Dimebag Squeals

[MartinBarre]

Someone tell me - did he use a pedal to help him with those squeals? I've seen mention of flangers and stuff.
I know, in theory, how to do it, but I have a hard time managing it, and certainly can't come close to doing it the way he did. Him and Joe Satriani can both do those crazy harmonic squeals and I'm wondering if there's an easy way to do it.

[Spivonious]

I've wondered this too. I can get squeals, but nowhere near the output of Satch or Dimebag or Vai or Wylde.

[metalchurch79]

I think it might have to do with his Wah pedal either being open or shut helping the high pitched squeals. The Wah accents the tone of the pinch harmonic somehow.
I don't own a Wah, but that's my guess on how he does it.
I have read that Dime used several overdrive pedals run in a series at one point, so that might account for it in someway?

Maybe someone here has unlocked the magic and they could share?

[Endrik]

nah, it's all in the hands... just look at John Sykes
effects just add a different color
you just have to find the g-spot and have a pretty strong left hand

[metalchurch79]

or right hand....

[markD]

yeah, for me it is just a technique. i plug straight into my amp and have NO trouble get killer squeals.

[thetroy]

nah, it's all in the hands... just look at John Sykes
effects just add a different color
you just have to find the g-spot and have a pretty strong left hand

You do need a decently compressed tone, but other than that you're right.

I can do it but not consistently enough yet - 1/3 of the time I mess it up and get no sound at all!

[Endrik]

or right hand....

well, let's say fretting hand

that being said... a guitar and an amp makes some difference... with some guitars it's easy to do all kinds of harmonic-shit... with others it's harder... and some amps just bring out all the right overtones that really make the notes scream... cranking it helps too.

[nsubulysses]

I think they're talking about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9InHBU30jM

Flick the G string with your left hand, depress the whammy bar down so the strings flop, place your finger over a harmonic on the fretboard, then pull up the whammy so the strings become taut. As the string is coming back up from the dive and getting tighter you catch the harmonic and pull it way up.

[nsubulysses]

Dime's got some delay on his guitar, too, so it sounds huge. You'll hear it in the youtube clip.

[Endrik]

You do need a decently compressed tone, but other than that you're right.

I can do it but not consistently enough yet - 1/3 of the time I mess it up and get no sound at all!

yeah, it's a common thing... sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss... with practice you start hitting more... but I think that's why George Lynch started holding his pick like he does... do get all the squeals every time

[metalchurch79]

well, let's say fretting hand

that being said... a guitar and an amp makes some difference... with some guitars it's easy to do all kinds of harmonic-shit... with others it's harder... and some amps just bring out all the right overtones that really make the notes scream... cranking it helps too.

Hahaha! yeah I hear ya!

[metalchurch79]

I think they're talking about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9InHBU30jM

Flick the G string with your left hand, depress the whammy bar down so the strings flop, place your finger over a harmonic on the fretboard, then pull up the whammy so the strings become taut. As the string is coming back up from the dive and getting tighter you catch the harmonic and pull it way up.

I want sure if the OP meant this or not? I was assuming he meant straight up pinch harmonics.

[thetroy]

I've also found that playing the same guitar a lot helps to get the right spots into memory. It also is less expensive!

[Endrik]

I think they're talking about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9InHBU30jM

Flick the G string with your left hand, depress the whammy bar down so the strings flop, place your finger over a harmonic on the fretboard, then pull up the whammy so the strings become taut. As the string is coming back up from the dive and getting tighter you catch the harmonic and pull it way up.

yeah, that's EVH-school natural harmonics, I think Reb Beach gets the highest pitch doing those, there's a really sweet spot on the 3rd fret on the G string and then pulling the whammy bar up... insane!!!