My tips to better pinch harmonics

MY SWEETWATER GEAR LIST: sweetwater.sjv...
I play Kiesel Guitars, go to www.kieselguitars.com and put yours together today using their online build calculator!
GUITAR LESSONS/TONES: WWW.DEANLAMB.COM
Follow Dean on IG: @dean_lamb_

[@floridaboy9641]

This is just the kind of in-depth tutorial we need. Please do pick slanting next! I’m starting to try it but im not certain exactly what i should be doing with it

[@nemesyssss]

If you type Mike Philippov Directional Picking you'll find a super useful tutorial on how to make things much easier to pick. It sounds annoying at first but it kinda makes pick slanting not necessary. You'll find yourself after some time doing very slight pick slanting in the direction that's needed (if it's even needed at all) on the very last note before switching strings without having to really learn it. The rest of the time you won't need to do it since you'll be doing upstrokes or downstrokes only depending on if you're going on the lower or higher strings.

[@steven62004]

Honestly just more technique content in general. I know there's so many folks on YT that have guitar technique videos but it would be interesting to see Dean's personal stuff as he's such a technical player and uses an 8 string. Plus he's got the chops (lamb?) to back it up.

[@howardgillingham4763]

The originator of the pick slant, Dave Mustain

[@GodspeedHaywire]

New Archspire song: “Thumb Skin Syncopation”

[@scottnelle]

This is perfect 🤣

[@johnbeard7252]

YES!!! 😂

[@scottnelle]

Please pardon a novel of a comment: I think one extra piece of information that might be helpful to drive this point home is that when you play a 12th fret harmonic, the string vibrates on both sides of your fretting position (because you haven't actually fretted a note) and the string vibrates equally on either side of where your finger was. That means you've doubled the frequency that the string vibrates at, producing a note one octave up. So far, that's the same pitch as fretting a note at the twelfth fret, and they sound pretty similar. It gets interesting when you play a harmonic on the 5th or 24th fret, because they are located 1/4 and 3/4 along the length of the string. Both sides of the string are now vibrating from the point where your finger was, but the wavelength is 1/4 of the total length of the string (because the wavelength has to be the same throughout the length of the string), which means the frequency is four times the open string and twice the 12th fret harmonic, so the pitch is two octaves up from the fundamental of the string. As Dean mentions, the 7th fret is 1/3 of the way along the length of the sting and that again subdivides the string nicely, producing a vibrating frequency that happens to be a fifth above the open string. There's also a harmonic near the 4th fret, which is 1/5 of the way along the string. It doesn't vibrate quite as nicely because it isn't a nice clean subdivision, which is why it sounds weaker and dies quickly. Having said ALL of that, all of these subdivisions exist in different places for any length of string, and when you fret a string you're shortening the length of the string, increasing the pitch. So that changes the subdivision points (which mark the harmonics) for 1/4, 1/3, 1/5 of the string. When you play a pinch harmonic your picking hand is doing both roles: subdividing the string's frequency and starting the vibration, leaving your left hand to set the overall length of the string. And as Dean mentions, those points exist both on the headstock side of the string and the bridge side of the string. So when you pinch you're still playing the same harmonics, just on a shorter string and on the bridge side. The bad news is that it means the exact location of the harmonics changes for every fretted position, but the good news is that you can measure and calculate exactly where you should pinch in order to produce different harmonics. By figuring out where 1/4 or 1/3 of the total string length is for any given length. Also you can fudge it a little by using more thumb skin 😁

[@spekenbonen72]

Very long story. But there is no P.U. on the neck, bud. So nothing to pick up. IF you want to record (that is the technical term) stringvibrations above the fretting position (or in this case, above the harmonic note you want to hear, you need a P.U. (the guitar doesn't record beyond the bridge... or the nut... because of that principle)

[@scottnelle]

@@spekenbonen72 Perhaps the key point wasn't clear enough. Where you place your finger when playing a harmonic determines the maximum wavelength that the string can vibrate at, and that is equal to the length of the string on whichever side of your finger is shortest. That's why the pitch is the same for a fifth fret harmonic and a 24th fret harmonic. When you play a harmonic, the whole string is vibrating. The wavelength of the vibration determines the frequency/pitch. The fundamental isn't being muted, exactly. Instead, the frequency that the string is vibrating at physically changes.

