How to Use Pinch Harmonic Techniques in Metal Guitar

A pinch harmonic is a guitar technique that results in a high-pitched squeal of a note, produced by catching the nail or thumb slightly on the string after it's picked. This cancels the fundamental tone of the string and lets one of its harmonics ring out. Natural harmonics can be produced at certain string positions. However, a guitarist can pull off the desired string screech from any fret position with the pinch harmonic technique. Read on to learn how to use pinch harmonic techniques in metal guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Grip a guitar pick in a normal fashion.
2. Strike a note with a decidedly downward picking force (as opposed to an even stroke used with normal guitar picking).
3. Catch the string with the bottom of your thumb on the follow-through of the picking action. The stroke should be smooth enough to allow the string to resonate but force enough contact between your thumb and the string to reduce, but not entirely cancel, its reverberation.
4. Alter the tone of the harmonic by moving your picking hand closer and further away from the fretted note along the range of the pickups. A variety of harmonic tones can be produced off the same string and fretted note by changing the proximity of the picking hand to the electronic pickups.
5. Use a significant amount of vibrato with the fret hand to add dynamic and range to your harmonic sounds.

Tips & Warnings

• A large amount of distortion can allow easier and more sustained harmonics to be produced. Pinch harmonics can be produced on an acoustic guitar, but not as clearly or with as much dynamic as with an electric guitar.
• The cleanest harmonic is produced when the pick and the thumb strike the string almost simultaneously.