Exploring types of harmonics

This video explains Natural, Tapped, and Pinch Harmonics. The pinch harmonics explanation will probably be a little different than you've heard it explained before; At least one part for the video. Please note that this demo and explanation is the way I see it easiest, but may not be to others. Though, I hope that I help in anyway possible. The first guitar is a Jackson SLSMG. The second one is an Ibanez RG 350 DX.

Natural Harmonics (NH): EZ Start: Begining on any string, on the 12th fret, lightly touch the string with your finger and pick. If done correctly, you will hear a chime. To make the chime more resonant, lift your finger from the string, when the chime sounds. Adding distortion makes sick effects! The 12th fret is a natural spot on the neck that these harmonics come out. Other natural places are 3, 5, 7, 9....etc. You can add distortion and hear "false (or artificial) harmonics." Don't get confused. It's the same thing as natural harmonics, only you are touching a place that is not natural, and getting a chime. An example is the 2nd fret. This place is awesome to hit with heavy distortion; playing metal music. A place like the 2nd fret is not where harmonics naturally come out, but you can force these out with distortion. You don't need distortion to hear the natural harmonics - that's the idea. Dive bombs use the same idea. If you can do a natural harmonic, and you have a whammy bar, you can do a dive bomb. Pick out some places on the neck, according to your taste, sound a NH, and dip your whammy bar to see what sounds the sickest! For the "flick" method, isolate a string (the G string for instance), using your thumb to mute out the bottom strings, and your index finger for the top strings. Don't choke the strings, or you'll sound the other strings as well. Dip the bar all the way down. Start to depress the whammy bar, and at the same time flick the string with your middle finger. You kinda "catch" the harmonic. You don't need a pick for this. It will take some doing to get it right. The "flick" method is explained better by a lot of other people. But I don't think people call it the flick method - I was sitting here and decided to give a name. For more on dive bombs click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehRvMuzKZEo

Tap Harmonics (TH): These are made by first fretting any note on the guitar, then tapping the fret an octave higher on the same string. Make it light tap; one motion. A vibrato will make it resonate clearer. This is really easy once you get the hang of it. You can control a TH any way you want. You can bend the string to a desired note, or if you were doing a pre-bend, then a TH, you can release the string while the TH still sounds. Remember that you can do this on all strings. You can even play an open string and tap on the 12th fret to sound a TH. Important: Tap the fret, not the note.

Pinch Harmonics (PH): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpo7LE5vVb4 Start out with a real heavy pick like a 1 mm, or maybe heavier. This will make your pinches easier to hit. Use your picking hand the way you normally do; don't change the way you've always picked. I find the G string to be the place that is the easiest to get the pinches out. Turn your pick so that when you're picking, you are scraping the string(s) in a downwards motion. Let your thumb come in behind the pick. The string needs to "launch" off the tip of your pick and hit your thumb coming in behind it. It's almost simultaneous. The link above will better demonstrate this.


Clear as mud? :)
Please let me know if you need clarification on something.

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[ChromeFang]

Though most natural harmonics are at the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets, you mentioned the 3rd as well. I would recommend trying the 4th before trying the 3rd as it is much easier.

[TheFireball100]

@ChromeFang Yeah, I've found that out since then. I do dimebag squeals there now.

[MaidenDio252]

I have that exact same white ibanez!

[TheFireball100]

@MaidenDio252 cool :)

[Karola1126]

no fajnie fajniee.;D

[TheFireball100]

@Karola1126 no fun fun?

[Karola1126]

@TheFireball100 yet cool.

[TheFireball100]

@GuitarLeo096 Yeah, I know. Everybody says I look like Harry Potter. haha

[GuitarLeo096]

@TheFireball100 hehe just joking! nice vid man! :)

[TheFireball100]

@GuitarLeo096 lol once again. haha