¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

[Hurricane]

¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

¿ When and how d'ya pinch it ? :

I have a really talented nephew and he just blows me away with his hand skills , especially when he gets the :

[ Harmonic Pinched Notes ] ringing and squealing like crazy all over the neck :crazy:, no matter where he's got his left hand on the neck :bigeyes: bending a note or hitting a fat clean full sounding six string chord :headbang: . In short I was jealous as hell - Hated the little sucker :rocket:

But - - -


About oh - - well , when I got home beginning my recovery from having a thing shoved up my pride and otherrrrrrrrrrr hospital surgical stuff , I began to see it and hit it and it was good . I realized what it took for my way of an unorthodox manner of playing a guitar since I use no picks on any guitar .

Yep there while laying about supine in repose in my recliner sofa chair with my steel string acoustic electric hooked up to my tubed little bitty 12 watt with a single 6" Celestian I hit it fat and big - My wife who has heard me rehearse for years alone and or w/musicians popped her head into my practice room saying , :

" well that's the first time I ever heard you do that "

And nothing impresses her that I do musically it seems these day ( I get mad when an other musician(s) rehearse here in my studio and she says something about them and how good they are - yeah I guess I'm petty and pitiful huh ) , but those harmonics on the geeeetar did , just like my best harp chops still get her dizzy ( see I am petty ) so I knew I nailed it really tight .

I had the biggest grin realizing I hadn't hooked up my other two electric guitars yet for this experience heh heh heh - - I was getting harmonic pinched notes popping big time from the piezo pick up sound , cool huh

First the LGXSA Godin for that fat humbucker killer tone and sustain - whew I couldn't believe my ears , then the single coils on the Indonesian Strat knock Off Harmony makes and I am in another ball park now

I tried the pick in hand and hitting it ( the string ) just before the thumb's fat tip pads it and gives it the harmonic percussive ring just like I saw my nephew do as well as many others - - -

Nope a few years year of nothing to show for the time trying , so I quit trying that after so many years of no progress , back to square one .

I still wanted to get that technique added to my guitar quiver's arsenal but how ?

Then - -


Tommy Emmanuel's Somewhere Over The Rainbow and the machine gun harmonic pinched notes he plays and even got his DVD with how he explains how he does it - - -

Two years later :

I am ready to cut my wrist's veins - - - I still can not do it and his way sucked any way - - - Just a joke I am a big time fan of Tommy Emmanuel .

Recovering there at home I was really really relaxing from my recent hospital experience ( ordeal is more like it ) and while heavily medicated with some really strong $hit I began to just rethink all the ways I tried and failed and sort of looked at my hands and the strings and the relationship of how I go at it and came up with a way to hit them .

I don't recommend any amateurs try this at home - Be safe - stay away and stay alive - I am a skilled child of he 60s , a professional at - well - chemicals , guitar / harps and fast cars - and don't frequent their company unless a Dr. prescribed it and it's needed accordingly .

I can't believe I can nail this pinched harmonic sound on all of my guitars now , seems so simple too now after about three months of being able to do it . - - -

That said , how did you's other guys who do's dis stuff do it ?

Like Tommy ?

Or

Like my nephew and others ?

And how l long did you spend in time to perfect this sound ?

Me I am embarrassed that it took many years of trying and failing and pondering to not get there .

On the other hand my nephew the guiitar shredder called me for Easter from out of state while I was wailing away on the Strat and he heard heh heh heh heh , blew him away this time :eek2:.

I am not jealous anymore heh heh heh :smokin:my nephew and I get along quite well .


Easy All :

Hurricane Ramon

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Came to me quite naturally after hearing Billy Gibbons back around 1984. I think it comes to how I hold the pick. Acoustic or high gain electric, it's all the same. Single notes to full chords, it's all good.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

hope you are having a good recovery Bro! Sounds like a somewhat fun and productive one!!! Im in no way as skilled in pinches as Id like to be. I can get em good on some axes, but cant just pick up an axe and hit em. And cant all over the neck most of the time. I do choke up high on the pick to achieve it tho.. Wish I could see exactly how you are doing it. Anyhow, besties on a full recovering for you and, uh, mr johnson.

 

[B2D]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I lot of people focus on how to hold the pick and such and that's important but it's only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to pick.

For instance, if you're aiming for a pinch harmonic on a particular note and can't find it, try moving your picking hand either closer to or farther away from the bridge. It doesn't have to be a big distance, especially when it comes to stuff high on the neck - you're dealing in millimeters. Every now and then i have trouble getting a PH in a certain spot only to find out I need to slide my picking hand - more specifically the picking point of contact - forward or backward just a liiiiittle bit and then SSQQQEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Came to me quite naturally after hearing Billy Gibbons back around 1984. I think it comes to how I hold the pick. Acoustic or high gain electric, it's all the same. Single notes to full chords, it's all good.

