Harmonics

[Tele Master]

What are pinch harmonics and how do you do them. I am not sure, but the only harmonic I know is when you rest your finger on the string, pick it, and quickly pull your finger off. Is it possible to do open string harmonics?

[SLY]

Pinch harmonics are harmonics made by your thumb.
Pick a note as you normaly do , add your thumb to the pick attack , and here you are.... You gotta choose the right spot for your pick attack, if you're lost , try counting 24 frets above the note your playing.

This needs some practice ... Usualy , bridge pickup & high gain settings would help.

The normal harmonic thing you mentioned is called "Natural Harmonics" or harmonics played on open strings.

[Tele Master]

What do you mean by adding my thumb to the "pick-attack". I hold the pick between my thumb and index finger....

[John O'Carroll]

Check this old thread:

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=3091

By the way, you can do pinch harmonics without "gain", on any pickup, they even can be done on an acoustic. It's all in perfecting the technique.

[SLY]

As you normaly hold the pick between thumb & index , move the thumb a little forward so it gets in contact with the string .

Do nothing more , this way the thumb will strike the hamronic spot on the string right after the pick and quickly leave it to make it sound clear as a natural harmonic would normaly sound.
In terms of physics , it will creat an equaly divided standing wave that cause the harmonic sound on the guitar.

P.H. can be played on an acoustic , but I wouldn't recomend that to someone who's just about to learn how to do it.
A high gain settings is the best & the easiest way to learn it fast , then to push yourself another step higher , try cleaner settings or even an acoustic.

[u10ajf]

Here's my two cents worth, everything I know about playing harmonics, I hope this helps somebody.
http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/trick.php?trick_id=5647