Guitar Tricks 6: Pinch Harmonics Lesson - Guitar Lesson - Guitar Solo - Electric Guitar Lesson

[19989079]

i watch all these videos for tip of the week



[Reed0Sparky0Leighton]

Haha. I dont have that tuning problem because I have anut lock.

[WeLovePizza2012]

hahaha... self tuning guitar...hahaha.....get one of this..... hahahaha, this guy is good

[Palomablanca1978]

cool! your allways spoot on chief

[mastoner20]

Thank you sir! I've been playing for about 5 or 6 years now, and have never understood exactly what it is that made the pinch harmonics work; and understanding it now makes it far easier to play.  Molto grazie!

[alexilaiho1st]

2:50 I really wondered how they do that one, thanks bro

[xanzfull]

what effect you use Neal????

and..

I love all of your tricks

[Guitartricks]

@xanzfull Thanks! not too much effects, a little reverb, some delay

[Jaoric]

Thanks, I've been wandering how you make this little sound for ages, now I can - cheers!

[Guitartricks]

@Jaoric woo hoo, great news! -Neal

[boykano99]

what guitar cables are you using Neal?

[Guitartricks]

@boykano99 nothing expensive, if that helps

[masashi080808]

Hi, Neal,

Is it easier to do it with bridge pick-ups?

I found it kinda hard to get the sound while I'm only using neck pick-ups.

[Guitartricks]

@masashi080808 oh yeah, it works best with the bridge pickup, much harder with the neck pickup on. -Neal

[masashi080808]

@Guitartricks I see. Thanks!!

[strukter1]

lol closed captioning at 2:14

[Brimmingmebitter]

i can only do them over the neck pickups so its really hard to play them live. any tips for standing up and doing pinch harmonics?

[Guitartricks]

@Brimmingmebitter practice doing them standing up. -Neal :)

[soupmonster100]

Is that the john lennon inspired epiphone acoustic electric i see in the back ground?

[kickmeihitu]

i cant do harmonics on the low e string and i think it might have something to do with my guitar i have a cheap lil indiana and there r only two pickups and they r right beside eachother they r right beside the bridge....i can do harmonics on the other strings but i never can make the harmonics sound by my pickups.... is my lack of being able to do harmonics because of my guitar or do i just suck?

[Guitartricks]

@kickmeihitu it's probably your guitar, PH are harder on cheaper guitars and harder on the E string in general. Don't give up, test it out in your local music store on another guitar? -Neal

[Killedbyncf]

Try to pull one on the HIGH E it's hard but not impossible =). A pinch harmonic that is.

[matiqanstar]

how long have you been playing??

[Guitartricks]

@matiqanstar I started when I was about 7 yrs old. -Neal

[hobbyrocker09]

ouu.. thats a self tuning guitar!! :-))

[Jondog98]

Hey neal, if the guitar is a self tuning guitar, does that mean you can't tune it into e flat or Drop D?

[Guitartricks]

@Jondog98 not only can you tune it to Drop D or E flat but it'll do it for you with the push of a button, it's pretty sick. -Neal

[noto50]

Hey, what if you have a floyd rose/edge for the tuning?(i have both) wait...nvm i dont tink you need it xD

[DoofusInc]

I have a general question. I own a B.C rich warlock Kerry King edition. whenever i hit some notes my guitar make a reverb-like sound and generally produces a lousy quality of sound. my amp is a Marshall 45 watt. Is the guitar crappy or do i really suck at guitar and don't know how to hit the notes?

[Guitartricks]

@DoofusInc that's the tough thing about starting out, it's hard to tell how much is you and how much is your guitar. You might test your guitar out at your local store in other amps to see how much different it sounds. Try lowering the reverb on your amp? If you play with clean tone, you'll be able to tell if you're hitting the notes well, the rest might be the tone from your electronics? -Neal

[TheMusicguru94]

what types of effects are you using

[nnjjiiu]

if you practice enough you can easily find pinched harmonics with a single coil, its all about striking the string at the right place above or below your pickup and thumbing properly.

[SuperGamer87]

HAHA Yeah, it would be kinda hard to demonstrate tuning on a self-tuning guitar! Man, I want one!

