How do you make a guitar squeal?

[FeatherBreeze]

does it have to do with harmonics, or what?
please help

[Grambo]

I think it's called a Pinch harmonic - I think the proper way is to catch the string with your thumb whilst holding the pick.
there's other ways - I use my second finger to touch the string, or some people use their fingernail

[HDJ]

Yeah, Pinch Harmonics or Artificial Harmonics. Pick the note (easier on lower notes, say the 3rd fret on the low E string) and at the same time, kind of roll your picking hand so that your thumb digs into the string right after the note is picked....It's a smooth motion that takes some practice.....

[pogohead]

artificial harmonics are different; thats where you hammer the note 12 frets up to create a harmonic sounding note (just learned that meself hehe)

to get the best harmonics, pick down, push your thumb out about 2 or 3mm and as you pick, touch the string quickly and lightly with your thumb. the best place to learn this is at the side of the neck pick up closest to the bridge. the harmonics only work at certain points and thats a good one. a compressor pedal would help but you can hit them nicely without :)

[HDJ]

artificial harmonics are different; thats where you hammer the note 12 frets up to create a harmonic sounding note (just learned that meself hehe)

Nope, that's tap harmonics.....Artificial harmonics are the same thing as Pinch harmonics.

We got a debate starting, anyone else wanta chime in here?

[magicninja]

Natural harmonics are when you play the string and then lightly touch the string over the desired fret. :D

[Akira]

magicninja and JFRICK are correct.

[Rsam16]

does it have to do with harmonics, or what?
please help


Yeah they are called Pinch Harmonics, guitarist Zakk Wilde lives by them.
If you want to learn how to do it, here is a good web site to check out.

http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/harmonics/pinch/index.php

[magicninja]

magicninja and JFRICK are correct.
Debate settled.


BTW There's this other site that has stuff you can use to learn different techniques. It has all sorts of guitar tricks. Can't remember the name though. :rolleyes: :D

[iamthe_eggman]

Nope, that's tap harmonics.....Artificial harmonics are the same thing as Pinch harmonics.

We got a debate starting, anyone else wanta chime in here?


Debate settled.


BTW There's this other site that has stuff you can use to learn different techniques. It has all sorts of guitar tricks. Can't remember the name though. :rolleyes: :D


Whoa.. hold your horses there... artificial harmonics are when you fret a note and tap a harmonic with your picking hand.

OK, now the debate is settled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Harmonics

[Guitar Woman]

I found that the fingernail technique works best for me, just touch the string ever so slightly with the flat of your index or middle finger fingernail, depends onwhat feels most natural to you, while you pick the note, and bend...

[HDJ]

Whoa.. hold your horses there... artificial harmonics are when you fret a note and tap a harmonic with your picking hand.

OK, now the debate is settled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Harmonics

Click that link and read it again....

Natural harmonic: when you lightly touch the string directly above a fret and pick the open string.

Artificial or Pinch harmonic: Pick any note and dig your thumb that's holding the pick into the string.

Tap harmonic: fret a note and tap directly on a fret to produce a harmonic. For example, fret the A string on the 3rd fret and tap the A string directly on the 15th fret....The beginning of Van Halen's Spanish Fly are tap harmonics.

[Kevin Taylor]

There's a 9 lesson tutorial with some videos showing exactly how to do it, even without distortion, for High Bandwidth Subscribers.
You can get squeeling noises every time if you learn the trick.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=4227&s_id=35

[sailorjim]

I found that the fingernail technique works best for me, just touch the string ever so slightly with the flat of your index or middle finger fingernail, depends onwhat feels most natural to you, while you pick the note, and bend...

Thanks for this tip, I had fooling around with this using my pick and thumb it felt a tad awkard and it was hard for me to pick up speed. Your method seems easier for me. I been using it with the beginning lick for Johnny B Goode sounds pretty neat...

[Fretfire]

Whoa.. hold your horses there... artificial harmonics are when you fret a note and tap a harmonic with your picking hand.

OK, now the debate is settled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Harmonics

They are all correct.....but here is the conclusion.

[DeadInMagazines]

Certain pickups help out alot too. On the guitar I have now it's almost impossible to do a good pinch harmonic, but there are some guitars that are great for it, (The Demarzio fred pick up is MADE for doing harmonics, it's pretty awesome).