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u10ajf
Registered User
Joined: 10/31/01
Posts: 611
u10ajf
Registered User
Joined: 10/31/01
Posts: 611
08/28/2002 2:14 pm
Just a tip with pinches, there are no rules but I find it easiest to play them holding my pick between my thumb and 1st finger with the thumb at between 45 and 90 degrees to the string, use the firm edge of skin on the inside of your thumb just between the 1st thumb joint and the base of your nail. This way your pick is slightly nearer the headstock than your thumb edge which makes the harmonic. This position allows you to pinch on either up or down strokes.
I suggest you find the harmonics for un-fretted strings ("natural harmonics") using your left hand and picking near the bridge first, when you've learned where they are at (using the pickups as landmarks) it's much easier. Don't try hard or you will mute the strings.

Here's something you can try with natural harmonics played with the left hand, or, when you've got the hang of it, with pinches.
Basically if you play a harmonic on the fifth fret you get a pitch equivalent but two octaves higher than the denomination of the open string you are playing. If you then play a 4th fret harmonic the pitch is a major 3rd higher, if you play a 3rd fret harmonic (careful there are two types pretty close - you want the lower one) then you get a perfect 5th. so by playing in a sequence 5,4,3 you play an ascending major arpeggio in route position.

If you tune your guitar as EADGCF you will have all the notes of the major chords in the keys of A, D, G and C. This tuning is easy to learn 'cause the lower 4 strings are tuned this way already. Tuning between G and B instead of going G to C doesn't make much sense to me, it's traditional but I wish I'd always played in 5ths even though it makes some basic chord fingerings awkward.

Good luck, have fun and don't try too hard or you will fail. Don't try too hard not to try too hard or you will fail.
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