Harmonics

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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