Picking octaves simultaneously (IE: A+G string)

[The Magic Hoof]

Quick question:

E ----------
B ----------
G -7--------
D ----------
A -5--------
E ----------


Let's imagine that these notes are tremolo picked; do you use your index finger that's playing on the A string to mute the D string? When I try this, I find that there is either a harmonic coming out of the D string or there is just noise coming from it. Obviously you're not supposed to play the D string -- just the A and G, but to tremolo pick the A and G strings, I take it you have to pick the A, D, and G all together like a 3-string power chord (only the A and G strings are supposed to come out since the D is muted with your left hand, I think.)

Does everyone do it like me, or should I be doing this another way? I'm trying to get rid of all the string noise and the harmonic that it pulls from the D string.

[sakeido]

Tremolo picking an octave? Are you playing Killing in the Name?
you are on the right track muting the D string. To get the harmonic to go away, play the 5 with your second finger, mute the D string at the 4th fret (don't fret it close to the wire) with your first finger, and play the 7 with your third finger.

[Sunbane]

It must be in how you are positioning your finger when you mute the string. When I do it (muting the D string with the 1st finger), I get no harmonic at all.

But - why would you use the A string at all? (5th fret on A string = D) Why not just use the open D and get the same note? Am I missing something?

[shadowcat]

well I guess he wants to move the chord around, too.

I mostly play powerchords with my index and pinky finger (if it's only the root note and the fifth) or index/ring/pinky.

So for a chord like shown above I would play the notes with my index and pinky and use both my middle and ring finger to mute the D string.

[metalhead28]

I would be muting the D string both with my index finger being loosely positioned across it, and the tip of my ring finger as it frets the higher note. Touching the string in 2 spots you'll not get any harmonics.

Whatever works man.

[The Magic Hoof]

Thanks for the tips!

Killing in the Name? Is that Rage Against the Machine? This was just a general question since I see some bands do this (the last tab I looked at was in the Emperor tablature book and it had some parts that use that.)

The 5th fret on the A and 7th on the G was general as well as I intend to move it around. If I were going to play just actual notes D and an octave above, of course I'd play the open D and the octave on the 7th fret of the G, but I do indeed intend to move it around


I've never really got into playing this kind of thing on my own since I just play power chords instead of skipping the 5th and just playing a note's octave.


Whilst on the subject, how do most of you play power chords? I'm sure that a regular 2-note power chord you all play with your index and ring finger, but what about a 3 note where you have root-5th-octave? I usually just use my index and ring just like I do for root-5th, but I notice that using your index/root, ring/5th, and pinky/octave makes it much more clear and sure that you'll hit the notes properly.

What about a playing a power chord, but using your index for barring 2 notes on the same fret and another finger for the octave, or something like that? Like this:


E ---------
B ---------
G ---------
D -4-------
A -2-------
D -2-------


I'm not sure how to explain this using theory, but I believe it's adding a 4th in the bass -- correct? Or is it that you're doing the descending octave of the 5th? Hell I don't know, heh. The chord above is a B, and I find that with a 6-stringer tuned to standard E, you can make it kind of sound like a 7-string (with power chords only though.) Anyway -- how would you guys play this? It depends for me because if I get down low (frets 1-5, about) I'll use the index for the barred notes and my pinky, but if I'm higher up on the fretboard I'll use my index and my ring finger. It all depends on how I'm feeling at the moment

[metalhead28]

That is an inverted power chord, or a power chord with the 5th in the bass. I would play that like you said, barring the E and A strings with my index finger and playing the upper 5th with my ring finger or pinky.
It does give a low and ominous sound and I used to employ inverted chords like that sometimes to cover those low chords that I didn't want to tune down for. It was a handy shortcut in my old cover band.

I play regular power chords usually with both my ring finger and pinky, like a partial barre chord with the octave in there...unless of course I'm changing chords really fast, then I'm usually just playing 2 notes with whichever finger can get there the easiest.

[leftyguitarjoe]

just fidget with it.

that is a prime basis in my band's style

[Sunbane]

Whilst on the subject, how do most of you play power chords?

I've always played power chords with my index and pinky. That may be because I have short and stubby fingers. I always do them like that...two or three strings irregardless.

I only use my ring finger if I have to do something like this:

----------
----10----
----9-----
----7-----
----------
----------

The chord above is a B, and I find that with a 6-stringer tuned to standard E, you can make it kind of sound like a 7-string (with power chords only though.)

Exactly! This is a favourite of mine. Feels a little like "cheating".

I fret those with index and pinky, like I would a normal power chord.

[shadowcat]

As I said, I also play powerchords with index and pinky. When I started playing I used index and ring finger, but then I tried the index/pinky approach out of curiosity (well, yeah I admit, because I saw Kirk Hammett do it... )

Found out that it's way easier for me to slide the powerchord around when using index and pinky, so I sticked to it. Full octave powerchords I play with index/ring finger/pinky.

[The Magic Hoof]

Found out that it's way easier for me to slide the powerchord around when using index and pinky, so I sticked to it. Full octave powerchords I play with index/ring finger/pinky.

Yeah -- I noticed this as well! For playing stuff where you move around a bit, using your pinky is a lot easier and I think it's because with your pinky, your hand is a bit more loose instead of being tense because there's more of a stretch between index-ring, so it's a bit easier to maneuver.

[OnlineStageGear]

Thanks for the tips!

What about a playing a power chord, but using your index for barring 2 notes on the same fret and another finger for the octave, or something like that? Like this:


E ---------
B ---------
G ---------
D -4-------
A -2-------
D -2-------

I usually add the G string in when doing those like this:

E ---------
B ---------
G -4-------
D -4-------
A -2-------
D -2-------

I think it makes it sound nice and full. And ya, you can use those to fake a lower chord on a 440 tuning.

[Spivonious]

index-ring-pinky or index-pinky for the power chords. For your original question, I mute the middle string with my index finger...kind of a barre?

[delt]

I think i must be the only electric guitar player who uses 2nd and 4th finger to do "power" chords =) Say you're playing an A5 at the nut:

---
---
-2- (index)
-2- (index)
-0- (open)
---

Then you want to play a G5 or a C5 at the 3rd fret then play the A5 again?

---
---
-5- (pinky)
-5- (pinky)
-3- (middle finger)
---

Every other guitarist who sees me play tells me i have a weird technique =) That and "galloping" riffs down-up-down, up-down-up, instead of skipping every 4th note

[tanpsi]

I like to do the trem picking of octaves 2 strings apart sliding up and down. I had never noticed the harmonics on the damped string until I read this and sure enough the harmonics were there, I guess my playing is so loose and sloppy - like Hendrix, Haha - I never noticed the harmonics, but they are there, although they are quieter than when I deliberatly try to get harmonics.

Jazz guys do octaves like that all the time, but I think because they are on the neck pickup with no overdrive and maybe rolled off treble, the harmonics are not as noticiable.

You could try picking the lower note with pick or thumb and one of the higher with a free nail, I do that sometimes.

A similiar thing that sounds bluesy is a 6th, 2 strings apart.