G'day,
I was playing the Strat unplugged a few weeks ago and my mate said to me "How do you get all those harmonics" ? Well I just looked at him like a stunned mullet.
What he was referring to is a picking technique I have been doing for over 20 years wlthout really thinking about it, almost as if I was getting these shrill, harmonic-like squeals by mind control
I've analyzed it a bit now. On the upstroke the middle finger strikes the string immediately after the pick, producing this sound. I have found it can be done on the downstroke also, with the thumb hitting the string after the pick, although this is not my habit.
I am self taught, so I am probably missing something fairly obvious. Is this a forced harmonic? False or pinched? A similar result can be achieved with those serrated edged picks like shark fins. The key seems to be hitting the string twice.
A lot of great players like Gary Moore (R.I.P) and Brian May do what I'm talking about.
Here's an example in a Queen track. Brian hits a couple of beauties at 0.47.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQDxHaJi ... re=related

Great track by the way, although somewhat bitter lyrically (ex-lover,ex-management or both)

I would much appreciate any clarification and explanation from the musically educated forum members.
Thanks ,,,,,Mark.

Hi
They are pinch harmonics and the normal way to do them is, put the point of your pick angled slightly backwards toward your wrist and as you play the note, graze the string you've just played very lightly with your thumb to produce the squeal
You can get real harmonics or what I call "nasty" harmonics by picking in different areas (try over middle then neck pickups to see the difference)
Here's it being done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5O8P-r5Rk
Ted

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Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"

Thanks Ted, pinch harmonics or squealies hmm well I did say they were squeals
The video is great, watched it Strat in hand and it was making immediate sense.
I can now really build on what has come naturally to me for so long.
Again many thanks.
.....Mark.

Howdy!

I reckon Ted J is bang on and his vid is a really good example of how a pinched harmonic is achieved. 50 points to Ted!

There are loads of different techniques to hit a harmonic(s). Eric Johnson shows how to get most of them in the clip below..

Eric Johnson - Harmonics

For me, there's one artist who has absolute mastery of harmonics...

Jeff Beck - Where Were You - Live At Ronnie Scott's

I saw him do that track faultlessly on his 65th Birthday at the Dome in Brighton (UK). The man is truly one of the all time greatest guitars of our time.

Awesomeness achieved.

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Thanks Andy, Yep Jeff's the man.
Well I've got heaps of food for thought now regarding harmonics.

I hope you're well mate. I still haven't split the humbucker in the naked Mexican but I still have your diagram. Maybe next winter (Aussie). Right now I'm working on another project (Automotive).
Goodonya mate ......Mark.

Good stuff!


I'm fine thanks mate!

Don't feel obligated to mod the Naked Mexican, especially if its all good at the moment.

Best of luck with your new project!

Cheers!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

And don't forget the king of Squank (my personal nickname for the pinch harmonic sound before I knew what it was called), Reverend Willy G, Billy F. Gibbons.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Ahh yes, the ZZ Top sound, of course. Well this is great, a whole new bag of tricks for this old dog. and I'm already part of the way there, just never knew it.
I'm not into pedals and stuff, so heres something REAL a player can do, even acoustically,love it. I always assumed Eric Johnson was playing through a bunch of effects. You never stop learning.

So, what is a forced harmonic? Or a false harmonic? That's a bad thing right?

........Mark.

I too am completely self taught so I'm lacking some of the correct terminology, but I have know idea what either of those could be. Maybe the same as a pinched harmonic...

...Or is it a Jedi thing?

Andy

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Pending Greatness

I'll try it blindfolded

"Do or do not. There is no try."



Andy

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Pending Greatness