Let's Talk About Squeals ("Pinch" Harmonics)

[Eagle]

I’m having a tough time wrapping my head around this.

Your third finger touches the string as you pick . Once you are used to it you get a very strong harmonic.

 

[TSJMajesty]

WOW!! Recently I've been getting the odd PH with my knuckles (ala @DrewJD82), but I just got one of the highest ones ever, with my PINKY KNUCKLE! AND, I was playing way up btw the 15th & 23rd frets. Effing sick!

Btw the high gain compression of the Fractal Mark amp models, and these Majesty PU's, the harmonics (real, and note content) are so amazing to me!

 

[DrewJD82]

WOW!! Recently I've been getting the odd PH with my knuckles (ala @DrewJD82), but I just got one of the highest ones ever, with my PINKY KNUCKLE! AND, I was playing way up btw the 15th & 23rd frets. Effing sick!

Btw the high gain compression of the Fractal Mark amp models, and these Majesty PU's, the harmonics (real, and note content) are so amazing to me!

Yeah man, those higher note harmonics are so much easier to snag with the knuckle!!

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I learned this before anyone was around to show me the technique. I don’t use the side of my thumb for the harmonics but the front of my third finger . I since learned the way everyone else does it but I still use my way.

While we’re sharing. It bugged me that it was a downstroke only thing so I started to use the face of the index nail for upstrokes.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yeah man, those higher note harmonics are so much easier to snag with the knuckle!!

They're all so bunched together!

 

[metropolis_4]

Is it just me, or do these seem easier to do with tube amps and analog gear?

I was playing through Just Like Paradise with a GE-7 boosting an ODR-1 into my /13 and both pinch harmonics and natural harmonics seemed to just fly out so effortlessly compared to playing the same thing through my Fractal.

Maybe it’s because of the interaction between the guitar and the speaker in the room vs direct through IEM?

 

[joebloggs]

I read that the originator of the pinch harmonic is none other than Roy Buchanan. He called them howlers.

 

[Eagle]

I read that the originator of the pinch harmonic is none other than Roy Buchanan. He called them howlers.

That was his note choice.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I read that the originator of the pinch harmonic is none other than Roy Buchanan. He called them howlers.

According to my AA mentor Ray Gomez (who played in his band as well as Stankey Clarks etc) he called them whistlers.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

This obviously works the same with artificial/pinch harmonics only what's the fretted note becomes the open string location.

And overtone to interval relation...
2 1 up an octave
3 5 up an octave
4 1 up 2 octaves
5 3 up 2 octaves
6 5 up 2 octaves
7 ♭7 up 2 octaves
8 1 up 3 octaves
9 2 up 3 octaves
10 3 up 3 octaves
11 ♯4 up 3 octaves
12 5 up 3 octaves

Compared to equal temperament the overtones are in tune/just
The deviate as follows
5th 2c ♯
3 14c ♭
♭7 31c ♭
2 4c ♯
♯11 49c ♭

 

[James Freeman]

I used to play with plenty of pinch harmonics until I saw/heard other guitarists noodling with plenty of pinch harmonics, now I allow myself ONE pinch harmonic a day and only if it sounds 'accidental' unless it's part of the music and the song calls for it like Cemetery Gates.

 

[Eagle]

This obviously works the same with artificial/pinch harmonics only what's the fretted note becomes the open string location.

View attachment 44010
And overtone to interval relation...
2 1 up an octave
3 5 up an octave
4 1 up 2 octaves
5 3 up 2 octaves
6 5 up 2 octaves
7 ♭7 up 2 octaves
8 1 up 3 octaves
9 2 up 3 octaves
10 3 up 3 octaves
11 ♯4 up 3 octaves
12 5 up 3 octaves

Compared to equal temperament the overtones are in tune/just
The deviate as follows
5th 2c ♯
3 14c ♭
♭7 31c ♭
2 4c ♯
♯11 49c ♭

I was trying to a Jeff beck tune where he hits a harmonic and drops it four scooped tones and vibrato on the last . I could not get the range but eventually realised it had to be on the G string somewhere for this reason . That’s useful.

 

[joebloggs]

According to my AA mentor Ray Gomez (who played in his band as well as Stankey Clarks etc) he called them whistlers.

Ray played in Roy Buchanan's band?

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Ray played in Roy Buchanan's band?

Yes. Iirc is even on like 3 of his albums.
I remember he was on Loading Zone and You’re Nit Alone

Ray Gomez Discography

Discography of fusion guitarist, Ray Gomez.

www.raygomez.com

 

[DrewJD82]

I used to play with plenty of pinch harmonics until I saw/heard other guitarists noodling with plenty of pinch harmonics, now I allow myself ONE pinch harmonic a day and only if it sounds 'accidental' unless it's part of the music and the song calls for it like Cemetery Gates.

That’s like limiting myself to one orgasm a week.

 

[James Freeman]

That’s like limiting myself to one orgasm a week.

Is it an accidental one though?

 

[DrewJD82]

Is it just me, or do these seem easier to do with tube amps and analog gear?

I was playing through Just Like Paradise with a GE-7 boosting an ODR-1 into my /13 and both pinch harmonics and natural harmonics seemed to just fly out so effortlessly compared to playing the same thing through my Fractal.

Maybe it’s because of the interaction between the guitar and the speaker in the room vs direct through IEM?

Hasn’t been my experience, but I also overuse them and may have just done it so much it doesn’t matter what I’m playing. Generally if there’s enough treble I’m good to go, once I started playing Strats w/ single coils into older Marshall models I realized I don’t even need much distortion going on.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Hasn’t been my experience, but I also overuse them and may have just done it so much it doesn’t matter what I’m playing. Generally if there’s enough treble I’m good to go, once I started playing Strats w/ single coils into older Marshall models I realized I don’t even need much distortion going on.

Same here. I mean look at bass players they pinch the 9th harmonic without breaking a sweat.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Is it an accidental one though?

Wait til you’re my age, then just about anything becomes accidental…at best.

 

[metropolis_4]

Hasn’t been my experience, but I also overuse them and may have just done it so much it doesn’t matter what I’m playing. Generally if there’s enough treble I’m good to go, once I started playing Strats w/ single coils into older Marshall models I realized I don’t even need much distortion going on.

I don’t know what it is, and it’s not like a major difference, but I especially noticed it when I was playing that song because there are two fills he plays in it - one with the natural harmonics right in front of the 3rd fret, and another with a pinch harmonic on the C# 6th fret on the G string. I usually have to be a little more precise than normal to hit those, but when I switched over to the amp with the pedals it was suddenly effortless.

I’m not sure why