How To Play Pick Squeals On Guitar (Lesson)

Pinch Harmonics, Pick Squeals, Squealies,
In the lesson I'll teach you how to do this technique.
It's notoriously hard to capture on camera so I gave it my best shot.
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[@KDH]

So I tried to do a lesson video (not going to be a regular thing). Just thought it might be useful for some people and I might be able to offer a better view of this particular technique with thick picks. More normal videos will resume in the next few days :)

[@colinboschma]

It defenetly will help many people

[@sawbonesquad4876]

this is why you're one of the best guitar youtubers, you're like a consumer reporter and a genuine player who wants to help his fans. i picked this up quicker than i thought bro thx.

[@Crinkle65]

Excellent

[@s70glt100]

Great video .. dude I am gonna say dude but I hate it when people acwardly dude me dk if you know what I mean so it is different I am just dumb not trying to hard

[@nuthinbutlove]

I've hit this accidentally a few times but have yet to conquer it. It's nice to finally see a tutorial so I can spend time working on it now. Thanks so much!

[@joeldeutscher7077]

Holy shit, man. I've been playing guitar for over 25 years and never been able to do this; after watching your vid I picked up a guitar and got the hang of it in 5 minutes. Finally someone explained pinch harmonics in an easily-understandable way. THANK YOU.

[@ChrisTopherBunnell]

ditto.

[@dervpool]

Not gonna lie i play guitar since about 2 years now and this was one of the early things I wanted to learn since I really wanted to play pull the plug by Death and it was so hard to find a good tutorial for this. Ended up teaching it to me myself. This is by far the best tutorial on it!!!

[@jakobb3591]

Lmao I looked up this video to learn the exact same song. Rip chuck schuldiner

[@thrasherrr7248]

@@jakobb3591 same here 🤘🏻

[@iamcortman1]

Zero Tolerance for me lol

[@goffdroid]

I love ah-ha moments on guitar.

[@faroukahmed8124]

Without Judgment here

[@iain2080]

1:43 that angle is the only angle I've seen that puts across how it actually feels to do a pinch harmonic. Pick then thumb in less than a second. Well done man 👏

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

I remember well the frustration involved in finding this, good luck to anyone giving it a first go, persevere, you will get there. 😎🎙🎸✅

[@Illuminationsfromtheattic]

I was actually just thinking about looking up a tutorial on how to do this when this video popped up on my feed lol! Great video!

[@lunasplayer1313]

Same lol

[@OGpenguinBTW]

This is why my mom things the internet listens to you

[@kokopellione]

@@OGpenguinBTWBecause it does lol, watch videos on it

[@carlosmontoya2485]

This was the best video on squeals. I've seen. I have had issues with them

[@meyeame8956]

bro that slow motion closeup footage was ace. thank you

[@gwillard19]

I’m 61 now, played about 30-40 years ago. I was never much of a guitarist but I had fun with my ‘83 Les Paul Custom. Strangely enough, with all my lack of talent, I stumbled across the technique for squealies and was able to do them easily. It was the one thing that I was good at on guitar. 😅 I taught some of my friends, all of whom were much more talented than I, how to play squealies.

[@crackedmagnet]

I've been playing guitar on and off for about 20 years now. And while I was aware of the general principal I always struggled to do artificial harmonics consistently. What I was missing was was the concept of digging into the string so it bounces back up your thumb basically produces a fretted natural harmonic. Thanks!

[@justsomedude5727]

I swear as often as i try this i do exactly whats shown and it just doesnt work, or if it does i can never replicate it. This is one of the better tutorials on this ive seen so no knock against you just frustrating

[@patrickgibson2792]

I have been able to get pinch harmonics here and there but never really knew precisely how it works. This is the best video I have seen on this that shows the string hitting the thumb after its plucked. Excellent bit of help. Very well done.

[@DanielBobke]

There are a lot of videos out there on how to play pinch harmonics, but I think this is the best one I have seen. The camera work is the key - you actually see how the picking of the string with the touch of the base of your thumb happens and the slo-mo is a nice touch. Thanks!

[@LMHV-]

Ofc I find this video after setting my guitar down 😭 I was getting such bad hand cramps and gave up. This video is legit so helpful tho. The close up + the slow-mo, is exactly what I was looking for but I couldn’t find it in any other video. I liked that you really explained in detail and I liked seeing what was happening to the string. It makes so much sense now. Thank you so much!