===========================================

Yep , I have all their albums ( vinyl ) and more . Seeing my nephew do it made it look easy , so did the vids and live shows I saw of ZZ & company . I envy the fact that you and people like my nephew ( Billy G and others ) made/make it look easy . With me it took some doing but I am like a pit bull once I clamp down on something .

When you don't use a pick it's different . I had seen finger style Spanish guitar style players do it too with their fingers but that was a long time before I was able to pick up the guitar again .

Started with a pic 13 years ago , stopped because I was always loosing them or ? ? ? ? ? FRIENDS ? ? ? ?

So I just went with finger style . It's enjoyable I like it and now I found a way with it .

Getting a nylon to hit just right is/was the hardest test for me to nail down but it was doable .

I haven't gotten my 60 watt tube out yet , have not had the need but now heh heh heh I feel the need for high gain and high volume explosions coming on .

I have a modeler and pulled off this with it but compared to the real deal tube bite and break up , well it's a horse of another color . I have a SS Polytone III / IV / V / M-PA that is a killer electric guitar Jazz amp , does well with anything , can't wait to test the waters with it too .

I have some old stuff like a late 30's Gretsch Electromatic Class A and a 50s Skylark Gibson , I have not played them so far but I know I will now .

HR

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

hope you are having a good recovery Bro! Sounds like a somewhat fun and productive one!!! Im in no way as skilled in pinches as Id like to be. I can get em good on some axes, but cant just pick up an axe and hit em. And cant all over the neck most of the time. I do choke up high on the pick to achieve it tho.. Wish I could see exactly how you are doing it. Anyhow, besties on a full recovering for you and, uh, mr johnson.

Thanks , was a scary experience to be sure .

Just look deep into the fret board and see the space relationships of those harmonics available on the 3rd. - 5th. and 12th. frets .

Not all acoustics are up to the challenge on this but most electrics will sail with flying colors easily in to harmonic heaven . I will try to video how I do it , it won't be easy cause it needs a " macro " type lens close up . Maybe I'll solve this one easier than the pinch itself heh heh

HR

======================================================================

I lot of people focus on how to hold the pick and such and that's important but it's only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to pick.

For instance, if you're aiming for a pinch harmonic on a particular note and can't find it, try moving your picking hand either closer to or farther away from the bridge. It doesn't have to be a big distance, especially when it comes to stuff high on the neck - you're dealing in millimeters. Every now and then i have trouble getting a PH in a certain spot only to find out I need to slide my picking hand - more specifically the picking point of contact - forward or backward just a liiiiittle bit and then SSQQQEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Yeah man that's what I'm talking bout . You have to adjust the distance relative to where you fretted the note ! Finding those [ ZONEs ] is what I saw as I laid back analyzing how the " set " harmonics work on the 3rd. 5th & 7th frets was the key to see first . And you are so right , the higher you fret a note's pitch the smaller the fret spacing's distances , so you have to realize that imaginary position when your past the fretboard with your picking hand and guitar pick , and in my case finger and thumb , in millimeters to be sure .

To me this is as important a mile stone as getting my forearm strength up to making bar chording look easy as pie .

Easy Blood :

HR

 

[CTN]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I believe the way I do it is pretty similar to the way Zakk Wylde does it - pick the note at the desired harmonic node for the given fretted note, and then brush the string lightly with the side of my thumb, add vibrato to taste.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Excerpt :

Zakk Wylde does it - pick the note at the desired harmonic node for the given fretted note.

Node - and another guitar term that sounds totally cool I just learned that applies to just this topic , I learn all the time here .

Thanks CTN , I am having a ball doing this now .

I guess learning how to use a pic to make those harmonics would be a good move to go towards in regards to adding another texture to the palette of my mental sounscape's basic foundation .

But

I am in this neat comfort zone now with finger style and lazy at the same time to wanna put in the dedication in what it takes to get fluid with a pic on making those sounds .

It's truly tempting too since I dig challenges . I stopped using pics over 10 years ago because I was loosing so many pics after many a session in my practice room when I had the neighbor wanna be a rock star over . Seemed like when he left with his friends I was short a few pics . Not bad people or rip off types or anything like that , just beer boozing :beerchug: semi conscious guitar pick cleptos heh heh heh .