[@alex_capone]

To sum up: harmonic frequencies are whole-number multiples of fundamental frequencies, which is why only certain fretts produce resonant harmonics. Because frequency, regardless of fretted note or harmonic, is derived from string length (and mass) certain fretts make these different harmonics because of the variation in length produced by either fretting a note or performing a harmonic.

[@scottnelle]

@@alex_capone Great summary! And the thing I hoped to add to the conversation (but buried all the way at the end of a long comment) is that, while those pinch-able harmonics move when you fully fret a note, we can learn/calculate exactly where they will be for any fretted note because it will always be at a subdivision of the total vibrating length of the string. I just think it's so cool the way it works. If I had a super slow-motion camera I'd do a whole geeky video about it!

[@tjwhibbs553]

Dude that shirt 😂

[@AugustBurnsSam]

I pulled my asquealies tendon trying this out

[@dorkwithsometork]

Hey dean saw yall at the orpheum i was the kid you fist bumped in i was in front of the stage it was awesome love ya dean

[@cliffsharp1771]

Dean, you might hate me for this, but I've actually discovered, not only does the way I hold my pick allow me to consistently hit pinch harmonics with my thumb, but likewise with my index finger, and I've begun to write riffs with pinch harmonics on an upstroke as well as down strokes.

[@BOSSWAFFLE1434]

That's gotta sound insane lol do you have any videos showcasing your picking technique and/or how you pull something like that off? Would be super cool to see

[@Ottophil]

@@BOSSWAFFLE1434i think he explained it well

[@Looped_again]

Ok what the fuck upstroke?

[@qwqwwq3010]

Would love to hear more in-depth teachings and guitar theory from you. As somebody with zero experience of theory, I find it absolutely fascinating and easily stomached from you

[@nemesyssss]

Yo Dean, I love these kinds of videos! If you're planning on doing more I'm sure a LOT of people would be excited to hear you talk about nerdy guitar techniques (me included).

[@ThatBeTheQuestion]

0:02 Me too, brother, me too. Drinking my "morning" coffee as I watch.

[@NateSmith87]

I hear the frequencies and differences in the notes. That was fuckin awesome, Dean. I'm trying to learn more about guitar myself, so I can create what I want!

[@TheSicknO]

Thanks for your input, helped me out a bit actually. To put my picking hand at a different angle when I do this. Helped me out on one of my guitars where I've struggled to do pinches for a while. So annoying that different guitars act differently on this technique, thanks again!

[@tylermontoya4823]

So much insight from a modern guitar God!! STAY TECH!!¡! 💀🔥🤘

[@roachzero2952]

"Lamb of Dean" !!! Holy fuck i havnt seen you in my recommended IN FOREVER !!!

[@zantilla]

this was very insightful, def a lot more now to consider. also just thanks for not being like other YTbers and being like "here's 5 reason you're ass at shit". that format is really annoying and it's very nice that you just woke up and said "hey, here's a cool thing" like a normal person.

[@TheMooseCaboose]

As someone who just learned how to do "squealies" not that long ago, can definitely attest to understanding what they are and how important pick placement is with the right hand. Experiment, experiment, and experiment. Also, bridge pickup makes these things REALLY pop as well. Neck pickup is eh.

[@naturaljoe759]

I used to use the middle of my middle fingernail (behind the pick towards the bridge) to lightly rest on the string. It made it really easy to throw quick pinches into a line or riff but it wasn’t as “meaty” or deep in the tone, if that makes sense, as using my thumb meat.

[@eamonnparsons3155]

Such a helpful video! I honestly came into the video not expecting to get much out of it, but something in how you described the faint movement of your wrist made something click for me. Went from a 50% hit rate to a 90% in minutes. And so much clearer too. I'm fairly new to guitar, been learning 2.5 years or so now, but massive thanks!