[Hollandvancewright]

I usually let mu thumb hang out past the pick, and it hits the harmonic.

[metal9guitarist]

Takes alot of practice to do solos dude,I'm really good but plot took me 2 years

[tcarney1008]

how do you solo

[TheDede508]

how does guitarist suchas steve vai and joe satriani go all over the fretboard and solo

[ZachVMNTX1]

Love fingering just below that G-String.

[a340980]

thats a beutiful guitar



[Darkfirelover]

yay, I have the second version of that guitar

[BassPlayinShizDizzle]

do you slightly touch the fretboard like a normal harmonic or do you fret it all the way down?

[kickerpunter]

@BassPlayinShizDizzle fret it completely

[MrCaanino]

hi Neil its me again xD! I have a problem !! I cannot make harmonic at the low E string :( , my amplifer is a Laney Hardcore mXd / 65 W. , my guitar is a ibanez rg220 with a seimoor duncan superdistortion in a hambucker . Why it does not sound harmonic in the low strings ??? :(

Bye !

[Guitartricks]

@MrCaanino you've got all the gear you need. Low E is the hardest string to get pinch harmonics. Keep trying, once you find one it will always be there so pay attention to your r/h position (and your left.) Make sure to use the bridge pickup, neck pickups don't do pinch well. Try this: finger L/H on the 3rd fret and pick the string. With your right hand barely touch your finger on the string near your bridge pickup. When you hear a high harmonic come out, that is where to get a pinch harmonic

[DescentFromHeaven]

@Guitartricks really? that's the easiest for me... that's the first one i learned how to Pinch. also... is it ME, or is it almost impossible to get a freakin pinch harmonic past the 12th fret???!!!

[Lovemetal629]

@MrCaanino (yes i know this is a kinda old post). But I've found that with different guitars, each has a different sweet spot. Each string itself has it's own sweet spot. A simplified version of what Neal said, is you pick the string like you normally would while running a finger of your fret hand (and works), along in the pick-up area until you get the high harmonic sound, or you can pick at the 12th fret, and run your finger along the pick-up area (a trick my instructor taught me).

[999storm999]

@MrCaanino

PRACTICE!!!! :D

[Metalhead121396]

@MrCaanino a couple of tips: turn your treble pretty high (7 or above), turn the gain to a decent amount (at least past noon), and use the BRIDGE pickup

[MrCaanino]

hi Neil its me again xD! I have a problem !! I cannot make harmonic at the low E string :( , my amplifer is a Laney Hardcore mXd / 65 W. , my guitar is a ibanez rg220 with a seimoor duncan superdistortion in a hambucker . Why it does not sound harmonic in the low strings ??? :(

[MrCaanino]

hi Neil its me again xD! I have a problem !! I cannot make harmonic at the low E string :( , my amplifer is a Laney Hardcore mXd / 65 W. , my guitar is a ibanez rg220 with a seimoor duncan superdistortion in a hambucker . Why it does not sound harmonic in the low strings ??? :(

[MultiScoffer]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!! I had been wondering for a long time how to do this. Now, please tell me, what are the amp settings to get the pitch harmonics along with the gain and volume and what is a good setting for the distortion pedal. Thanks!

[Guitartricks]

@MultiScoffer basically a high gain setting will work, use humbucker pickups for the best results. Single coils don't do it as well.

Use either the gain on the amp or the gain on the pedal but not both, that tends to muddy up the tone.

-Neal

[MultiScoffer]

@Guitartricks thank you very much.!

[HEKTOR1X]

I can't do it!!!!! :( I hate my crappy amp! I had to mess with it to even get distortion! It only has bass and treble switches!!! The fake distortion doesn't even sound good!!!

[Guitartricks]

@HEKTOR1X maybe try a distortion pedal? I great practice amp is the Roland Micro-Cube, they're about 100 bucks..squeelies for sure on that one! :)

[davidsqcc]

from where is this fuzzy sound is coming from?

[loudennoxious]

I like the ones at the low E and A strings at frets 3 and 5. They're sick.