[@GillamtheGreatest]

best description of this ive seen. comment for the algorithm gods

[@castleanthrax1833]

I'm glad you mentioned that where you his the string horizontally makes a difference. As this takes advantage of harmonics, you can get a much better effect by moving forward or backwards by an inch or two. Practice makes perfect. 🇦🇺

[@charliesullivan1886]

now this is a perfect demo and illustration of the thumb hitting the string. in slow motion. good job

[@owenmccue3656]

Watched every vid out there about pinch harmonics and out of all those of them this was the one that taught me it thanks bro 🤟🎸

[@mattnelson8325]

I absolutely love the queals amd harmonics. Keep practicing until you get it, you're playing will never be the same. I have a set of Bare Knuckle WarPigs, hell yeah.

[@wonky3854]

WOW. KDH, I loved you enough already, your audio audit's etc are fantastic, your subject choices interesting, your honesty refreshing etc etc, BUT THIS, I have been struggling with these for over a decade, and you just solved it in five minutes. I LOVE YOU (platonicly)

[@wonky3854]

(I had never been told, in 17 years, that the thumb contact would be after the pick contact, the rebound that you described, sure, I have done many succesful pinch harmonics before, but never been able to nail them 100%, I don't think I have missed a single one in the last ten minutes of practicing this, that was the key, and the slow mo footage, the next troy grady perhaps?)

[@normg2242]

I'm not a guitar player but I always wondered how that's done. Thanks for explaining!

[@emeraldbandit1200]

You legend!!! Been playing nearly 50yrs ( all my life since childhood) and never got this. I'm squealing away now before the videos even finished!!! Thank you...

[@frankdardano3182]

YOU FANTASTIC F,,,,,K.I HAVE BEEN HIT AND MISS TRYING TO BE CONSISTANT DOING THIS SOUND.NOBODY EXPLAINED THE ANGLE,OR THE THUMB POSITION.THANKS FROM AN OLDIE 72!

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

I stumbled onto this technique on pedal steel a few years ago and I love it on blues and rock stuff You basically mute the string instantaneously, well not quite.

[@jmjeffries2]

This is the best demonstration on the topic I've seen. Thorough, but to the point. Great job.

[@kellybotha696]

This was the best video tutorial on pinch harmonics ever. THANK YOU.

[@dermeister1957]

Trying to learn some gojira riffs that I've always avoided due to them squeels, so hard for me to learn apparently. Now I might be able to finally learn this tecnique. Thanks dude!!!! Great vid!!!!

[@Adam-Z96]

Ocean Planet, Clone, Magma...

[@dermeister1957]

Ooh and many more

[@nicklebac6753]

Hit the strings light but hard are fuk at the same time

[@BlakeSpohn]

@@dermeister1957 did you learn it

[@dominiquez5643]

Master class!!! This is how you teach!! Thank you so much for great information!!!

[@coryroberts5048]

This has helped me to turn a corner in my playing!! Thank you so much!

[@moneyball32]

I already know how to do this but tend to watch tutorials on this whenever they pop up on my feed because I’ve never really seen a good one. You’ve done what no one else on KZbin could. Congrats.

[@user-rz5ew1sp7s]

Ive seen a bunch of videos trying to explain this but this one made the mechanic more clear than i've seen it explained so far. Very helpful! Until now I could do the pinch harmonics but it would be hit and miss and often they would not come out as loud as I'd like. For me the missing piece that made the difference is the fact that youre really pressing the string downwards with the pick instead of just striking it and hoping it bounces against your thumb properly.. Now I can hit them reliably and all over the fretboard. Thanks!

[@majin1395]

this is the most clear and concise pinch harmonics tutorial video i've ever seen

[@matt79hz]

That's brilliant.. So well described. I always thought it was a light brushing of the thumb as you stroke, but it seems a more deliberate rebound onto the thumb.. Will certainly try this !

[@aaronf8915]

Even if i dont figure it out, its a pleasure listening to you explain! The encouagement is appreciated!!!

[@soerenna]

This is the best tutorial I've found on this topic, great work on capturing the video and also the explanation! Thanks a lot :)

[@omnipop4936]

Thanks so much! Even with the slo-mo it didn't click with me... until you said "... _taps_ against your thumb"... Well, that's what I was missing. I had been trying to see how the thumb was _pressing_ or _holding down_ the string, and I could never see it. But in fact, you just put your thumb very close, so it's "available" to the string, and the _string_ is actually more the "aggressor" (more than the thumb), striking the thumb and then _releasing_ from it. And that split second little "touch" or "bump" is all it takes to set the squeal into motion. Wow. Now I can go all "Billy Gibbons" any time I want! Cheers!

[@edstrickland8148]

This is literally the only good video on how to do this. Been struggling with this for years and got it after like half the video. Many thanks.

[@CanyonWanderer]

i'm a hobby bass player, so not directly something for me. But I have always wondered how this was played and this is a very clear explanation!

[@brooksrownd2275]

this is the clearest explanation ive seen

[@dpeters3398]

I've had issues with these for a while, and I always thought that it was with your palm (that's probably why I had issues with them lol). Thank you so much for this!