L8Rs man :

HR

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Funny, you said "skilled child of the 60's" because although every type of harmonic had been thought of already, a skilled child of the 80's had harmonics as part of their skill set.

Taking those fun tricks and integrating it into real music is the challenge. Nothing sounds worse to me than the over use of pinch harmonics......cough....Zakk Wylde....cough. Finding ways of using them to enhance a screaming note, or using them in an acoustic Tommy Emmanuel way are the only uses I find for them anymore.

As an 80's teen, I strive to avoid 80's cliche's for some reason. Maybe it's because grew up on 60's and 70's players.

 

[Securb]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I use ultra heavy Brossard picks made out of horn. They make doing harmonics super easy and very bell like.

www.brossardpicks.com

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

First and foremost, I have to say that the best course of action is to avoid pinching it. It's really not healthy to interrupt its natural movement.

That said, I do have extensive experience in these matters. "When Ya Gotta Pinch It," as you say, I always try my best to pinch it using fine control of the sphincter alone. If you simply coarsely squeeze your buttocks together, severing the exposed segment by way of blunt gluteal force, while "gulping" the remainder back in as if a turtle retracting its head, you end up mashing far more of it into the folds of your sphincter and into your intergluteal cleft, spread over a larger area. This not only makes your subsequent cleaning duties less pleasant and less sanitary – and is more wasteful of paper and water – but makes it more difficult to achieve a level of relative anal cleanliness that is conducive to shower skipping and/or anilingus or other forms of "assplay."

No; think of the pinching process as using an X-Acto knife, not a machete. Now, the first order of business is to give that blade some room to work. Stated colloquially, you need to "Spread Your Cheeks," and keep them that way during and immediately following the [sphinctal] pinch. You may greet success by wedging one buttock against one side of the toilet seat and the other buttuck against the other side, by leaning forward such that the buttocks naturally spread, or even by simply holding them apart using both hands. Everyone has his or her preferred method, and it may take a significant amount of trial and error to find yours. Do not become frustrated if your initial efforts leave you in a pinch; there is always next time.

The pinching process itself is relatively straightforward. However, there is a devil in the details. The anus contains many folds. These folds are prone to trapping fecal and other matter. However, these anal folds behave as a file of sorts. They're only "sharp" in one direction – on the metaphorical push stroke; that's when matter can become trapped. So the key is really to treat the actual pinching movement as the back stroke of the file that is your anus. Do not "suck" the anus inward to perform the severing. You want to make your "cuts" with the anus in at least neutral, and preferably slightly extended position. That way, it's not the coarse, dry external folds that are doing the cutting, but the smooth, wet internal surfaces. And what's the proper way to use a file? That's right; you don't take off too much at once. You use smooth, controlled, and repeated passes. So it is with the anus. Don't try to pinch through the whole thickness in one rough pass. Work in slowly from the outside, using several contraction/relaxation cycles of the sphincter, each one moving you closer and closer to the core – much like eating an apple. Always focus only on the next "bite." Don't worry about swallowing the entire fruit in one massive gulp.

Eventually, you will feel an unstable swinging sensation emanating from the hanging mass, perhaps slightly ticklish at first. Congratulation! This is the clue that your adventure is near to its end. However, don't pat yourself on the rear just yet. The key at this time is to remain calm. It will be your instinct to pucker your sphincter out of excitement – but remember the anal folds, and their child-like clinginess. It is important that you do not "lose it" and sacrifice your control at this point. Otherwise you've done 95 percent of a clean pinch, just to ruin it on the severing slice. What you do is to simply treat the Death Blow as any other, and you've got a Clean Bombs Away. After that, it's just business as usual, and you're done!

I know it sounds complicated to see it laid out in detail in written form, but if you read slowly, carefully, and repeatedly, you will realize that it is actually a fairly simple and instinctive process; it just demands one's complete attention during. Having to pinch one off is never an ideal scenario, but let us be realistic. We are all strong-armed into doing it every now and then due to the time constraints so ruthlessly applied by our spouses, our children, our employers, ourselves (that can be a Big One), and Society ("The Man"). So instead of ignoring the possibility that it could happen to any of us simply because it "shouldn't," it is altogether fitting and proper that we should have these sorts of discussions out in the open. Those who partake will, instead of having the unfortunate – yet unavoidable – ruin their day, be shouting "It's away!" with the excitement of Red Leader, and taking pride and joy in their work, all while reaping the dividends of keeping a clean arse hole.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Meh, it's a neat skill I guess, but I do them way too much. I honestly don't remember how I really learned how to do them. 20 years ago my friend showed me, he wasn't even all that good at it, I kinda just practiced from there and one day I got it, I guess.

