L.W. Badger
New member
You know that annoying squeal that Zakk Wylde likes to over-do.......how does one do that? I've heard part of the technique was using a bit of picking thumb, but have no clue about it on the fretboard......how's it done?
How to do harmonic squeal?
- Thread starter L.W. Badger
- Start date
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
They're called pinch harmonics btw.
It's not about the fretboard, it's all in the picking hand. Yes, the bit about giving the strings a bit of the picking hand thumb is correct.
You have to REALLY dig in. Just be patient and it will come to you. Everyone is different in how they pick, but if you concentrate on digging in hard and getting a bit of that picking hand thumb into it, eventually it will become totally intuitive as to what you need to do.
They're called pinch harmonics btw.
It's not about the fretboard, it's all in the picking hand. Yes, the bit about giving the strings a bit of the picking hand thumb is correct.
You have to REALLY dig in. Just be patient and it will come to you. Everyone is different in how they pick, but if you concentrate on digging in hard and getting a bit of that picking hand thumb into it, eventually it will become totally intuitive as to what you need to do.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
also, fret the note as you would normally, the "harmonic" all comes from either your thumb or whatever feels natural to you hitting a harmonic node after the initial attack with either your first finger or your pick.
also, fret the note as you would normally, the "harmonic" all comes from either your thumb or whatever feels natural to you hitting a harmonic node after the initial attack with either your first finger or your pick.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
Listen to Mathias Eklundh.......he uses them in a most different manner
Listen to Mathias Eklundh.......he uses them in a most different manner
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
when I was learning to do them, a friend of mine told me how to do them.
Basically, there are certain spots near your picking hand that are ripe for producing pinch harmonics. Great place to start is try a pinch harmonic for the 5th fret on the low E string. The corresponding pinch harmonic place should be somewhere near the polepieces closest to the bridge, of your NECK pickup. That produces a pinch harmonic of the same note you're fretting (in this case an A) but an octave higher than the fretted note.
What you want to do is play the string normally, and then IMMEDIATELY after, almost simultaneously, brush the string with your thumb right near the polepieces. If you go a couple inches closer to the bridge and the pinch harmonic will change pitch.
Keep in mind, the "place" for producing the magic one-octave-higher pinch harmonic varies for each fret and each string. You'll have to really practice the hell out of them to get them bang on, and you'll need to get to know your guitar intimately, but it's totally possible
when I was learning to do them, a friend of mine told me how to do them.
Basically, there are certain spots near your picking hand that are ripe for producing pinch harmonics. Great place to start is try a pinch harmonic for the 5th fret on the low E string. The corresponding pinch harmonic place should be somewhere near the polepieces closest to the bridge, of your NECK pickup. That produces a pinch harmonic of the same note you're fretting (in this case an A) but an octave higher than the fretted note.
What you want to do is play the string normally, and then IMMEDIATELY after, almost simultaneously, brush the string with your thumb right near the polepieces. If you go a couple inches closer to the bridge and the pinch harmonic will change pitch.
Keep in mind, the "place" for producing the magic one-octave-higher pinch harmonic varies for each fret and each string. You'll have to really practice the hell out of them to get them bang on, and you'll need to get to know your guitar intimately, but it's totally possible
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
Exactly.
You'll have to really practice the hell out of them to get them bang on, and you'll need to get to know your guitar intimately, but it's totally possible
Exactly.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
If you're a mathematical type, you may understand it better this way. When you pick the string, you're producing harmonics. The first order harmonic means the wavelength is from the bridge to the fret. The second order harmonic is half that distance. The third order harmonic is a third of that distance.
So at some point near the bridge, there are nodes in the waves of the higher-order harmonics. Your job is to stop all the lower order harmonics with your thumb. That lets the higher-order harmonics ring through, and you get the squeal. But the best way to get them is practice, practice, practice. Eventually they'll become reliable.
And you can't go around telling people you can do them until you can do it on an acoustic every time.
If you're a mathematical type, you may understand it better this way. When you pick the string, you're producing harmonics. The first order harmonic means the wavelength is from the bridge to the fret. The second order harmonic is half that distance. The third order harmonic is a third of that distance.
So at some point near the bridge, there are nodes in the waves of the higher-order harmonics. Your job is to stop all the lower order harmonics with your thumb. That lets the higher-order harmonics ring through, and you get the squeal. But the best way to get them is practice, practice, practice. Eventually they'll become reliable.
And you can't go around telling people you can do them until you can do it on an acoustic every time.
L.W. Badger
New member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
Pinch Harmonics, got it.....canceling nodes.....10-4........practicepracticepractice......aw geez....not THAT again!
Thanks for the hints all, I appreciate it. I was going to hit up YouTube, but it was getting on o'dark thirty when I posted the question, and figured I'd let it stew for a day, thanks again.
This is not for ZW style playing.....more for the squeals I hear in "Dead or Alive"-Bon Jovi........and another one........."Rock Me"-Great White.....who was that guitarist.....Mark Kendall or something like that?
One thing I'm really appreciating about learning the guitar again......is actually LISTENING to the music on the radio again! Sure most of it may be commercial garbage, but I listen to modern and classic rock stations.....so REALLY paying attention to what Jimmy Page is doing adds a new depth to your typical Zepplin song on the radio.
