerly a personal preferance.
New strings will sound better. Old strings will creat problems as cracks will foul node points. If you are one of those players that never changes your strings then you need to reconsider. Two months is long enough ever for very little play time. For heavy play time 2-4 hours can anhialate a set of strings.
The pick you use will have an effect too... believe me when I say rigid/thicker picks are way better.
Without a doubt you have to practice this technique... so commit and get the results.
Any questions on this topic will be replied to. I expect questions especially with a technique of this nature so feel free to sound off here at this thread.
There is also much more information on this topic to discuss ( I could write pages and pages ) but to create a lesson the readers digest version is the "reality" solution. So please feel free to discuss this topic here.
I will commit to helping you along your way to complete technical proficiency.
Next week it's SLASH CHORDS.
Also hunting for pinch harmonics...
