the metal squeal?

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oneamongthefence

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I want to learn how people are getting that metal harmonic squeal. I can easily do your average pinch harmonics... but can't seem to produce that sound from pantera or black label and such. what do i need to do to get my harmonic to squeal like that?
 
An OD can help. Technique helps too. Lots and lots of gain can be your friend, this includes volume.
 
have your treble up. if you have a wah pedal, have it midway then when you bend the squeal open the wah up completely (push it down) that will get you some means ass squeals. also if you dont have a wah or it is just in the way to run to the wah everytime, use sharper picks, and instead of one finger to do the squeal (on the fretboard, use two or 3 to bend it rapidly to make a wiggly squeal or slowly to make a progressive squeal.

Gain is your friend, but you can squeal on a clean channel so thats not completely true. just practice, youll have to find the sweet spot where you pick on each string at each fret place. Practice!!!
 
Pinch harmonics change depending on where you pick how you pick and even how you hold the note with your left hand.

The best thing to do is just try hitting them all and you will get used to where they are. It is also different on each guitar too.

Lots of gain helps too but you don't need to go as far as the Wah wah mentioned above you should be able to do it with high gain and your hands.


I wonder though if your talking about where DIme for instance goes really really high and in that case it's a whammy pedal mixed with his whammy bar.
 
Your pickups matter too. For some reason, my Ibanez RG7620 doesn't like to do pinch squeals as much as my Jackson.
 
+1 on pickups. Where you are picking can also make difference.
 
+1 Where you actually apply the pinch harmonic (artificial harmonic) will determine the harmonic you get or even if you get one. After you practice some you will have the liberty of using them whenever you want and have the ability to use multiple harmonics from the same fret position. Some locations will sound the harmonic much better than others. A good high output pickup will also help you. EMG81's make harmonics fly off a fretboard especially with an OD in front of an already dirty amp. This is Zakk Wylde's approach. We all know that he is one of the most common thought of when thinking about those that use pinch harmonics from his prolific use of them.
 
triple rectumfrier said:
use sharper picks

I never tried that when I was learning pinch harmonics. I found that the pick sharpness tended to go away too quickly anyway when using those pointy Dunlop picks that they came out with. I usually end up playing with the rounded back corner as the pick spins in my fingers trying to find a point again. I solved that by going up in pick gauge and getting the tortex picks so they wouldn't slip around. My girlfriend just bought these picks from GC that are like sand paper where you grip them. They absolutely don't move on you. It is even kind of hard to reposition your grip on them because they stick to you.
 
Russ said:
triple rectumfrier said:
use sharper picks

I never tried that when I was learning pinch harmonics. I found that the pick sharpness tended to go away too quickly anyway when using those pointy Dunlop picks that they came out with. I usually end up playing with the rounded back corner as the pick spins in my fingers trying to find a point again. I solved that by going up in pick gauge and getting the tortex picks so they wouldn't slip around. My girlfriend just bought these picks from GC that are like sand paper where you grip them. They absolutely don't move on you. It is even kind of hard to reposition your grip on them because they stick to you.
Sharper picks help me altogether, what are these "sandpaper" picks you speak of? I need to get my hand on some!! Although I never really loser hold of my picks in live situations, it may be interesting to check them out
 
triple rectumfrier said:
Russ said:
triple rectumfrier said:
use sharper picks

I never tried that when I was learning pinch harmonics. I found that the pick sharpness tended to go away too quickly anyway when using those pointy Dunlop picks that they came out with. I usually end up playing with the rounded back corner as the pick spins in my fingers trying to find a point again. I solved that by going up in pick gauge and getting the tortex picks so they wouldn't slip around. My girlfriend just bought these picks from GC that are like sand paper where you grip them. They absolutely don't move on you. It is even kind of hard to reposition your grip on them because they stick to you.
Sharper picks help me altogether, what are these "sandpaper" picks you speak of? I need to get my hand on some!! Although I never really loser hold of my picks in live situations, it may be interesting to check them out

I haven't taken the time to ask but I know they come in a little tin like Altoids. I'll ask her who makes them and what they are called.
 
Hmm...I find it odd that nobody has corrected the technique really. If you want the squeal like Dime, then you do not use a pinch harmonic. It's a really simple technique actually. You can get it down in a few minutes. Heres a play-by-play:

1. Flick the string with your finger.

2. Drop the whammy bar until the strings start to "flap" slightly.

3. As you begin to pull back the bar, catch a natural harmonic. (The most common and arguably the easiest harmonic is the 5th fret, G string)

4. Pull the bar back and squeal the hell out of that guitar :wink: .

If you don't understand, or something is unclear, heres a video lesson from the master himself:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6TpYcA9bSaU
 


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