loud pitch harmonics

[ELECTRICO100]

Ok, so i'm no Petruccy or Wylde, but I can do my pitch harmonics on the guitar. The problem is that I can't do them as loud as they do it. When I'm doing chords or playing rithim parts of a songs if I try to to a picht harm It doesn't sound as lound as the chords. Are you getting my problem? Petrucci and Wylde make there harmonics sound even louder that the chords. What can I do to be like that? What am I doing wrong?

[Firebird V]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Do you mean pinch harmonics? A harmonic you hit when you pinch the string between your thumb and pick? If so, I choke up on the pick (Bring my thumb closer to the tip when I am playing the desired note that I want to ring off) to get them to ring off. Also, It depends on where your pick also makes contact with the string between the pickups to get them to ring off loud and articulate. Hope that helps.

[Guest]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Have you ever tried a compressor in your rig? That might help.

[ELECTRICO100]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

A compressor? that wil help? will that really make them sound louder?

[Guest]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

A compressor makes all sound the same volume. So soft sounds are boosted and loud sounds are softened. That's why they're also called sustainers. Because as a note dies off it doesn't lose it's volume, whereas with an ordinary setup, you hear it die off into quietness.

Post on the amps/effects board to get some more info.

[skarhead]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

hmm my advice would be :

unplug your guitar and start to play pinch harmonics on your guitar ( electric will work just fine , you can do it also on acoustic) without any gain you'll hear in what cases you make it louder, maybe it'll help you , i learned pinch harmonics that way and i play them pretty loud ( i think so @ least [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )

smaller hands help when you want to play higher harmonics - closer to the bridge they sound higher.

[TommyD]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

> Is it just me,or can most other players do them with an upstroke as well as a downstroke? I can't,gotta be a downstroke. When I play without an amp,I usually get them so high I can't hear them,anyone else do this? Tommy D.

[Sunbane]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

The pitch and strength of the harmonic depends greatly on where you hit the string. Do it closer to the neck, and you get deeper, howling ones - do it closer to the bridge and you get high pitched squealing ones. You also need to find the right sweet-spots, where the harmonic will be loud and clear. if you miss the spot by a few millimeters, you'll only get measly, weak-sounding harmonics.

And yes, some people can do them on the upstrokes as well. It's just a matter of finding the technique and practicing it 'til it sits there.

[Outlander]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Try different picks as well.I've noticed a big difference from pinch tones even between the same manufacture.For instance the Dunlop Ultex .73 gives me more defined and higher harmonics than the Dunlop 1.0, same material different thickness or guage. Also the dunlop nylon .88 has a more meaty sound but this is a different material.Some players even use metal picks which will give you a bright articulate sound. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top used a Peso he filed down for a pick (Mexican metal coin about the size of a penny)
Also as was stated find the sweet spots on the neck some harmonics sound best in certain positions......A liitle extra gain never hurts either [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[KidPredator]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Who needs a pick? Just do them with your teeth on top of the pickup [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Pinch harmonics for days [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[jjw]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

All you have to do mate is REALY HIT THE PINCH HARM FN HARD

then apply WIDE vibrato,then smile

but honestly playing too soft lacks volume in the attack so strick it as hard as you can then shake the note like crazy

[jgcable]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

#1. bridge position with humbuckers works best
#2. agressive attack increases volume of harmonic
#3. Zack gets the killer low pinch harmonics because he uses monster size strings. The type of guitar and the string gauge make a huge difference.
#4. If you want to get Zack type pinch harmonics you absolutely have to play with Zack type aggression. He is a very agressive player with both hands always on the attack. Jake E Lee is the same type of player. Both have very agressive pick hands.
$5. make sure you use heavy fast vibrato when pinching. This is another signature Zack style.

[InFlamed666]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Watch the BLS dvd lessons, for pinch harmonics zack stomps on his wah pedal as he hits and vibratos the pinch harmonic, that helps with the crazy sound he gets.

This picture probably helps more than any written advice you can get!!!

[Chameleonfong]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Other than all the above suggestion, i recommend you pratice without pick first. Just use your bare fingers.


Fong

[RacerX]

Re: loud pitch harmonics

Nice tattoo, Inflamed! [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Now you'll never forget the method! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]