How do you get that vibrato harmonic thing?

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ItDiesToday321

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Hey guys i was wondering how to get a harmonic like zakk wylde does with the vibrato on it. I've been playing for about a year and a half and i just cant figure it out.if someone could help me that would be cool.thanks.
 
You're asking how to do an artificial harmonic?

Well, you've got to pick the string in such a way that the fleshy side of your thumb hits the string at the same time as your pick. You'll probably need to adjust the grip on your pick, sort of choke up on it, and dig in kinda hard with your attack. At least digging in hard helps me do it better. Some people, including Zakk if I remember correctly, do it by letting their index finger's nail hit the string instead of their thumb. I've managed to do them that way, but I think it's more akward.
You've also got to hit the right spot on the string when you pick. If you adjust where you strike the string the pitch of the harmonic will change. There are several spots that will throw a good one out there for any given fretted note, but certain spots work much better than others. It's just a technique and a feel that you develop over time.

As far as the vibrato thing, you've just got to wiggle the shit out of it. A really wide, fast vibrato makes them sound better, and the technique is no different for an artificial harmonic than it is for any other note you play.
 
well i can do an artificial harmonic but when i try to "wiggle" it the harmonic stops and it mutes the string.
 
ItDiesToday321 said:
well i can do an artificial harmonic but when i try to "wiggle" it the harmonic stops and it mutes the string.
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Do you start the vibrato at the same time you pick it?
 
ItDiesToday321 said:
well i can do an artificial harmonic but when i try to "wiggle" it the harmonic stops and it mutes the string.
Click to expand...

Well if you are muting the string you have a faulty vibrato somehow. How exactly are you executing it? What happens when you apply vibrato to a regularly picked note?
Perhaps you should allow the harmonic to swell for just a second before you start.
 
i never thought of starting the vibrato right when i picked it.thanks outlaws
 
There's a pinched harmonic which is when you pluck notes with your fret hand over a certain spot in the fret board, this is not done by your pick hand. You hear it alot in classical guitar playing and can easly be done on the 12th, fret just to give and example.

To do, place your fret index finger bared across the 12th fret. Pluck the stinges with your fret finger just muting the the stings and release.

The as I call it metal squel harmonic is done basically like that but in reverse. 2 things that will help: Low action on the strings and the right distortion.

You need a lot of sustain as well, that's basically what that particular type of harmonic is caused from, or at least the vibarto. It takes and alot of practice.
 
killmachine said:
The as I call it metal squel harmonic is done basically like that but in reverse. 2 things that will help: Low action on the strings and the right distortion.

You need a lot of sustain as well, that's basically what that particular type of harmonic is caused from, or at least the vibarto. It takes and alot of practice.
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I can do it on a clean amp no problem.
 
metalhead28 said:
You're asking how to do an artificial harmonic?

Well, you've got to pick the string in such a way that the fleshy side of your thumb hits the string at the same time as your pick. You'll probably need to adjust the grip on your pick, sort of choke up on it, and dig in kinda hard with your attack. At least digging in hard helps me do it better. Some people, including Zakk if I remember correctly, do it by letting their index finger's nail hit the string instead of their thumb. I've managed to do them that way, but I think it's more akward.
You've also got to hit the right spot on the string when you pick. If you adjust where you strike the string the pitch of the harmonic will change. There are several spots that will throw a good one out there for any given fretted note, but certain spots work much better than others. It's just a technique and a feel that you develop over time.

As far as the vibrato thing, you've just got to wiggle the shit out of it. A really wide, fast vibrato makes them sound better, and the technique is no different for an artificial harmonic than it is for any other note you play.
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Excellent description, Metalhead. I use a teardrop pick, medium, and attack the string very close to the point of the pick, turned at about a 30-degree angle toward the string. It rings out clear and loud. Some guitars resonate better than others. My LP is better than my Strat in this regard. You can hear it very clearly, unamplified.
 
A lot of artists have used this, listen to Billy gibbons during the second solo on La Grange. It's a squeal fest! Zakk has such a fierce tone though, It makes it stand out even more.

PS: Try only letting a tiny bit of your pick stick out, so it hits your finger at almost the same time. Are you wiggling the string up and down or back and forth? Try up and down to get more vibrato.
 
Another brilliant pinch harmonic moment - if you dig Rush (there are still a few of us geeks out here) - the first four notes of the solo on Freewill. Lifeson is actually fretting the same note (12th fret D string) but varying his pinch so the harmonic changes with each pick/pinch.

If you can't deal with listening to Rush, I understand, but it is a legendary pinch harmonic moment.
 
I never heard anyone nail the Zakk Wylde squeal. His wide/fast vibrato is a hard thing to pull off. Him and Billy Gibbons made me learn to squeal but for the past 5 years I've been playing thru single coil pickups only and squealin does'nt really happen.
 
killmachine said:
There's a pinched harmonic which is when you pluck notes with your fret hand over a certain spot in the fret board, this is not done by your pick hand. You hear it alot in classical guitar playing and can easly be done on the 12th, fret just to give and example.

To do, place your fret index finger bared across the 12th fret. Pluck the stinges with your fret finger just muting the the stings and release.

The as I call it metal squel harmonic is done basically like that but in reverse. 2 things that will help: Low action on the strings and the right distortion.

You need a lot of sustain as well, that's basically what that particular type of harmonic is caused from, or at least the vibarto. It takes and alot of practice.
Click to expand...
thts not a pinch harmonic. thats just a regular harmonic.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
I never heard anyone nail the Zakk Wylde squeal. His wide/fast vibrato is a hard thing to pull off. Him and Billy Gibbons made me learn to squeal but for the past 5 years I've been playing thru single coil pickups only and squealin does'nt really happen.
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it's also all the eqpuiment hes using.

plus the guys fucking huge so he can muscle the shit out of his strings.
 
killmachine said:
The as I call it metal squel harmonic is done basically like that but in reverse. 2 things that will help: Low action on the strings and the right distortion.

You need a lot of sustain as well, that's basically what that particular type of harmonic is caused from, or at least the vibarto. It takes and alot of practice.
Click to expand...

Just curious, but why does low action help you nail a pinch harmonic?

Also if you're just learning pinch harmonics, I would probably suggest practicing them with a clean sound, or even unplugged. It will help you to hear if your really nailing them. If you are you'll be able to hear them no problem. Distortion just makes them easier to hear when you don't really hit them well.
 
well the low action helps with the vibrato more than anything. Honestly I hate that metal squel thing, it always makes me feel like I'm a guitar player in a bad 80's hair metal band.


And I also hate It dies today, the band that is. Sorry dude

But hey what do I know I make a habit out of killing things.
 
I would start with high output pickups and a fair amount of distortion. It'll make it quite a bit easier to start.

Pinch harmonics are pretty much the same as touch harmonics, just done faster. Keep in mind that you have to hit a very specific part of the string with your picking hand (although you usually have several options) and these parts of the string are different for every note you fret with your left hand. That is, the pinch harmonics are going to be in different spots depending on whether you're playing the fifth fret or eighth fret. This is a good tutorial that should give you the idea http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/harmonics/pinch/index.php
 
SecondHeartbeat said:
it's also all the eqpuiment hes using.

plus the guys fucking huge so he can muscle the shit out of his strings.
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I saw Zakk play many years ago when he was just hitting the scene in NJ. He was half the size he is now and still had a great vibrato. He just has a great wide open and intensely aggressive vibrato. That is something that comes with time and develops as you develop as a player, regardless of your physique. Just look at Angus. He's about 17 inches tall and plays as big as a tree.

The pinch harmonic thing will also come with practice. You'll try and try and all of a sudden you'll do it and that will be that. I would recommend finding all of the open harmonics first, including the ones that are not over the fretboard, and go from there. I play a lot of 'brush' harmonics by using the side of my picking hand to 'catch' the harmonic spot as I pick the note. It's something that I do now without even thinking about it, but has become an integral part of my style. Good luck and keep practicing.
 
Robbie Robertson does this a lot for emphasis notes or short runs, Jerry Garcia too......... Bonnie Raitt does this weird thing with a thumbpick and her index finger pointed out in front......... I haven't seen it up real close but it's sure what it looks like.

I get the best of this effect that I can do picking with the edge of the pick and a dash of side-o'-the-thumb.

It's not something I use when bending notes-- it's more of an attack effect IMHO.
 
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