Different Methods of Producing Harmonics or "Squealies"

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FourT6and2

FourT6and2

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Pinch harmonics, natural harmonics, artificial harmonics; done with the picking hand, done with the fretting hand, and everything in between...

So, this started in the thread about Killswitch Engage and their (over)use of "squeelies." Everyone was calling them pinch harmonics, but I always thought they were done differently than by pinching.

I had always done "squealies" by lightly placing my fretting hand on a note and plucking with a strong attack (producing a harmonic) and immediately fretting the note to produce a squeal.

For me, pinch harmonics had always produced a somewhat strong fundamental with a bit of overtones and a tiny squeal in the background. But, I could just be doing them wrong.

So, here is a video comparing the two. Please forgive my sloppy playing, as I was rushing and in a hurry to get back to work. I'm also a bit rusty because I haven't been playing the much in the past year due to my job and the fact that I didn't have a guitar (I'm living in another country) until I found that PRS on eBay a few months ago.

The amp is a Vox DA5 digital practice amp at 5 watts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWVmjC3ub1M

I did a few of the harmonics I was talking about and then I did a few pinch harmonics....I stayed on the 3rd fret for simplicity's sake.

Anybody is welcome to upload their own videos demonstrating different types of harmonics and different ways to make "squealies."

I guess another way is to use your pinky to produce a natural harmonic at the same time you fret a note on a lower fret? I just saw a video of this on Youtube and I never knew about this particular method. I'll have to give it a try.
 
Man, there's a zillion ways.

None of them 'wrong' as long as you're comfortable. I do it with the side of my thumb, which is the common way. When I found out that Zakk uses the nail of his index finger, i was quite surprised.

When I started trying to do it, I used the heel of my picking hand.

I do it way too often. But really, ever since I started playing Ive always loved that sound.
 
Your squeals in that killswitch riff sounded real good, nothing wrong there. I use the thumb technique too because it was easier to comprehend :lol: :LOL: , The other most important part of it is giving it some vibrato! I still have trouble doing it around the first three frets on the sixth string for that reason :doh:
 
squealie":24srwnli said:
Man, there's a zillion ways.

None of them 'wrong' as long as you're comfortable. I do it with the side of my thumb, which is the common way. When I found out that Zakk uses the nail of his index finger, i was quite surprised.

When I started trying to do it, I used the heel of my picking hand.

I do it way too often. But really, ever since I started playing Ive always loved that sound.
Click to expand...

hmmm...I think you misunderstood what the point is. Yeah, you can use different parts of your hand/body to produce a pinch harmonic (your thumb, nail, finger, etc.), but pinch harmonics are just one method, in and of itself. There are other ways to produce similar effects. That's what I'd like to get into.
 
Hey! I tried out that method you were talking about on that HCAF thread but at lower volumes though. Are you able to do that anywhere on the fretboard, and not just places where natural harmonics occur? I usually just use pinch harmonics and can get them to squeal on pretty much everywhere on the fretboard, but with your method I was only able to get it squeal at the places you do natural harmonics, maybe I am not picking hard enough :confused:
 
cyndicate":t5tnvkh9 said:
Hey! I tried out that method you were talking about on that HCAF thread but at lower volumes though. Are you able to do that anywhere on the fretboard, and not just places where natural harmonics occur? I usually just use pinch harmonics and can get them to squeal on pretty much everywhere on the fretboard, but with your method I was only able to get it squeal at the places you do natural harmonics, maybe I am not picking hard enough :confused:
Click to expand...

It's a lot easier to do them where natural harmonics occur. But, it is possible to do them in most of the positions on the fretboard, although it becomes more difficult as you move away from a particular node. Pinch harmonics can be done anywhere, but they give you a slightly different sound. I do pick with a fairly hard attack, though. You can see that in the video :)
 
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