How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

[Chistopher]

I've been playing guitar for quite a long time, but most of the material I play stays between the realms of soft rock to southern rock. Every now and then I want to play heavier styles, but I can never venture too far because of my inability to play artificial harmonics.

I've tried just wailing on them over and over for about 5 minutes at the end of practicing for about a year now (much to the delight of the band), but I still have not progressed at all. Does anyone have any tips? Or is it just a case of old dogs and new tricks?

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

I've been playing guitar for quite a long time, but most of the material I play stays between the realms of soft rock to southern rock. Every now and then I want to play heavier styles, but I can never venture too far because of my inability to play artificial harmonics.

I've tried just wailing on them over and over for about 5 minutes at the end of practicing for about a year now (much to the delight of the band), but I still have not progressed at all. Does anyone have any tips? Or is it just a case of old dogs and new tricks?

Two of the biggest tips I have is to try to get more flesh into the pick attack, and to adjust where on the string(s) to attack. Just like with "real" harmonics, the relation of the fretted note, to where you pluck will matter. If you work on those two things, you should be able to get pinch harmonics to ring out clearly even with a clean tone.

Try it out tonight, and if you get nowhere, I can post something for you.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

^ Bingo.

Also, through years of teaching and jamming with people, I find some people can just nail pinch's, and other's can't, no matter how hard they try.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Part of the secret is to really choke up on the pick. That way you can strike the string while almost simultaneously muting it thus bringing out the harmonic.

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[Chistopher]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Part of the secret is to really choke up on the pick. That way you can strike the string while almost simultaneously muting it thus bringing out the harmonic.

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I never actually tried that, I usually choke up on the pick a bit, but I might start doing it more. And I might also lean my finger into it more like Joey said.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Yes, choke up. It id definitely done in one motion, not a pick then initiate harmonic, it is damn near simultaneous (for pinch harmonics at least)

 

[LLL]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Pinchie squealies rely on not only the proper technique, but the proper eq frequencies to be "available" so they can ring out.

I'm a nail-user myself.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Pinchie squealies rely on not only the proper technique, but the proper eq frequencies to be "available" so they can ring out.

I'm a nail-user myself.

Which part of the EQ spectrum is that? If I had to rate my usual setup, it's about 4/8/6 (B/M/T).

It does seem that using your nails would be easier, but my day job doesn't take too kindly to long nails, so I have to keep them short.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

You don't need them to be long. I've done pinch harmonics without a pick by holding my thumb and index finger as if I have a pick and once again, striking and muting almost simultaneously.

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[BriGuy1968]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Like Demanic, I tend to choke up on the pick in order to get good pinch harmonics. One thing I've noticed though, is that it also seems to depend on the guitar. I have some guitars that the harmonics just pour out of and others where I have to struggle to get them.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Like Demanic, I tend to choke up on the pick in order to get good pinch harmonics. One thing I've noticed though, is that it also seems to depend on the guitar. I have some guitars that the harmonics just pour out of and others where I have to struggle to get them.

I have found that tends to be more a function of the pickups than anything else. Some pickups could pull pinch harmonics out of a guitar made of wet newsprint.

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[LLL]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Which part of the EQ spectrum is that? If I had to rate my usual setup, it's about 4/8/6 (B/M/T).

It does seem that using your nails would be easier, but my day job doesn't take too kindly to long nails, so I have to keep them short.

I haven't done a scientific study (hahaha), but the freqs that tend to favor pinchie squealies are upper mids...

...like approximately 2k-6k in the frequency spectrum.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Well, why don't you get on it then? I'll be waiting for graphs and corresponding sound clips.

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[LLL]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Well, why don't you get on it then? I'll be waiting for graphs and corresponding sound clips.

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Pay me first and I'll think about it. :13:

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Really, if I paid you what I thought it was worth, you'd end up owing me.

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[LLL]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Really, if I paid you what I thought it was worth, you'd end up owing me.

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Better yet, check out my latest vid on Randy Rhoads (soon uploaded)... I get some gnarly pinchie-squealies (not Randy-like, I was screwing around) out of '57 Classic bridge. His bright tone is really conducive to getting the squeaks out.

Take notice of how I have things EQ'd.

That's about as scientific as you'll get on the subject from me... and yeah, I don't work for free.

Here's the link (still uploading; should be done in 15):

EP07: Getting The *Real* Randy Rhoads Guitar Tone

Pinchie-squealies found in 2nd round of guitar playing at about 19:00 on:

Revelation/Mother Earth

Suicide Solution

 

[Chistopher]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Really, if I paid you what I thought it was worth, you'd end up owing me.

That's signature worthy material right there. Might have to borrow it.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

That's signature worthy material right there. Might have to borrow it.

No doubt! If you don't I'll take it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

"Borrow" eh?

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[dave74]

Re: How to Improve Artificial Harmonics?

Yeah you can't just up and borrow that line without first paying what you think it's worth. lol