Things You'll Need:
- Electric guitar
- Whammy bar
-
Step 1
Go to the 12th fret of the guitar. Place your index finger on the G string directly above the fret. Do not press down on the fret. Lay your finger only on top of it without pressing down. Pick the string with your strumming hand and at the same time you pick, let go of the string on the 12th fret. This is called a natural harmonic. It will resemble a bell sound.
-
Step 2
Hold the pick in a way that most of your thumb and middle finger stick out and cover the end of the pick. Fret the 14th fret on the G string, and strike the string with your picking hand just below the end of the first pick-ups. Pick the string with part of your pick, thumb and middle finger. Touching the string with part of your fingers creates a pinch harmonic. This will resemble a squeal sound.
-
Step 3
Position your pick as if wanting to create a pinch harmonic. Drive the whammy bar up to create a shrieking sound with the harmonic you created. This is a technique that Dime Bag Darrell used a lot.
-
Step 4
Position your fingers on the second fret and create an E minor chord. Place your index finger on the A string second fret and middle finger on the D string second fret leaving the rest of the strings open. Strum only the first three strings, and at the same time dive the whammy bar down. This will create a dive bomb sound common with Van Halen tracks.
-
Step 5
Turn the volume knob down all of the way. Play a natural harmonic and, as it is struck, slowly bring the volume up. This will create a swelling harmonic effect that is good for introductions into guitar leads.
