guitar tricks...?

Question

ive been trying to figure out how to do pinched harmonics i understand how to hold pick but i cant seem to get it to scream like i want it too does my guitar matter much ? i have a harmony stratocaster its not ne thing fancy not quite wallmart brand tho but i dunno if it would help to have better guitar ? and i cant seem to play with both hands on fretboard eitha ne help?

Answer 1

when you pluck the string, you have to let the side of your thumb hit the string IMMEDIATLY. Usually you can only get it to work on certain frets. But you have to do it very quickly or it wont work.

Answer 2

Harmonics are produced by touching the string at a node very lightly. The key to getting a clear harmonic, of whatever type, is to touch the string right on top of the node without actually pressing the string down. Harmonics repeat themselves in opposite directions from the 12th fret. In other words, the distance from harm @ 12th to the one at 7th can be repeated in the opposite direction. It's not about frets, but distances between nodes. Many harmonics are NOT at all lined up with a fret. These are the ones you are chasing after, and they can also be found near very low frets as well. In the case of "ghost notes" or "pinch harmonics" or what you call them, you need to use one hand to both pluck the string and touch the node. The same rules apply though: you have to touch the node right AT the node - ie, you have to know just where it is - and you have to find a way to pluck it without getting the pick or hand in the way of the harmonic. And, most importantly , as soon as you play , you must LIFT the finger off the node! That is the one thing ppl fall down on most often.
Good luck!

Answer 3

You should hold your pick so that your thumb is near the bottom. Pluck the string as if you were cutting the string. (Don't actually cut it though!)
It's better to do pinch harmonics on higher frets (12, 13, 14, etc...)

Another good trick is to pluck the string with your pick near the pick ups. (The things with the metal dots...)

It sometimes helps top have a very good guitar, but you should just rent a better guitar cuz when you get used to it there, it will become easier on the other guitar.

Good luck!

Answer 4

To get a really awesome pinch harmonic, you need two things: Lots of gain, and a guitar with high-output pickups (preferably humbuckers...doing it with single-coils rarely sounds that good). Also, each guitar has its own places where it produces really good pinch harmonics. And get some of your picking hand's thumb or forefinger in there!