Pinch Harmonics, got it.....canceling nodes.....10-4........practicepracticepractice......aw geez....not THAT again!
Thanks for the hints all, I appreciate it. I was going to hit up YouTube, but it was getting on o'dark thirty when I posted the question, and figured I'd let it stew for a day, thanks again.
This is not for ZW style playing.....more for the squeals I hear in "Dead or Alive"-Bon Jovi........and another one........."Rock Me"-Great White.....who was that guitarist.....Mark Kendall or something like that?
One thing I'm really appreciating about learning the guitar again......is actually LISTENING to the music on the radio again! Sure most of it may be commercial garbage, but I listen to modern and classic rock stations.....so REALLY paying attention to what Jimmy Page is doing adds a new depth to your typical Zepplin song on the radio.
everdrone
New member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
Yes, right on. zep is very cool. harmonics are like a wammy bar to me. its fun and stuff, ear candy in some situations, satriani does awesome stuff with it for effect, Ive heard songs where its harmonics only. ZW does it constantly though, Im not a fan of it for that little bit of his music but to each his own. XZW is pretty awesome and I have his pups in my guitar. tastefulness is key and you have it! I did this song where it has tons of harmonics:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7877491
Im gonna add vocals to it in the next month...new years res haha
Yes, right on. zep is very cool. harmonics are like a wammy bar to me. its fun and stuff, ear candy in some situations, satriani does awesome stuff with it for effect, Ive heard songs where its harmonics only. ZW does it constantly though, Im not a fan of it for that little bit of his music but to each his own. XZW is pretty awesome and I have his pups in my guitar. tastefulness is key and you have it! I did this song where it has tons of harmonics:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7877491
Im gonna add vocals to it in the next month...new years res haha
dr. ad
MonkeyDungologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
artificial harmonics/'pinch' harmonics/pick harmonics/'squeals' are nothing to do with your fretting hand, though mid-range and a whole lot of gain will help enormously.
easiest way to explain it is to have part of your thumb (or a finger) touch the string at (about) the same time as picking a note; you get different harmonics a different points on the string; once you've got sorted out that all the other info will make more sense.
hope this helps.
artificial harmonics/'pinch' harmonics/pick harmonics/'squeals' are nothing to do with your fretting hand, though mid-range and a whole lot of gain will help enormously.
easiest way to explain it is to have part of your thumb (or a finger) touch the string at (about) the same time as picking a note; you get different harmonics a different points on the string; once you've got sorted out that all the other info will make more sense.
hope this helps.
innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
I did my first one today! I'm over it.
I did my first one today! I'm over it.
Nagarajah725
New member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
note that pinch harmonics can be accentuated by picking at different lengths of the string. Thicker string gauges are easier to do pinch harmonics in my experience, especially with the drop D string that Zakk always does with.
note that pinch harmonics can be accentuated by picking at different lengths of the string. Thicker string gauges are easier to do pinch harmonics in my experience, especially with the drop D string that Zakk always does with.
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80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
I think it helps to bend the note as you pinch it.
I use the side of my fat thumb, I pick HARD and let my thumb just barely touch the string as I sort of twist or rotate the pick away from that string.
my $.02
I think it helps to bend the note as you pinch it.
I use the side of my fat thumb, I pick HARD and let my thumb just barely touch the string as I sort of twist or rotate the pick away from that string.
my $.02
L.W. Badger
New member
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
Thanks ALL! With some practice.....I got it! It's all in the picking hand.....plus bending makes it more colorful.......one thing I've noticed while doing it......facial contortions......i.e. "feeling what you play"........it's like when you're watching a video and you see the guitarist turn away from looking at the guitar and "grimicing" (or other strained look on their mug).
Thanks ALL! With some practice.....I got it! It's all in the picking hand.....plus bending makes it more colorful.......one thing I've noticed while doing it......facial contortions......i.e. "feeling what you play"........it's like when you're watching a video and you see the guitarist turn away from looking at the guitar and "grimicing" (or other strained look on their mug).
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
The most important thing is to fret the note on the right spot.
Different strings brands and gauges, different tuning and different bridges causes different harmonics. Since the guitar is not a true temperament instrument, the harmonics are not on the same spot on every note. The squealing effect is not done by pinching the string, but bending the note to get to the sweet spot,and let the harmonic sing.
I love pinch harmonics, and they have an important part on my playing style.
The most important thing is to fret the note on the right spot.
Different strings brands and gauges, different tuning and different bridges causes different harmonics. Since the guitar is not a true temperament instrument, the harmonics are not on the same spot on every note. The squealing effect is not done by pinching the string, but bending the note to get to the sweet spot,and let the harmonic sing.
I love pinch harmonics, and they have an important part on my playing style.
GoDrex
Riffologist Extraordinaire
Re: How to do harmonic squeal?
I don't know what this is about, but pinch harmonics are done with the picking hand, usually by lightly touching the string with the side of the thumb at nearly the same time the string is struck by the pick.
I don't know what this is about, but pinch harmonics are done with the picking hand, usually by lightly touching the string with the side of the thumb at nearly the same time the string is struck by the pick.
