Squeel Like a Pig

[rickboot]

Although I have been doing pinch harmonics on the unwound strings for years, I have recently been trying to do them on the low strings and make them really jump out like Zakk Wilde does. I still haven't quite nailed it to the point I can perform them 100% of the time.

Anyone have any tips?

Rick

[vwall]

Precision!!!

...And choke up on your pick.

[Rich]

I squeel like a pig when I choke up on my prick. Oh.... pick.... nevermind!

I definately dig in more to get pinches on the wounds, but then I can't get that screaming harmonic like Zakk can either

[Kevan]

Gain.
Some gain.
A bit more gain.
Did I say gain? *:-)

[1string2many]

Or try some gain.

[jem7vwh]

also, this may not need to be mentioned given it's a JEMsite, but single coils do NOT cut it. *Weak pickups don't either. *Think about who it is we identify wild harmonics with Vai and Wylde. *Vai uses Evos for most of that stuff, and Zakk uses EMG's. *So it goes to say, don't expect to pull it off on p-90s.

[rickboot]

I have pleny of gain (Line6 Recto and Modern High gain) and am choking up on my pick just as I do for the plain strings. I also tried Rich's idea, but my wife caught me. I am also playing on shred certified guitars equipped with high-gain pickups (Tone Zones, PAF Pro's, Fred, Evo).

My observations so far...

I can actually get better squeels if I don't dig in as hard as I do with plain strings but instead use a light touch and prolong thumb contact with the string. Executing the wide vibrato simultaneous to pull the string away from the picks seems to help too.

[mrthingyX]

I squeeze up with about 3mm showing on mine, and they shoot out! This is getting silly, now.

On a more serious note, 3-4mm of pick showing gives some jumpy harmonics on the lower wound strings at about two-thirds crank on a DSL401. It depends where you strike the string - near the bridge gives some very shrill ones.

[eviltwin]

if I use enough gain and correct EQ settings [ie lots of top end], I can actually get squeels on the single coil or the 2 & 4 positions, regardless of what string.
The trick is not to pick directly over the Pup, so if you want to get PH in the bridge sc+middle sc position, pick in the area over the neck pup.

btw I use a 777DSY into a Digitech 2101 into a JCM900
the EL34s powertubes are probably very suited to these sounds

perhaps the maple also helps :idunno:

[toshiro]

In a word: Chorus.. No rate, lots of depth, not a lot of mix.. A little bit goes a long way towards getting Zakk's squeals... That chorus pedal he used in Ozzy's band wasn't just there for nothing..

[ericbrowning]

I agree with all the gain and chorus tips, but more than anything it's technique. *I've been doing those bad boys for awhile, and I can make them pop out on my Washburn acoustic, with .13-.56 strings; especially low notes. *You just have to learn to get the feel for it.

[jeffrey]

Lotsa treble too. Makes a bigger diff then you'd think.

[pri0531]

Doesn't Zakk drop tune. *That also helps.
Out,
GP

[Gresh]

Unwound string pinch harmonics are much less sensitive to where you pinch, in my observation. *On the wound strings it is critical. *Try it at different spots with your picking hand, grabbing the string in different locations to see what comes out. *If I am fretting a low G on the E string, *i find that my best harmonics jump out if I grab it at the theoretical "27th" fret, shifting that location up or down in accordance with where my fret hand is 2 octaves down.

If that doesn't help, just try some more gain!

[7 Dying Trees]

Precision and choking the pick. You need to find where they are. The wound strings, as Gresh says, are far more sensitive. Experiemnt untill you find where they are. There's a couple of different ones you can find, but you need to train your hand to hit the right position.