Re:Pinch harmonics
Sunday, August 07 2011 @ 01:21 PM CDT

One of the best examples I've seen

Re:Pinch harmonics
Sunday, August 07 2011 @ 07:11 PM CDT

Roy Buchanan recorded the first pinch harmonic in 1962 on a track called "Potato Peeler".
Roy claimed he got to the technique completely by accident.

Daug

Re:Pinch harmonics
Sunday, August 07 2011 @ 07:17 PM CDT

i find it much easier to do an upstroke and touch the string with my index finger along the way

and - octaves are a great way to get started - play notes down near the nut (say near fret 5) and pick just around the fret that is exactly one octave up from each note (near fret 17)

Re:Pinch harmonics
Sunday, August 07 2011 @ 08:30 PM CDT

One thing that is really essential that hasn't been brought up here is... they'll sound a lot better if you can bring in a very tight vibrato on the note you're fretting... or a really sharp bend right at the point of your attack.

Check it, about half way through:

pinchy pinchy

[BTW - this is just a test track/demo of a new guitar amp I just designed/built. High gain and volume are your friend when you're going for pinch harmonics.]

Re:Pinch harmonics
Sunday, August 07 2011 @ 09:44 PM CDT

Quote by: Daugrin Roy Buchanan recorded the first pinch harmonic in 1962 on a track called "Potato Peeler". Roy claimed he got to the technique completely by accident. Daug

True dat. The studio version of this song on You're Not Alone has some fine examples of pinch harmonics. There's some on this live version along with many other amazing techniques - chicken pickin' being one.

Re:Pinch harmonics
Monday, August 08 2011 @ 01:30 AM CDT

You can't talk about harmonics without mentioning Tommy Emmanuel and Lenny Breau (I think he started the trend).

One of my favorites:



This is how I learned it:

Re:Pinch harmonics
Monday, August 08 2011 @ 01:38 AM CDT

Dang... I was kinda off and missed the "pinch" before the word "harmonics." Excuse my interruption, please.

Re:Pinch harmonics
Monday, August 08 2011 @ 02:46 AM CDT

Quote by: J_Gretch One of the best examples I've seen

Absolutely brilliant video link! Led me to his website which is the most comprehensive guitar tutorial website I've ever seen - well worth a look for anyone from beginner to expert. That lead me down a right rabbit hole of links and lessons.

So --

Late last night I think I actually managed it, although by that stage of the evening I was playing through an unplugged Telecaster to make minimal noise so that my wife didn't behead me after a day of determined plucking of single notes over and over! I got the best result by having the pick pretty much at the same profile as my thumb and flat against it so that when I plucked it HAD to hit both. In the past I think there was too much missing of the thumb or the thumb hitting too hard. Although this is assuming I do have it sorted and didn't just mishear on an un-amped guitar late at night after a long day trying!

Now I just have to figure out how to change my pick hold mid song to do it on demand!

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone. Next stupid question coming shortly!

Cheers
Stephen

Re:Pinch harmonics
Monday, August 08 2011 @ 08:48 AM CDT

Okay, you can do the technique. Here's a suggestion. Create a pattern about the length of one breath. Play all the notes normally. Then, begin to ping one note in the sequence, work on this one note in the sequence until you can nail it every time it comes by. The idea will next be to ping a different note in that sequence... and you get the picture. Soon you will be able to ping any note at anytime as the Muse demands.

Daug

Re:Pinch harmonics
Monday, August 08 2011 @ 08:53 AM CDT

Quote by: Daugrin Okay, you can do the technique. Here's a suggestion. Create a pattern about the length of one breath. Play all the notes normally. Then, begin to ping one note in the sequence, work on this one note in the sequence until you can nail it every time it comes by. The idea will next be to ping a different note in that sequence... and you get the picture. Soon you will be able to ping any note at anytime as the Muse demands. Daug

Damn - homework!
Just kidding.
Thanks Daug - great lesson plan. I need to get home and find out whether I was doing it right (plugged in this time) but I'll certainly be practicing this new technique. The neighbours will love it. And my cats. And my wife. And my daughter. And my mother in law's dog. It'll be great!