How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar : Pinch Harmonic Techniques in Metal Guitar

Learn how to use pinch harmonic techniques in heavy metal guitar playing in this free video lesson.

Expert: Gary Schutt
Bio: Gary Schutt was born and raised in Monticello, NY, and was taught how to play drums by his father. He later learned to play guitar. Gary attended Berklee College of Music.
Filmmaker: Gary Schutt

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• heavy metal guitar tips
• playing heavy metal guitar
• play heavy metal guitar
• heavy metal guitar lesson
• heavy metal guitar guide
• heavy guitar tips
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• guitar paying styles

[MrRoger1969]

I've played for 32 years & TECHNIQUE & the GUITAR/proper guitar setup have 100% to do with it. Once a person has the TECHNIQUE down, you can hear the harmonics clearly on an unplugged guitar. Pickups, amps etc just enhances the sounds. Also, if you're playing on junk or a poorly setup guitar, you can be Eddie Van Halen & still not be able to get harmonics. Sorry, but cheap guitars won't cut it, & blowing your cash on new pickups, amps, more expensive strings won't teach technique - trust me.

[MrRoger1969]

Here's something to keep in mind. I've always referred to the pinch harmonics or squealies as "getting skin."  Keep that phrase in mind because when you find the right spots over the pickup section of your guitar, all you will need to do it pick the note and get just a bit of skin. Soon you'll be making it scream. Each guitar is different too. If you have 2 or more guitars, you'll need to experiment with each of them to find the proper spots over the pickup sections to get harmonics.

[Justacuase18]

@BeastGoneWild He is only using the overdrive on his expensive amp in the background, and a slight delay commonly referred to as a tape delay

[Lundvalnaden]

everybody loves raymond

[MrRoger1969]

@JoesTelevision The best thing to do is to find someone you trust who can make sure it's set up properly, and someone who can play it and see if it is capable of getting good pinch harmonics. I haven't played any BC Rich guitars except for some older ones from back in the 80's.

[MrRoger1969]

@ferchobilbao97 Luckily my Gibson SG is bursting with harmonics. I get squeals/pinch harmonics in as many as 3 areas over different parts of the pickups. The natural harmonics over the neck are effortless. I got a good deal on because of a scratches on the back & some small blemishes. I put some $5 Ernie Ball's on it & set the intonation, etc, now I play it as much as my Gibson Les Paul that I have more than twice the money in. The LP Rocks a bit better though. It has a hot 498T in the bridge.

[ferchobilbao97]

@MrRoger1969 YEah that happens to me. Sometimes I need to find the right place in the string to do the pinch harmonics, and a good place I found in my Gibson was just infront of the neck pickups. I tried in other parts, and it sounds, but there would be the best place for me to do them in that guitar. In my fender, I try and its really hard cuz of the quality of the guitar, its not strato nor telecaster. Pinch harmonics are a bit harde to get in bad guitars...

[JoesTelevision]

@MrRoger1969 so is my B.C Rich Warlock good enough?

[k5lta]

@MrRoger1969 Thanks for the info!! i will do that.

[MrRoger1969]

@k5lta Yeah you kind find a lot of good guitars for $400.00 I have an authentic made in the USA Gibson SG that's a worn brown color which I bought for $500.00 brand new. It had a few blemishes on it and with a $100 off coupon at Guitar Center I ended up with a guitar that would have been $800.00 with tax. I also have a MIM Strat that I rebuilt and I only have $300.00 in it. As long as the $400.00 isn't going into special edition paint jobs, etc. Just go for overall quality.

[k5lta]

@MrRoger1969 is a $400 guitar good?

[BeastGoneWild]

What effects are you using for the hard rock sound. (I'm kinda new at all of this).