[@Yekim76]

I never have before but thanks to you I have and will be! Thanks!

[@alfonso6365]

Thank you very much for this very good (amazing) tutorial. Thanks for the work you put in to it. The slow motion really helped!

[@T_Whit]

Thank you this video actually helped a ton. I thought it would take forever to learn but after watching this i got it in under 20 minutes. Now im just trying to stay consistent and perfect the sound qualite. Thanks again!

[@Rule191]

Well , I think we also need good pedals to do that ! Or good amplifier!! Please tell me

[@T_Whit]

@@Rule191 no not really, I use a very basic beginner amp and guitar with no pedals and as long as im using distortion it works fine

[@TheFalcro1234]

Thank you for explaining this and taking the time to show it, how it happens and how to learn it. I am predominantly a blues fan and student thereof so the times I will use this are probably few and far between but as just stated I am a new student I started only 6 months ago, who knows where it will lead

[@erik9817]

Thanks, I believe I have managed this! Previously, I was using a (knowingly) different technique, where I pinched the string between the pick and thumb. My old technique is basically like yours, but with an upstroke.

[@Kylor80sMetalFan]

Thanks so much for the tips! I've been trying to learn how to do this pretty much since I got my first guitar back in 2019. 🤘😎🎸🤘

[@Christian.Knight]

Best explanation ever on all of KZbin thank you friend!! To the point, no bullshit commentary, even a bonus closeup view!!

[@KnapfordMaster98]

Really wish this lesson has existed years ago, this was a really hard thing for me to get used to.

[@747Durango]

Someone tried to explain this to me 30 years. Today, I got it. This is brilliant. Thanks man. I think you are British, yes?

[@richardbrown9760]

Northern Ireland so yes British.

[@KDH]

I’m from Ireland. Not Northern Ireland Not British

[@747Durango]

@@KDH I meant to offense. Just like to figure out where people are from. I almost called you Australian.

[@andasfs]

i wanted to learn this for so long, never could get the hang of it, after watching this video i managed to do it on my second try! Thanks!

[@robreustle]

The best video that teaches this! TY!

[@FlyingCircles]

Huh. Those close-ups and slow-mo were effective. Thanks for making!

[@brown1929]

Your the first guy I came across when I looked this up and it worked after 10 tries. Thank you so much man

[@JasonVladimir]

Awesome tutorial! Thanks for sharing!

[@drewzerna4087]

Thank you! Have been wanting to learn this, excellent video really explains and shows how it’s done. A bit of work to do on the technique to pull it out when I want it to work, but got the basic method down pat. Just like riding a bike 👍🍻🇦🇺

[@Lw1337]

Helped a lot. thanks. I could do it with a certain amount of successfull attempts, but not consistant. Thats probably the video i needed to get it there.

[@theglitch_713]

Holy SHIIIIIIT!!!!!!¡¡¡ THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! This video is going on my saved playlist. 💪💪💪💪💪

[@worldeconomicforum7210]

Omg this is the greatest best explanation on YT...

[@davidb5122]

Excellent tutorial on pinch harmonics, people can try to explain until their blue in the face, but seeing this at these great angles in super slomo is brilliant.

[@jamonlover489]

I cannot understand how a 3,5 min video brought me what I was trying to do for literally a entire year

[@Thedudemannn]

Videos can be very informative when they are discussed in great detail. That’s the problem with a lot of these guitar tutorials is they just briefly gloss over the topic and move on. They forget what it’s like to be a beginner and so they don’t take the proper amount of time to explain how / why it works.

[@jamonlover489]

@@Thedudemannn I couldn’t agree more, man, you’re just right

[@bestboy897]

This is the best lesson pick squeals.

[@YuaY87]

Thank you so much. I finally understand the technique. Even made some successful attempts. Time to practice.

[@markolding2288]

This is amazing! Thank you. I have watched loads of video on pinch harmonics but I could never do it. This method really works for me

[@WearyKirin]

This is the best lesson I've seen on this yet normally they teach you to choke up the pic to the point you cant play anything but harmonics

[@123456wasp]

Thank you sir! 😎👍

[@DFPS1RRINDUSTRYS]

Thank you for this explanation 👏 🙏 🙌 🥰

[@villymiranda1]

Hi fella… I really appreciate such advices!! Are so useful!! Thank you!!! Vidal from Venezuela!!

[@TilSattler]

thanks bro youre the only one that teached it right

[@UC-Music]

BEST VIDEO FOR THIS! Had it after 2 minutes! ♥

[@Rare905]

The best tutorial on pinch harmonics yet! Thanks very much 👌

[@onyx666.]

huh. i guess you arent just a drama channel. you're a good teacher too. thanks!

