Pinch Harmonics help please....

[LowDesertSludge]

I've got close to 12 hours working on this picking technique and I feel like I am not making any headway. I can locate the harmonics on the neck, but after the pic attack and that split second I graze my thumb over the string, immediately mutes out the note.... Any one have a good you tube link that helped them with this issue?

 

[Hollis]

Pick and thumb should strike string at almost the same time. One motion. Play around with picking angle. Place thumb so that it strikes the string with the pick.

 

[John4021]

Thats kind of a "gotta show you how" its done.
Choke up on the pick with just the tip showing a bit between your thumb and index finger.
The pitch of the harmonic depends where(between the pickups and up to the fingerboard) you are plucking the sting(think Billy Gibbons La grange)

Hope that helps,,,have fun !

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Will try grabbing a lil more pick tonight. Thanks for advice.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Good advice here. I also noticed that the more you try, the worse it gets sometimes. I think that is because the right (picking) hand should be relaxed. It is also easy to overlook the left hand- make sure you have a firm finger on the fret

Lots of gain with a clean boost always helps too!

 

[glip22]

You have to figure out where on your guitars strings in the area you pick will give you the best pinch. Each string is different and it depends where on the neck you are fretting. Some notes you will need to pinch closer to the neck and vice versa

 

[stratotone]

Each string is not different, same technique for each string. It can be done on an acoustic guitar too, and if you have the correct right hand technique you can play scales with your right hand in the same spot. Try doing it with your electric guitar not plugged in, if you have to have high gain and a boost to do it you're not really doing it very well.

 

[Jer]

Every guitar has a sweet spot, just find yours. Things like string gauge, action (height) and pickup configuration make the point of reference different on different guitars. e.g the sweet spot on a strat with S-S-S may not feel the same as with a H-H config.

Just keep practicing you'll get it. When you do, don't stop, play 50 in a row, get used to how you held your hand and where it's at. Try to incorporate both into your natural playing position or commit to memory for quick reference when playing.

 

[glip22]

Every guitar has a sweet spot, just find yours. Things like string gauge, action (height) and pickup configuration make the point of reference different on different guitars. e.g the sweet spot on a strat with S-S-S may not feel the same as with a H-H config.

Just keep practicing you'll get it. When you do, don't stop, play 50 in a row, get used to how you held your hand and where it's at. Try to incorporate both into your natural playing position or commit to memory for quick reference when playing.

Thats what I was trying to say. There are sweet spots.

 

[severinsteel]

A few things:

1: Use the D and G strings first. They seem to be the easiest to get pinch harmonics out of. Once you get it down, you can do them anywhere.
2. Use the bridge pickup; this seems to help them pop out.
3. If you are muting the string by accident with your thumb, you are pressing down to hard. Use a light touch.
4. As stated above, the thumb and pick need to hit the string simultaneously. Make sure to choke up on the pick.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

I am terribly guilty of a heavy pick attack, but I just sat down and choked way up on the pick ( barrely peeking out ) with a lighter attack on my unplugged explorer, and nailed a couple out a lot easier. Not back to back.
Thanks gang, super helpful.

To the woodshed!

 

[kasperjensen]

For me it wasn't a question of sitting down and woodshedding it... I did practice it, but it didn't help much. It just kinda came one day if that makes sense.

The trick is to not have to think about it. Just try and put them in random places until you get it.

That being said, I hardly use them, so I could probably do with some practicing.

 

[Dingleberries]

Notes fretted at the 3rd & 5th frets pop out harmonics good for me, & like was mentioned there's a sweet spot just in front of the bridge pup.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Just say no!

 

[RJF]

frets 3, 5, 7, 9 are the sweet spot for me. 1st fret on the top E string can be a booger for me, but sounds good and mean when I hit a good one. Thinner strings help too. Big fat strings are harder to get clean pinch harmonics out of. That would be why the D and G strings are easiest, compared to the A and E strings.

 

[glip22]

frets 3, 5, 7, 9 are the sweet spot for me. 1st fret on the top E string can be a booger for me, but sounds good and mean when I hit a good one. Thinner strings help too. Big fat strings are harder to get clean pinch harmonics out of. That would be why the D and G strings are easiest, compared to the A and E strings.

I love nailing a good one on the Low E F# Zakk Wylde hit a smoker

 

[Steinmetzify]

I love nailing a good one on the Low E F# Zakk Wylde hit a smoker

Same here...those are a blast to catch just right.

For me, it's easier to pick harder and turn my thumb a little bit in towards the string. It's a weird attack but I've been doing it for years and works for me. I use heavy acrylic picks and 10-52 strings, but I can do it on anything, even an acoustic.

You'll get it man. One of those things that once you can consistently do it 100 times in a row you'll never forget.

 

[chunktone]

Don't worry, until you get this where you want it to be, Zakk Wylde is overusing this to make up for it!

 

[Wayniac3]

I actually trail my pinky of my picking hand.. I use that for the squeals. It's just because of how I hold the pick in my thumb.. weird, but it works.

 

[rupe]

The problem isn't you. There simply aren't any pinch harmonics left...Zakk has used them all up.