make the guitar scream

Do any of you know how to make a high tone from a bass string of the guitar? it happends to me sometimes and I don't get how....example: master of puppets, in the part it has 0 87 087 087 0 8 7~~~ between the first verse to the pre-verse(call it main riff if you like)....

0 is on the 6th string
8 on the 5th and 7 on the 4th and all palm muted....and in the last 7 there's ~~~~ (vibration) it needs to scream there...

Pinch Harmonics. :)
What you have to do is catch the string with your thumb as you pick. Just hold the pick so a little bit of your thumb hangs over the edge. Your pick and thumb will catch the string at almost the same time, creating a harmonic. You pick them where you normally strum, by the way, but you can move your hand around to get different sounds. Depending on where you hit them, they will have different pitches, and adding vibrato to a high pitched one can make your guitar scream like crazy, and thats only on a low string!

I didn't get it...you say I should use my thumb? I should put my thumb on the string?

You need to hold you pick to that there is also a little bit of your thumb hanging over the edge that touches the string, but just a little bit. When you pick, it'll hit the string right after your pick does, and create the harmonic.
There are tutorials on the main page on this sorta thing, they will probably be of better help than my explaination.

Thanks dude! you rock! I'll try the main page...

Well...I havn't found any help in the main page...
BUT I FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
It happend by mistake when I accedently puted my thumb on the string after I picked it and it made the sound I wanted!
something is gotta touch the string after it is hit by the pick! then it make the screaming sound! DUDE you ment the thumb in my right hand! I thought you ment the left!!!
HA HA HA HA!!!! I'm happy! (but still it requires a little pratice though...)

[Edited by Metalic Dude on 07-27-2003 at 09:07 AM]

Cool. I shouldv'e said the right hand.
Thats how a lot of people get it though, by trial and error.

It's so cool.....I can make a high sound from the 5th string.

Originally Posted by: Josh RedstoneCool. I shouldv'e said the right hand.
Thats how a lot of people get it though, by trial and error.

dude im havin trouble doin this, any tips on what u do to get my thumb to hit, like how to hang it off?

yo im still havin trouble with the scream, i can feel my thumb hittin the string it feels like its gettin pinched when i do it, is that what im supposed to feel?

Here's the way I do an artificial harmonic. It takes practice, but when you get it right, it's one of the best methods.

I'll give an example to make it easier:

- press and hold the 12th fret on the high E string

- hold the pick between your thumb and middle finger

- with your right index, touch the string at half the distance between the 12th fret and the bridge. don't press, just touch

- now pick the string, and as soon as you pick remove your index finger

You should get a high pitch sound (actually the equivalent of the 24th fret)

The artificial (and natural) harmonic raises the note by an octave (12 frets).

The same can be done on any fret on any string. It's harder to pull at higher frets, but in theory you could go as high as the 34th fret with a 22 fretted guitar.

thanx dude, i finally got the thumb tap thing to work, sounds pretty cool, helps if u use sum distortion and overdrive,and sum vibrato alrite time to go practice that screamer...l8a

You can also use the bottom of your hand instead of your thumb if you want to play it with a little less difficulty. But it all works about the same.

I love harmonics! Barracuda by the Hearts is easy to play, fun to play, and everyone things its the coolest sounding thing ever. Its great

[FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]only the metal god can determine when some one will be struck with beautiful harmonics. it happens by accident and you will be like wooow :eek: dude no way i just figured it out i can play pinch harmonics every where. but until the metal god has struck you, you will not know.[/FONT][/FONT]

Well the metal god hit me a while back. It takes practice, but like tapping, once you figure it out its a piece of cake.