[@TheRandomSpectator]

Bro I needed this video so much 😭

[@sydisticsandman]

Yo bro, as someone who just fucks around with a guitar I LOVE this indepth exposition of how to. Thanks man :)

[@gobbagoo]

One thing that takes practice but I've used is also looking where your right hand is for the harmonic and memorizing the spot if you're trying to consistently hit that. It's what I've done when I hit pinch harmonics on the high E string because that is the most difficult string to do this on.

[@orphanuprising]

I struggled with pinch harmonics for years. What I didn't realize was that my guitar at the time had relatively low output pickups. When I got a guitar with modern high output pickups, I realized how easy pinch harmonics are. Plus switching to a "sharp" pick helped my thumb make more consistent contact with the string.

[@spekenbonen72]

Explaining pinched harmonics makes explaining how the timbre or basic voicing of a guitar is dictated by the distance between the Bridge and the P.U.'s easier. The voicing of a guitar is dictated by which higher harmonics are recorded by the P.U. You can swap P.U.'s as much as you want, but if the position is the same, it will sound the same. The only difference is a bit of output volume. There, "toanwould" mystery solved (no such thing) Why does an SG sound differently from a LP? Measure the distance/placing/location of the P.U.'s (best way to simply spot this is comparing 3-P.U. Gibsons. The LP custom has space between P.U. rings, the SG does not. Which leads to different P.U. spacing and therefore different voicing). Thanks for the video. Pinched harmonics are a pain to play exactly.

[@viiexxiii]

Using this for the Mimic well

[@michael-tx8rw]

I have honestly never loved a man as much as Dean. BTW i caught shit wearing the tour shirt with "EVERYTHINGS FUCKED" on the back of it in public

[@oli9881]

look at my dude knowing things and shit 🤯🤓

[@alexeyku8926]

man! this is awesome! My pitch harmonics finally became more consistent, you are the best guitar teacher :)

[@virtuosomaximoso1]

I use a pick cut from a cymbal. Gnarly on the 9th string.

[@TheNotDone]

Gimme those depression bends. Pre-bend, pinch and return. Sounds mean at the end of a run.

[@JoaoFerreira-fx3xp]

That OJ shirt is amazing

[@criticolehits5766]

use jazz iii picks. you're welcome.

[@TNTGoBoomBoom]

Yup I do the same

[@sweeppickeronig]

Real

[@zander504]

could never hit them right until i got one

[@PowerfulWarbird]

Swear to Matt Heafy's picks, basically Jazz III with max-grip

[@preston2636]

Na, tortex flows are way better.

[@demondrive147]

I use knuckle of thumb and I find that main thing that actually matters for quality pinch harmonics are the DISTANCE (from pick tip to flesh), placing and reasonable POWER. But the distance is crucial. Pulling pick slightly out helps. String travels larger distance and has more time to generate enough energy before impact

[@a.k2156]

Dean makes such a great teacher man, his translucent like skin is so mesmerizing i could watch him all day long. I have no clue what he is saying so that would make him a bad teacher tho, but i understand when he said " wooOOO" so thats a good teacher in my book

[@RyanLD89]

Pinch harmonics are one of those things that are really hard to pull off perfectly on a consistent basis. There are few things more annoying to me than messing up pinch harmonics in songs like Drone Corpse and Golden Mouth, even though I've been playing those songs for years.

[@andresbautista8725]

Finally, I might be able to play Golden Mouth Of Rune

[@KaijuAlert]

To understand the 'harmonic with the index finger" thing that you said your friend did, watch a video of Eric Johnson playing. Granted, it's not ideal for metal playing, but it has a very valid and legitimate use.

[@Metaldude2022]

the issue I've always had is finding a right spot for my pickups to actually let the PH ring out lol

[@tristanyoungquist7121]

im feeling it now mr krabs

[@NateSmith87]

Pinch harmonics are integral to death metal, hardcore, djent, deathcore! Yes!

[@poser_disposer]

I can only do pinch harmonics on up strokes. I hold the pick with a second finger sometimes, and i dont have a lot of flexibility in my thumb. I can nail pinch harmonics every time though with ease, but I've never met anyone who does them the way i do irl.

[@unoriginal_name7091]

Great video bro, wish I'd caught you guys back in May!

