Pinch harmonics

[ericsabbath]

all the les pauls I had felt different for pinch harmonics
some were quite easy to pull it off, others weren't that easy in some particular picking point, fret or string
I honestly have no idea what makes it easier or not
they have the same scale, I always use high strings, tune-o-matics, elixir 10-52 strings, same tuning
the pickups do make a difference on how loud or fat they sound, but obviously not on the technique itself

[Roobubba]

While the pickups can make the pinch harmonics sustain for longer (often with some lovely harmonious feedback to keep that sucker going), I can do these on my cr@ppy little ukulele, so it's not all down the electronics or guitar build. I'd say it's possible on essentially anything with strings (I even had a go on my viola a while back, they sounded... odd :D), so technique is key. As feline says, picking above the pickup is a big no-no. Try experimenting anywhere between the pickup and bridge for starters. It's all about where you pick for the note you're stopping. There are some outrageously high artificial harmonics to be had from the low A of my baritone 6-string (on which, incidentally, I noticed very little difference stepping from a black dog through miracle man to aftermath as far as pinch harmonics go).

Roo

[Mr. Air]

Thanks for all your replies, gents. They're much appreciated  :D

[FELINEGUITARS]

One thing that can help is the following

play a hammer on/trill on whatever note you like and whilst doing that take a finger on your picking hand (put your pick down for this) and run it gently along the length of the string , only faintly touching the string  - I use the edge of my pinky finger.

You should be able to pick up lots of harmonics as your finger gently glides along the string length, and if you wish you can observe the pitch relationship to the played notes as well.

It's a technique that Van Halen used to use a lot  - along with George Lynch and Richie Sambora in his earlier tours.

[JDC]

I think pointy picks help, always pinch exactly 24 imaginary frets above where I'm fretting, thus the note is 2 octaves above the fretted note.

I pinch with an upstroke as I find it easier to mute the lower strings with the side of my thumb resulting in a very clean pinch. Without trying to show off I can pinch on a bass :P

[tekbow]

My way is to kind of hold the pick at 45 degrees as i strike the string so that my finger always hits the harmonic right after. also the there's much less distance between the tip of the pick and the finger. My sweet spot is toward the neck PU from centre. Never fails, but i can't give a more accurate description because it's just something i do, like i said, totally lucked into it early on

[bucketshred]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SQEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

Ahem.

[MDV]

Aside from technique? I mean, you can do pinch harmonics on an acoustic with your fingers. Stuff that makes it easier: hot pickups, bright, responsive guitar, compression (that of a high gain amp is generally enough) and good vibrato.

[DelArco]

That "it's all about technique" is so BS.

Been also thinking about what the hell happened, since when I first discovered pinch harmonics at late 80's, I had no problem getting them out whenever I wanted what so ever.
And back then I had way more cr@ppy equipment, then these days.

Now I have several decent amps (Transistor and tube) and guitars with BKP pickups (one of the guitars I have used since late 80's) and find it hard to get decent PH's out.
And I don't think that I've mysteriously lost my "technique" during these years.

Originally that guitar that I've had all these years, had Duncan JB in bridge.
At some point I changed it to Dimebucker, and it was horrible.
Then I ordered Miracle Man and the sound was amazing.
Still, the pinch harmonics were almost impossible.

Few days ago I tried my newly acquired Epiphone Les Paul custom, with stock pickups with my gear and strangely PH's flew out like back in the days.

I am going to upgrade that Epi's pickups to BKP, like my other guitars and see what happens after that.

[Alex]

What have the biggest influence on pulling off pinch harmonics (apart from technique)? Is it the build of the guitar or the pups? It seems logic to me that a hot pickup should pull off pinch harmonics easier than a vintage voiced pup, but I might be totally wrong. I find it easier to get good pinch harmonics from my MQ loaded Reverend Manta Ray than i do from my Nailbombed LP clone, which I find kinda strange. So please enlighten me  :D

For unknown reasons it is easiest for me to do pinch harmonics on my SG with a Black Dog. I don't think the amount of output has a bearing. It must be either the frequencies or the setup of the action, I think.

[Telerocker]

Frequencies play a big role, I think. Pinched harmonics are easier on my VHII-loaded strat then with the Crawler in my other strat. Besides that, it gets way more easier when my Orange is past twelve o'clock on the mastervol.

[Toe-Knee]

That "it's all about technique" is so BS.

If you say so.

[dave_mc]

It is, though. I can do pinch harmonics (and before anyone says, yes, that includes on an unplugged electric guitar). I can do them way better (or at all, in certain instances) with appropriate gear/settings. I don't care how good your technique is... you're not getting zakk-style squealies through a blackface fender twin reverb set to 1. Which means it's not all technique.

[Toe-Knee]

It is, though. I can do pinch harmonics (and before anyone says, yes, that includes on an unplugged electric guitar). I can do them way better (or at all, in certain instances) with appropriate gear/settings. I don't care how good your technique is... you're not getting zakk-style squealies through a blackface fender twin reverb set to 1. Which means it's not all technique.

The pinch harmonic in itself is exactly the same regardless of whether it is played through a twin reverb or an uberschall. So the actual pinch harmonic is purely technique. The way it sounds after it has been amplified has other factors.

I can do pinch harmonics consistently across any guitar that's handed to me all it took was practice.

[Toe-Knee]

However if things being about technique is bullshitee where are the pedals and pickups that will make my sweep picking not sound like cr@p?