Nevermind the "nodes", you just have to find the sweet spots, they go higher and lower based on where you "pinch" in relation to the bridge, the actual fretted note is not as important. Deep ones pinched almost at the fretboard sound really cool btw, I don't see many other people do that, I think BG might.

I never carry picks, so I play guitars in shops without one, I figured out that I can do them without a pick too. My "fingerstyle" is more of a simulated pick technique, lol. I use my index fingernail to strike the note, then "pinch" it with the side of my thumb, just like you would with a pick. That might work for you if you want to integrate them into your fingerstyle. I would try to get them down with a pick first, then try with your fingers together like you're pinching a pick, just with no pick.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Yeah some drunk guy showed me how to do em about 10 years ago and I picked it up pretty quick. I think I'm pretty decent at em... Sometime I like to add a lil more grit/skin to a pinch though. Just adds another dimension of expression if I so desire.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Excerpt :

I never carry picks, so I play guitars in shops without one, I figured out that I can do them without a pick too. My "fingerstyle" is more of a simulated pick technique, lol. I use my index fingernail to strike the note, then "pinch" it with the side of my thumb, just like you would with a pick. That might work for you if you want to integrate them into your fingerstyle. I would try to get them down with a pick first, then try with your fingers together like you're pinching a pick, just with no pick.

Good description on how I do it .

Don't know what to call my finger style other than :

" The Finger " heh heh .

It's a combination of how Spanish guitar players attack it but far less sophisticated or accurate . The more I come along with it though the more fingers I use . The pinky is coming along now too for the the ride .


Excerpt :

First and foremost, I have to say that the best course of action is to avoid pinching it. It's really not healthy to interrupt its natural movement.

That said, Those who partake will, instead of having the unfortunate – yet unavoidable – ruin their day, be shouting "It's away!" with the excitement of Red Leader, and taking pride and joy in their work, all while reaping the dividends of keeping a clean arse hole.

I just knew I was going to get a few really great responses

Easy man :

HR

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Yeah some drunk guy showed me how to do em about 10 years ago and I picked it up pretty quick. I think I'm pretty decent at em... Sometime I like to add a lil more grit/skin to a pinch though. Just adds another dimension of expression if I so desire.

It's like a new toy for me heh heh . Day by day I see where I can use one here and there in an arrangement .

HR

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I use ultra heavy Brossard picks made out of horn. They make doing harmonics super easy and very bell like.

www.brossardpicks.com

+1. I swear by those picks.

I've got a weird way of doing it... Firstly, I hold the pick with thumb, index and middle fingers. If I want to play a pinched harmonic, I'll touch the node with the tip of my index finger, leaving my thumb and middle finger holding the pick.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I lot of people focus on how to hold the pick and such and that's important but it's only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to pick.

For instance, if you're aiming for a pinch harmonic on a particular note and can't find it, try moving your picking hand either closer to or farther away from the bridge. It doesn't have to be a big distance, especially when it comes to stuff high on the neck - you're dealing in millimeters. Every now and then i have trouble getting a PH in a certain spot only to find out I need to slide my picking hand - more specifically the picking point of contact - forward or backward just a liiiiittle bit and then SSQQQEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I've been trying to perfect my pinch harmonic technique for awhile now. Haven't got it just yet, but I was recently treated to a 2-minute lesson from a friend who is a great player. He's mainly a rockabilly guy, but he's got chops. He demonstrated the slight movement of the picking hand to track the fretted hand. A few millimeters in either direction can really make a difference in how those notes sing.

I've also been playing a lot lately without a pick. Mainly because I'm trying to learn different finger-picking styles (the same friend was showing me some Chet Atkins tricks...) so I found it easier to use the tip of my index fingernail as my pick most of the time. From reading what you are all saying though, I've been doing pinch harmonics wrong. I have been trying to use my index finger to pinch the notes, but it sounds like you all use your thumb.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

My uncle showed me pinch harmonics. I got them at first with really thin picks, but now I get them much easier.

 

[Matt42]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I can hit them fairly easily, and honestly I'm not sure exactly how I do it (and if I practiced it more, I'm sure I could hit them 100%, but it's not really part of my practice routine). For me, I find it easiest when I'm thinking about my picking angle, and how I'm using my wrist, I definitely move wrist, hand, and pick differently when playing pinches.

 

[Maynardo]

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

Re: ¡ So ! - When Ya Gotta Pinch It , ¿ How Do YOU Do It ?

I don't know, I'm really a crappy player, I mean really bad, BUT Pinch Harmonics I can get them pretty much anywhere for some weird reason they come naturally to me