[@omegjonneboy4027]

funny enough i kinda discovered this by just working backwards from aggressive to passive, essentially just grab the string and lessen the intention of the grab. kinda like kicking a brick wall till u can balance on one foot, without falling over from too much force

[@davidhartman5594]

If " Infinitely Divisible" isn't a track on the next album I don't want it 😂😂😂😂

[@reptarien]

As someone who can play Hyperdrive (the original Ziltoid version) very good tutorial :)

[@dustin3194]

i’m glad someone admitted it’s tricky lol

[@GreigSills]

Love pinches. It’s about the only thing I’m good at. I do them so much my mate started calling me “Zakk Mild” 😂

[@applegarden2448]

Is to overdub them, thank you for watching

[@mattlisch8952]

I agree pinch harmonics are absolutely awesome, I love riffs featuring them. However, I myself always struggled with hitting them consistently. I feel like I „squeeze“ my right hand too much when I am going for it, and cramp up because of that

[@dedompler]

nowadays i'm more of a wannabe student of the Wes Hauch school of "just make it look like you're not even playing it" - and just rolling the dice until a cool sound comes out 😂

[@414pseudo8]

Hell yeah Dean. Love you dude.

[@howardfangWD]

That shirt is wild bro

[@fabrilax]

Yes more educational Dean please

[@Baggz101]

Cheers Dean!

[@LowFrequencyOxidizer]

I am just getting this to hit but not consistent. I will be trying your technique next 🤘

[@paulcarter105]

Interesting technique that you actually back slant to get them. Think your alternate picking involves that as well

[@moonboogien8908]

I have "hitchhikers thumb" so i end up having to use the side of my thumb because of the way it angles. Finding the best way for your own anatomy to hit those harmonics is something each player has to discover themselves. This video does help with that though. Get started.

[@joelmercredi]

The “boo-ooh” at 5:22 fuckin kills me 😂

[@414pseudo8]

Extra credit is always welcome!

[@theepicslayer7sss101]

also something i did no know is that where your pickup is located matters, neck pickups can't "pick up" pinch harmonics like the bridge can. tho it has been years since i picked up my guitar, i now have baby skin on my fingers again like i never played so... almost want to try still, lol. (simply put, you divide the string, the high pitch is always closer to the bridge.)

[@kevbo3908]

I've been playing guitar since around 2004 and I still suck at pinch harmonics. I also haven't put too much practice in to them, but I'm hoping this helps. I would love to hit them perfectly every time

[@EricMorettin]

Dean Lamb = Squealy Dan

[@neuralfraud]

The guitar is literally bigger than you. btw, i thought archspire was taking the piss, but after seeing you in houston, i'm a fan. Good job. lol

[@Roonayy]

I find that my way of holding my pick doesn't allow me to get them quite like that. However, I can get them with the side of my thumb, around where my thumbnail begins.

[@user-zt5dg1lh5n]

Спасибо маэстро за глаток свежего воздуха 🙋🙋🙋🙋❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💣💣💣💣

[@iamcino]

my pinch harmonics idol is Adam D of Killswitch Engage

[@SynysterGrapes]

Instructions Unclear: pinching the pigs at the local farm got me banned 😮‍💨

[@DoggoWillink]

That shirt is wild lol.

[@kevinrampersad9202]

Hell yeh bro! I love pinch harmonics..moreeee pinch harmonics!! (..and cow bell..🐄)..🤔

[@dragolath62]

I think the term pinch harmonics is a little bit misleading, maybe that's how it was first discovered and used by actually pinching the string, but if there are better ways of isolating a harmonic on a note, maybe the name of the technique should be called, "thumb skin harmonic".

[@KRayxKodessA]

The index pointing method is more for harp harmonics than pinchies

[@usafschue]

The flesh does indeed prevail

[@Smallsguitarshop]

Dean! I’m trying to work on my double picking technique. For example the riff that starts up about 56secounds into Abandon The Linear. Can you please do a short video on this technique. The string strange to a lower string, so up in direction really slows me down.

[@jeffstrife1395]

Loved you in Baltimore! Did you announce the VIP winners yet??

[@KenziGraham]

YAEY!

