How to do a "pinch harmonic"

[6stringer12]

Could someone please explain to me how to do a pinch harmonic?
Your tips and techniques would be most appreciated.
Thanks.

[Gandalv]

Have you read about artificial harmonics yet? Making a pinch harmonic basically is the same technique, except that you use your hands in a slightly different way. You can play a pinch harmonic in many ways, but the most common method is to make a pinch harmonic that is one octave higher than the note you are freting.

You start out by fretting the note you want to sound. Then you find out aproximately where the 12th or 24th fret above that fret would be if your fretboard extended that far. This is the part that takes the most practice; finding where to attack the string. In the beginning, you should just try to make artificial harmonics to find this point. Make sure you either have your volume turned up loud, have a compessor going or use a lot of gain. The harmonic will be very low in volume.

The actual harmonic is produced by touching the right point on the string with your thumb or fingernail at the same time that you are attacking the string with the pick. You are really just making an artificial harmonic, except that you use your thumb instead of your of your other RH fingers to touch the right point of the string.

It takes some slow practice to do get the basic motions in order, but when it's automated it is really a very easy technicue to do. Don't start out by practicing on the high E-string. 4th or 5th string is fine.

[Guitar Dave]

I thought an artificial or pinch harmonic was where you played the string with your pick and the edge of your thumb at the same time?

If that's what you're after, then you need to adjust the way you hold your plectrum slightly (well I do anyway :)) before you play the string. Basically you're after striking the string with your plectrum first followed "almost" immediately by the very tip or edge of your thumb.

Hope this helps :cool:

[Gandalv]

That was the technique I was trying to describe..but I am no guitar teacher, and not very good at explaining things.

I touch the string and pick it at the same time, and I don't have to change my grip. I suppose it's possible to do it in multiple ways..

[metalprep6969]

Try searching the forum for both artificial harmonics and pinch harmonics. There are tons of threads already about this.

lml

[Koala]

Please remember to search through the forum as this topic has been discussed in here before.
Heres a link to a recent thread:
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4815&highlight=pinch+harmonic

[6stringer12]

Thanks to you all.
My apologies if my question seems redundant to some of you.
Guess I'll ask friends from here on out, lest I bore some of you
with questions that have already been asked.
Poof!!!

[Koala]

Thats the rules 6. Search before you post, no need to be offended.
Heres a link to the rules and the guidelines:
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/faq.php?faq=ibreathe_forums#faq_forum_rules
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/announcement.php?f=7

I recommend you read em both,