[Guitartricks]

@loudennoxious me too! -Neal

[MrWer1138]

Fu@% I have been trying to do this for longer then I,ll admit here,and after 3.20 mins of you,re vid Im doing it all over the place! This isnt the first vid or even the tenth vid I have watched but its the last I,ll have to on this subject! Thank you a million!!!

[deadman316]

2 things.

1. For a long time now ive been trying to get a Pinch Harmonic on the 3rd fret on the A string and can't seem to get it.

2. Do you have any insight on how to get a pinch harmonic that the band Killswitch engage does

[loudennoxious]

@deadman316 for the killswitch squeal. Try two guitars squealing 1 semi tone apart. Example Guitar#1 hits a low G and bends it slightly with vibrato. Then Guitar#2 will do the same G except with bigger vibrato. You can also do G# with slightly less vibrato, or do it with a big vibrato as well. Try that out with your friends.

[bingidude]

how come i cant pinch the e a and d strings?

[Guitartricks]

@bingidude The lower strings are a little harder to get but just keep at it.

Here's a trick: when you get a pinch harmonic that works on the higher strings, look at your right hand to see where it is, don't move!

Now move your left hand on to one of the lower strings and try it, should work!

Good luck!

Neal \,,/,

[Sulfoxdrummer]

@Guitartricks thats an interesting tidbit. i find that its easier for me to get pinch harmonics on the lower strings than the higher ones. any tips for that?

[angelsbeatlesfan]

Is it posssible to do it with out a pick because sometimes when my dad is jamming it sounds alot like he is doing it.

[Guitartricks]

@angelsbeatlesfan yeah, you can do it with just your fingernail after a little practice. When you learn to do it with a pick, it's easier to do without one.

[bjg7272]

awsome! but one thing u forgot to mention that wold help some ppl is u get the best harmonic response out of the bridge pickup. try it out!

[Guitartricks]

@bjg7272 True! good point, bridge p/u is the best for pinch harmonics.

[AndrewStPaul69]

lmfao self tuning guitar, but nice man.

[dli42395]

is that a robot gibson?

[Malteboy777]

yes it is.. =)

[gissellrules]

Thats why i got a floyd rose II Bridge with EMG pickups.(B.C. rich NJ deluxe Warlock)

[Dashdude5]

I have a question. Why doesn't it sound the same way? Mine doesn't really go up any octaves. It doesn't sound as high as yours. Any idea on what I'm doing wrong? I learned my way from a worker in a music shop. He was doing the pinch harmonics on the same guitar and amp as me...but his were high and mine weren't. Thanks :D

[B0B0damonkey]

@Dashdude5 you can try adding more gain to your amp. but also that not as high thing happened to me but as I practiced them i got better at them and they sounded higher

[Dashdude5]

Well, I got it now... it was just practice :P Thanks for your help, anyways :D

[Guitartricks]

@Dashdude5 Awesome!! :D

Neal

[TheWezel1995]

( if you are regular handed) you should move your right hand a little bit where you pick... You will found out everything if you just keep experimenting.

Sry for bad english.

[5H1LLYTH3D0N]

"!heyy i just tuned my guitar, what the hell is going on! " :L

[dieandgoaway]

when i twist my thunmb it doesnt touches the string

[Guitartricks]

You may have too much pick sticking out, try showing less pick between your thumb and the string.

[intotheocean93]

He said G-String xD

[roberto97c]

you should make a vid of how to play the blister exsists from slipknot

[SDDpinwin]

Do you need a good amp, cause I got one thats not so expensive... I get the sound but it doesn't sound like it should...

Thanks

nice video man!

[Imasharkrawr]

you need an amp with alot of gain. you could get an overdrive, it will help.

[TruePikachao]

If you have single coils it's a lot harder to get them to sound right.

[xxXSolitaryBlueXxx]

hey thanks for this.

i know how to do them now!

[Guitartricks]

Yay! :) no problemo

[Biotendo]

The video wasent that clear for me though. Finger tapping was easier than this.........

[jdogbig1]

also a Satriani trick too with the harmonic right hand slide

[Guitartricks]

Satriani is smokin' !

[jdogbig1]

very nice mate

[Guitartricks]

thank you !