[@AllTheRamenOnTheSky]

Am I the only goober out here doing pinch harmonics with my pick and not my thumb? I know the thumb is the "right" way to do it and if I learn it I'll likely be able to hit them more consistently, but it just feels awkward to me. It's much easier for my to hit the string with the edge of my pick

[@FrancescoFiligoi]

I can only do upstroke pinch harmonics, wish I could do them normally like everyone else

[@zantilla]

that's pretty coo tho, i didn't even think that was possible

[@FrancescoFiligoi]

@@zantillaI like it yea. I hit with my index

[@ConstantineM]

Pinch harmonics are like crit chance in the video game

[@bnzboy]

I think the key to killer pinch harmonics is the left hand vibrato. I find it very hard to execute it right and play it "scream" ie KSE

[@non_brewed_condiment]

WILD SHIRT

[@dimitriid]

Your opposite-side-of-the-country compatriots First Fragment *really* use pinch harmonics to an insane degree on some of their songs, Pantheum probably being the worst (Or best?) offender so if you ever want to pull that many of them off well this lesson's for you too. EDIT: Also bonus point if you try the Bumblefoot style: using a sewing thimble to basically tap the string right on the pinch harmonic stuff so it has a lot more sustain (It really sounds like you have 30+ frets)

[@wubforceone]

YEEEEEAAAAAAAUUUUUHHHHHHHH

[@JimDewdGuitars]

Shirt had me dying 😂

[@granthelas4468]

Orenthal burns 🔥

[@craigstrickland1572]

Nice!! For some reason, Zakk Wylde has this down pat! Nergal likes to throw them in too. Tats are looking TIGHT. "Your body is very toight like a tiger!"

[@swarthygiant1463]

Kind of tangential but since you’re talking about fundamentals/overtones and metalheads will likely show up here, this is also the reason pitch shifting sounds weird and synthetic. If you play a lower note on a bass the low note will still create all those up harmonics. If you pitch shift down, your fundamental will be “the same” but you will also artificially pitch all your upper harmonics. Shifting up with like a cry baby or whatever also has weird effects shifting harmonics

[@phillybhatesme]

Came for the pinch harmonics. Stayed for the thumb skin tutorial.

[@JonOden]

I've noticed that I have a much harder time hitting a pinch harmonic on a 25.5" scale than 24.75".. It seems like the harmonic spot on a shorter scale guitar lines up way better for me where the pick naturally sits when I have my palm in the correct place on the bridge. I notice I have to move my hand back to get to it on a 25.5" scale which makes it way more difficult to do it in the context of playing a bunch of other complicated notes. I'm still not good enough to hit them every time on shorter scale but it's definitely more like 90+% vs 40% ish and way more comfortable. Is that a thing or do I just still suck.. guessing could definitely be the latter. lol

[@namefirst6835]

My pinch harmonics sound is different im wodering how to get them to sound like these

[@Death_metal_Dibby]

Hey Dean, how's that music theory course that you and Claine were working on going? You still going to release it?

[@HellaTeeth]

Need a song called Thumb Skin Autopsy

[@Gee-no]

Dean, do you always use reverb or delay? Or just on certain occasions? Most metal players don't seem to use any delay/reverb, chorus, flange. Just dry high gain.

[@Elias_619]

New album Infinitely Divisible lmao

[@lebarak69]

If you wanna see Dean adding PHs to a riff check his Scream Feeding play through, I cant listen to that song without thinking of those squeals added: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jobJlmykptitjLcsi=HqV7vVVENUKw86GK

[@NerdyDumb]

My guitar teacher was Ron Jarzombek. I'm good Dean, but appreciate the help. 😁

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

Somebody send this to Glenn Fricker

[@jasonjuneau2948]

My favorite is the pre bend and release pinch harmonic. Instead of the boooop it's like beeeoop lol guitar players probably know what I mean

[@mikey-dubs]

I can’t hit them at all yet, and I only have a 6 string

[@doriangrey4392]

Hateful comment since you are way better than me! Still love you.

[@CyanideChrist33]

e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r

[@user-dp1nv9te7m]

MORE FORESKIN! Wait, wrong video🤦🏽