[@endlessformsmostbeautiful8442]

with your video learnt in 2 minutes, thank you!

[@michael-tx8rw]

you and your thick picks. didn't even know they were a thing until your channel. Always enjoy the content, thanks!

[@benjaminencarmine]

Woah the first pinch harmonics video that properly shows you how to do it!

[@sidneysnottley6414]

Off for the umpteenth time to attempt the mystical art of squeels.... Thanks for the insight.

[@sidneysnottley6414]

And ... Half hour later ---- SUCCESS !!!!! ... BIG Thanks again.

[@DNRailworks]

WOW man awesome video! Only been playing for a year and tonight I was playing Scream Aim Fire and Matt got to the squeal part in the break down and i thought man i need to learn that. This was the first video to pop up and within 5 minutes of practice my guitar squealed like a hooker on payday! Great video man!

[@RollandMatthewWeber]

You've done it...you madlad, you've actually done it. An elusive wild pick squeal caught on camera! Only a photobomb by the Chupacabra could garner more respect. Well done and thank you for sharing!

[@skarfacegaming243]

I watched a diff vid for this and his angle made it hard to see what was happening but you got a good angle to really see what’s happening. Thank you

[@zoocru67]

I don't get it I don't see anything happening from any angle doesn't look like his thumb touches at all so I just don't get it might as well bash my freaking head against the wall I'm so disgusted

[@skarfacegaming243]

Haha I still can’t do it that well. After you pick it, it needs to bounce off your thumb just right where you don’t mute it and it’ll get a nice little ring if you do it right

[@zoocru67]

I finally got a little bit of a squeal out of it but nothing that will sustain for any length of time

[@skarfacegaming243]

Nice. I could imagine it gets a lot easier. I slack on practicing and my instructor gets mad at me for it lmao

[@TheOneTrueSpLiT]

I can remember the day in the late '80s when I was practicing with my new Arion digital delay pedal and I somehow pulled off (no pun intended) my first Pinch Harmonic - my jaw hit the floor and it took me a few minutes to work out how I had done it. And from that day, all my mates I jammed with were in total awe and on their knees begging me to show them how it is done - so I now I was "The Master" 😊

[@TheLounabomber]

One of the BEST demos on this topic. Excellent job bro🔥🔥🔥

[@aliasdandavisofficial]

Thanks, you're right. Using the big ass pick let me see what you're doing. (Anybody out there that says "just take actuaI lessons", you're right. But, my life isn't set up like that at the moment.) Thanks for finding a way to explain this on a video.

[@ninjakanen]

This is just the video I've been looking for, for ages... "Just gotta try some more, and *harder."*

[@brunodominguesa]

This video deserves an Oscar! Thank you very much! 😊

[@scpk2246]

SO CLEAR! it's just the practice that's tough! THANKS

[@thenatureproject7539]

this was actually a technique I learned form YT back in 2007 or 2008. I was such a novice that I commented on some guy's video of the solo to Wanted Dead or Alive and he was doing the squealies. I asked him what setting his amp was on lol because I thought it was an amp thing. He promptly commented back telling me how to do it. and that it was a picking technique and not an amp thing. Took me 3 months of practice after that to get it but it was such a fun thing to learn how to do. Great video mate! Cheers!

[@jeremykemp3782]

So is it the string vibrating really quickly after touching your thumb momentarily? So if it touches it too much it stops the sound, and not enough is a shorter squeal?

[@shane5627]

Ive seen quite a few pinch harmonic vids. Could never get it and after watching this i got it. Think ive watched maybe 5 vids and none said the string has to just tap your thumb. As soon as you said it, i got it. Thx

[@scheilstyle]

Great explanation. Thanks

[@jerrygeist1677]

Thanks dude from Albuquerque New Mexico

[@juliochingaling5824]

Excellent, well done.

[@adrianvasquez254]

Wow, great teaching!

[@ch4nstar]

this is my favorite video ever

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

I don't think kdh can make a bad video.

[@75YBA]

I’ve done it by accident a few times. Many thanks.

[@RubenLaden]

Thank you finaly someone explain it right !

[@spazj8sets170]

This is literally the best video, thank you so much for teaching us.

[@chikitabowow]

Very well explained, it's easy to keep up and understand the subject. Great video!

[@bytezz99]

just learned within 1 day good tutorial..!

[@JakeyBro69]

Dude I didn’t even finish the video yet and I’m already improving thanks so much!! This helps a lot

[@juliodefreitas157]

Absolutely awesome ❤❤❤

[@Rusli1659LPSoldier]

Fun fact: Pinch Harmonics can be heard in Nu Metal, Heavy Metal and etc. for Example: Duality by Slipknot during the intro. I find Pinch Harmonics on the same note but these two guitarists uses the same string but in different angles to recreate the harmony panning.