[randomguy3328]

ha lol finger the g string

[CharlieLayton]

lol 1:08, he sure is getting a kick out of himself isn't he?

haha..... i wish i had a self tuning guitar...

[Guitartricks]

hey, if you can't get a kick out of yourself...

Neal

[TheGhostZone]

What's it called when you are tapping the frets with ur strum hand while still playing with the other hand and how do you make it sound good?

[Paramorerocks21]

its called *tapping/finger-tapping*. Just use the top of the pick. tell me if u have any questions.

[Guitartricks]

AKA "two hand tapping" ...get a good sound slow, clear notes, and build your speed from there -it sounds best when all the notes are clear.

Neal

[zepplinkid]

lol i'm better just using my nail as a pick

[Guitartricks]

whatever works best! :)

Neal

[Dreadzametal]

thanks.. :)

[Guitartricks]

yur welcome :)

Neal

[Dreadzametal]

can i do a pinch w/o using a pick?

[Guitartricks]

Yeah, totally but it's a little harder if you haven't learned it with a pick first.

 I can do it if I pinch my thumb and first finger together on my picking hand and use my first finger...nail as the pick. :)

Neal

[YendoRodneY89]

hi, i've got a question,

is there a certain technique to going back and forth between holding the pick in the normal picking position and the pinch harmonics position, or is it just one of those things that you have to learn own your own. i know how to do pinch harmonics, but i don't know how to execute them in regular playing.

Hope you understand the question :)

[Guitartricks]

For me it's just a matter of adding a little twist down to your pick so that the thumb brushes the string as you pick, almost like you dig into the note a little bit. You have to try to work them into your playing, you might do a simple excercise of playing slow and simple 1,2,3,4 on the same note and try to add a pinch on the last one (or whichever beat you choose), it is kind of a feel thing but you have to try it to make it happen.

Neal

[YendoRodneY89]

thanks i'll try it our

[MudvayneFanStoner13]

nice self tuning guitar, i want one, but cant afford...

[Guitartricks]

Me neither, that one was a loner.

[Shellbullet34]

Well, this might seem like a stupid question from me, but do you think you could show different finger techniques when soloing, and show excersises to improve finger speed?

[Guitartricks]

As they say, "the only stupid question is the one not asked!" : That's a good idea, thanks for your request. You might try our current webisode on 'spider legs' excercise, it will help with your dexterity and speed if you start slow and build up. As for finger techniques when soloing, I may have to run that through the 'webisode-O-matic', that would make a good one!

Neal

[jjc00ll]

great vid,

[Guitartricks]

Thanks jjc001

[Guitartricks]

Since we just did a harmonics related video and we want to keep variety so I would probably wait a little bit first but I can message you when the time is right.

Neal :)

[Josielikeskoalas]

alright neal, i'll appreciate so

thanks very much :D

[Josielikeskoalas]

i've got a question/request

u guys think u could make a video pointing out the differences between natural harmonics, pinch harmonics, artificial harmonics, and probably other type of harmonics i just dont know about?

[Guitartricks]

THAT is an excellent idea, thanks! I'm putting that one in the 'Episode-O-Matic'..our patented episode creating machine. :D

Neal

p.s. we need more requst! I"m running out

[Josielikeskoalas]

alrighty haha

when do you think it'll be up?

i subscribed but idk just incase it doesnt show when should i look for the vid?

[MrCrypt44]

2:40

man i wish i could just play around like that...man ur good.

[Guitartricks]

Thanks man! I was beaten into practicing as a young child. (jk..sort of)

Neal

[Emoif]

Standard Tuning: G string - 7th fret - Pinch - vibrato... one of the best sounds you can make on a guitar with one note =] Who agrees?

[caan07]

9th fret is better i think..

[Guitartricks]

The 9th IS pretty good. You can always make that E on the G string squeeeal !

Neal

[Guitartricks]

Yeah, mine's pretty heavy too, it get's me hyperventilating when I carry it. It's a VH-140C and I got it new around '93. It's sounds cool for a solid state amp, thx!

Neal

[LooMinn]

Cool lesson.

Is that an Ampeg VT-22 that you are wailing through?

I owned one in the early 1970's. It was a bear and must have weighed 100lbs.