vai and satriani's harmonics

Hey I just got G3 live in Tokyo yesterday and have watched it 3 times already, it's incredible! Just wondering if any of you know how Vai and Satriani get their guitars to scream so much. I am aware that they're using pinched harmonics, but are thier pickups extremely high output or what? What is exactly going on? Is there a special technique that those two guys share regarding pinched harmonics? Thanks for any replies.

Watch Vai's new instructional video "Why Can't Anyone Ever Post In the Correct Forum?" and youl really get an idea of how they do this.

sorry, man

Originally Posted by: niccar113sorry, man

Im just messin with ya dude. Dont listen to me. :)

Originally Posted by: stackny Dont listen to me. :)

Nobody else does... :D hahaha kidding...

It's a scream involving a pinch harmonic at the top of the neck and then a divebomb with the whammy bar.

Originally Posted by: Blues_ManNobody else does... :D hahaha kidding...

Probably true....

Easily done, lightly place your finger over the string (as when using harmonics to tune up 5th to 7th fret etc) pick the harmonic and dive the trem arm. There are some really high ones on the fret board up around the 17th and 19th frets. Easiest one to get is probably at the 9th fret. Try strumming the top two strings, then dive, you get a really interesting sound as both harmonics go out of tune. Satriani uses this technique a lot, so does Vai, Dime from Pantera used them on the end of "Cemetary Gates"... nice effect!
Experiment up and down the fretboard to findd which harmonic works best with what you are playing and practice the movement.
BTW another nice one is when you strum an open string (eg E), then as you dive it down lightly touch the 3 fret harmonic... sounds quite evil as the open note warps to the harmonic with the downward shift;-)