A little squealin'

testekleez · #1 July 4th, 2007

I can finally get the pinch harmonics!! See my last attachment for a little demonstration. I put it in another post but so many have already seen it they probably didn't realize I put a file there so this would be the better place I think.

Allthumbs gave me a little advice and I finally figured it out after adjusting the pick a bit. The thing is, I can't necessarily do it on command when I want. Sometimes I get it and sometimes I don't.

You guys have any advice on how to get more consistent with them to where I can do it anywhere on the neck on demand (practice lol I know but just wondering if there's a way to practice it to get it down to where it's effortless)

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/fo...8&d=1183589973

testekleez · #2 July 5th, 2007

Here's a remix of it. Sounds better and normalized the volume in Audacity and added a little reverb effect.

knight46 · #3 July 5th, 2007

That sounded pretty cool...

testekleez · #4 July 5th, 2007

Thanks Knight! Feels good to be able to have that trick in the bag now. I still need to work on it until I can do it on command, but I'm just happy I can finally do em!!

They're not too difficult to do, just have to find the right pick configuration for you to be able to use the tip of the pick and have your thumb briefly touch the string after it's been struck with the pick.

I hold the pick basically parallel to the string, but it's pointy end is pointed slightly back, toward the bridge end, with only a small portion of the tip exposed from the bottom of my thumb. Kinda weird feeling at first, but I'm getting used to it.

Out of all the picks I tried, I found the Dunlop Jazz I to work the best for me, as it's smaller than a regular pick and heavy. The teardrop is smaller, but I found it not to be as good, as it's slightly thinner and has a pointy tip as opposed to the more rounded tip on the jazz.

So far I'm finding the D and G strings to be the easiest to get the harmonic. The bass strings and treble strings are slightly more difficult. Pretty much works anywhere on the neck as far as I can tell.

knight46 · #5 July 5th, 2007

Man you are way above my head...but stay withit cause it sounds like you are on the right track.

allthumbs · #6 July 5th, 2007

You have got it. The fine control is just slightly rolling your thumb closer or further from the string for clean or harmonics.

krissovo · #7 July 5th, 2007

Sounded great........time to get out my LP and crack up the gain

testekleez · #8 July 5th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

You have got it. The fine control is just slightly rolling your thumb closer or further from the string for clean or harmonics.

I see what you mean now. I always wondered why some of the guitar greats would move their thumb around in different positions and now I see. Thanks for the pointers!

fly135 · #9 July 6th, 2007

I watched VH-1 Rock Honors last night and Zakk Wylde was squeal'n away on Crazy Train. So let's hear ya put it in a song!

Stratrat · #10 July 6th, 2007

Nice job, Testekleez....you're definitely gettin' a handle on it! As far as Zakk Wylde goes, I like his pinch harmonics in "No More Tears". Another good guitarist who pulls off some sweet pinch harmonics is Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). Listen to songs like "La Grange" and "Rough Boy" to hear some great examples. IMO he's a great example - he uses them here and there in many of his songs/solos, but doesn't overdo it.

allthumbs · #11 July 6th, 2007

Funny story about Billy. His harmonic pinch playing came about because he was in a rush and picked up a small fat pick by mistake. He had no choice but to choke up on it and discovered he was playing pinched harmonics. A happy accident that he improved on.

testekleez · #12 July 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly135

I watched VH-1 Rock Honors last night and Zakk Wylde was squeal'n away on Crazy Train. So let's hear ya put it in a song!

I didn't catch that, will have to watch it when they air it again. Crazy Train's a great old song. Gotta think of a song to do, having to relearn a lot of stuff I used to know. Give me a little time and let me get the technique to where I can get it when I want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

Nice job, Testekleez....you're definitely gettin' a handle on it! As far as Zakk Wylde goes, I like his pinch harmonics in "No More Tears". Another good guitarist who pulls off some sweet pinch harmonics is Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). Listen to songs like "La Grange" and "Rough Boy" to hear some great examples. IMO he's a great example - he uses them here and there in many of his songs/solos, but doesn't overdo it.

"Rough Boy" is my favorite ZZ Top tune. Is there a bt for that anywhere? Much of the solo's on it are within my ability but some things I'm not quite ready for. I'd love to give it a shot, though it might take me some time to learn it and get the harmonics on demand.

I totally forgot that he used the pich harmonics in it until you brought it up. Will have to learn it for sure. A lot of soloing in that tune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Funny story about Billy. His harmonic pinch playing came about because he was in a rush and picked up a small fat pick by mistake. He had no choice but to choke up on it and discovered he was playing pinched harmonics. A happy accident that he improved on.

One of the guys I grew up with can really play. I used to ask him how he did the screeching and he would say it's just a feel thing he found by accident one day. Guess he really didn't know how to explain it in a way I'd have understood back then.

PurplePeopleEaters · #13 July 7th, 2007

Good stuff man. You can get that real metal squeals if you do some of those harmonics on the low frets and low strings and vibrato it like hell.

YouTube - Zakk Wylde - Sold My Soul

Here's some old school Zakk wylde with a lot of pinch harmonics.. good stuff.

testekleez · #14 July 8th, 2007

Thanks Purple! Who did that song Purple People Eaters? I remember my brother had one of those wacky tunes albums with that on it when I was a kid.

Some great tunes like "Get a Job" "Big Bad John" "Running Bear" "Yackety Yack" "Ahab the Arab" some funny stuff but they were actually cool tunes also.

Zack is a master at the pinch! He's got some mad chops as well. Ozzy has always worked with some great lead players.

PurplePeopleEaters · #15 July 9th, 2007

Haha I remember the purple people eaters song too. Not sure who made it. Pretty funny looking back on that.

Purple People Eater - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and after a little research I came up with this.

My screen name actually comes from the minnesota vikings and their defensive front four during the 70's featuring Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Gary Larsen, and Carl Eller. I'm pretty sure they were named after the song and because the vikes wear purple.

And yeah if you listen to some of Zakk's newer stuff on black label society he pulls of some crazy pinch harmonics.