Hi , Needed some help about harmonics .. can anyone tell how to go about getting that squealing/bell like tones heard in Zak Wyldes and Van Halens Playing .. have tried a lot but just cannot get that sound ... have tried holding the pick near the end , picking the string and slightly touching the string with the thumb . but all i get is some muted sounds as the string goes dead .... also can some tell me whats the diff between Artificial and Pinch Harmonics ... Really Appreciate any feedback ....
its not done with the plucking hand, with that you just pluck as normal. its all to do with the fretting hand. Its kinda tricky at first but try it on the 12th fret (there are other certain frets that harmonics occur on, google for these). You have to sort of rest your finger on the string so that if you don't lift it you get a numb. DO NOT PRESS DOWN! To get the harmonic just lift your finger sharply off the string whilst at the same time you play that string. Hopefully you'll get a harmonic (btw guitar needs to be tuned correctly!)
This one is the natural harmonic. To get the artificial harmonic also called as Pinch Haromonic, trying picking in a slant. I usually keep the pickng almost perpendicular to the normal holding and do the same thing. Each one has a different method of doing it. First get high gain on your distortion and use the bridge pickup. If the pickups are bad you might not get it.
Dude there are two thigns u need to see: 1. Natural harmonics and 2. Pinch Harmonics i dunno about artificail harmonics (what does artificial mean anyway?) For best results keep the Distortion Gain to Max and increase the Mids to fullest. now 1. Natural Harmonix = we will take the example of 7th fret ones ... keep your finger very lightly on the string just above the 7th fret donot press ... the string should not get depressed pick the string ... u should be able to get a muted sound which is very similar to what u will get while playing normal 5th fret note ... now u need to get that sound un-muted ---> so as soon as u pick u need to take you finger off from the string ... 2. Pinch Harmonics (this is what Zakk n Eddie usually play) = u play normally any thing ... using the plectrum ... next just try to hold plectrum so that very small part is visible (most of it will be hidden between thumb and index finger) ... now using this configuration pick the strings ... if u did hold the plectrum correctly u will hear a muted sound of squeal ... once u get taht sound ... u just need to adjust your plectrum, picking style and picking location ... YES pinch harmonics depend on where u are picking the string ... the fretting? like you normally do ... any further clarifications? ... do ask ... belive me harmonics are very important part of playing ... infact using harmonics u can determine whether the guitar has correct intonation etc ...
Well, if youre just starting off. Try it now and then with overdrive, the artificial harmonics are more accentuated and are more pronounced. Natural harmonics are more pronounced with lesser gain. P.S : Try harmonics and hit the whammy bar.
yeah.. if u still hav probs try turning ur humbucker on and ....hit the harmonic on top of the mid pickup !! and not on the humbucker then u'll get a real WILD pinch harmonic.. and just check sum songz of Pantera ....almost all of em hav pinch harmonics ..... DIMEBAG RULZZZZ :nw: :nw: :nw: :nw: :nw: :nw: :nw:
