Satch-Harmonic-whammy-thingy - Hows it done?

[julio]

You know when Satch hits this harmonic and grabs the bar with his LEFT hand, in, say, the endiing of "satchboogie" intro? Can anyone explain how this is done step by step?

If I learn to do that...how much cooler can I get? :biggrin:

[HIS ROYAL DARKNESS]

Julio,

Great question! *
I too was amazing at how many times he did this throughout his performance. *It sounded to me like a normal harmonic on the fifth fret of the G string. *Like I mentioned, he did this numerous times, and it looked SO COOL! *Anyone out there who knows how to do this should share it with the group.

On a related note, when I saw G3 here in Cali, Satch played this short little diddy before "Summer Song." *It was some theme, but I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT! *If anyone knows, or is going to see G3 soon. *Keep an ear out for it and let me know before I go crazy! *(not too much farther to go)

[Rich]

The Summer Song intro was Led Zep, I'd have to think about it awhile to remember which.

Open string pinched harmonic, doesn't matter which string. Reach around and grab the bar, pinch the harmonic, and whammy it. He'll start with the bar depressed, he'll also push up on the bar with his thumb from underneath, all depends on what he's after. Leaves his right hand free to throw up in the air, or mute wound strings, or just plain looks cool because it's different and pure Satch. Helps if your bar is bent like Joe's where it's much closer to the body to begin with, it rides in your hand smoother while picking when it's bent also.

[julio]

Thanks Rich

[Devo]

Tis always a crowd pleaser

[julio]

Hang on!

I just realised that the tab for "satch boogie" says that that *harmonic is at the 14th fret..........??????????

[Carlo]

I think that Led Zep song was Black Dog. *Of course, we all remember when Vai did his funny rendition of Black Dog back during the UZ tour....HILARIOUS!!!

[jemsite]

jeesh... you guys ever listen to LED ZEP

the intro was Rock n Roll :biggrin: ...glen

[jemsite]

PS - that's from Led Zeppelin IV.

BUY IT IMMEDIATELY :biggrin: ...glen

[Rich]

Been a long time (repeat) :biggrin:

[Carlo]

Oh yeah! You're right Glen, it was Rock n Roll...geez I can't believe I missed that :shocked: *Well, both songs are from the same album so I'm not TOTALLY off :biggrin: *But I still can't believe I confused the two, being a huge Zep fan myself. *Geez, my memory is really starting to suck now

[Rich]

Such a shame for such a young man, at least I've got the *age* excuse! :biggrin:

[Beast of Love]

Some additional stuff re: the Satch harmonic thingie...

I find he generally does an artificial (pinch) harmonic on the open G string; After you hit that harmonic, IMMEDIATELY drop the whammy bar down with your left hand and slowly bring it up. So it sounds like it's just a great harmonic scream starting from very low, rather than a harmonic that's whammy'd down, then up again.

-Ben

[Christopher Chen]

Another cool trick you can try is finding the harmonic over the pickups, it's a cool thing that Satch did in the g3 vhs, strike the 3rd string, use the trem bar and bring the 3rd string slack, then move your left hand and place it over the 24th fret area, or better yet if you can find the harmonic over the area between the neck and bridge pickups try that too!

That one gives you the harmonic found between the 2nd and 3rd fret....very cool trick, the audience wouldn't know what hit them.

Chris.

[Carlo]

Rich- I'm going to blame it on TV :biggrin: