How To Play Pick Squeals On Guitar (Lesson)

[@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.

[@zjedinite]

Same here! 😂 And 5 years to you tho 🤦🏻‍♂️ I do it with my own technique but never consistent. Glad I found this vid! 😎

[@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

[@apaleguy]

This is short simple and right to the point and you're doing something MOST guitarists don't do which is the close-up slo-mo. Most tutorials say you have to hit the string with your thumb at the same time this one says bounces and that makes MUCH more sense then trying to straight hit it.

[@ClNoBody]

Agreed, was going to say the same thing.

[@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 👏

[@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!

[@RetroPlus]

2:06 When you stub your toe

[@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

[@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!

[@mattytubby1016]

I've been tryna get this figured out for bloody aaages. Watched and read countless tutorials, but this one's finally helped me to actually get the lil bastard to squeal. Thank you Mr internet video guy.

[@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.

[@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

[@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?)

[@42ndclava]

Ive watched a couple of tutorials and non explained it like this. I got this on the first try after almost giving up. Thank you so much!

[@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. 🇦🇺

[@carlosmontoya2485]

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

[@majin1395]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@charliesullivan1886]

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

[@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.

[@Robson89almeida]

Id like to thank you so much for this video. I haven't seen a video so complete and full of details like yours. this is the best youtube video in this contexts. Thanks again!

[@bobnoel1246]

Dude thank you, i just started 2 months ago and ive been scratching my head trying to do this the whole time lol, perfect video and camera work that actually shows it in action

[@Dorian.P]

Fellow guitarist today I am proud to announce I ended a fast Paul Gilbert style run in a pinch harmonic (it was glorious), I have not been able to reproduce it since no matter how hard and long I tried...as of today I will be selling ALL my guitar equipment ! That is all !

[@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...

[@phlag35]

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!

[@meyeame8956]

bro that slow motion closeup footage was ace. thank you

[@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 :)

[@jmjeffries2]

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

[@aaronf8915]

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

[@kellybotha1999]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@theblacksmokes1091]

This video was extremely helpful. I’m getting much more consistent results after watching it!

[@GillamtheGreatest]

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

[@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

[@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 🤟🎸

[@brown1929]

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

[@Lone.Wolf1976]

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

[@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!

[@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. 😎🎙🎸✅

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@mrlonely1869]

I forgot completely how to do pinch harmonics but this video helped me to understand it again. Thanks!

[@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!

[@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?

[@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!

[@normg2242]

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

[@coryroberts5048]

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

[@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!

[@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 !

[@michael-tx8rw]

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

[@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!

[@TheLounabomber]

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

[@benjaminencarmine]

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

[@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

[@KnapfordMaster98]

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

[@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.

[@FreddyJ120]

Brilliant! This is exactly the detail I needed to get this down. Thanks a million! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Lucifer-qt9gh]

Lol I'm a month into my journey and I accidentally picked this up...but now I'm up at 430 trying this

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@JustRockMySoul]

This has gotta be the most concise and best explanation I have seen on this yet. Well done, mate. In a sense, these are a type of flageolets(flajolets), but played with the right thumb instead of the left hand, right?

[@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" 😊

[@dominiquez5643]

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

[@Rare905]

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

[@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.

[@rlrnghaka561]

Straight forward - easy to follow - best tutorial video 👍👍

[@brooksrownd2275]

this is the clearest explanation ive seen

[@alvilrik]

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

[@brunodominguesa]

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

[@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

[@rcollins8991]

Brilliant - dead or alive solo killing me until I watched this!!! Great to hear a fello Irish rocker🤘

[@worldeconomicforum7210]

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

[@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

[@chikitabowow]

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

[@spazj8sets170]

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

[@bestboy897]

This is the best lesson pick squeals.

[@crunchchannel8788]

Cool Video! I already know how to do this, although I still miss sometimes, and can't actually remember who and how explained it to me. Then I just started hitting those strings until I got the sound and then went back to figure out how I did it and try to repeat it. All this because it is indeed very hard to explain/demonstrate. And that is where I think you did it great! the way you show it is very good and clear. again, Great video!

[@FlyingCircles]

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

[@scpk2246]

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

[@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.

[@MrPFMneto]

I've never seen a pinch harmonic in Slomow. It was definitely helpful!!

[@JakeyBro69]

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

[@1b2m]

Been playing guitar since '97. Couldn't do pinch harmonics that way if my life depended on it, no matter how often people try to teach me. The way I do it is to bend the string with the pick, and when the string finally snaps past the pick, let the string hit my index finger nail instead of the thumb. Perfect harmonic on any string at any fret. By changing the angle and/or position of where the index finger nail hits the string when it snaps back up, I can get a wah-like effect that I can control and shape much easier than that thumb method, I can really "play" with it in an arpeggio. Trouble is - nobody understands how the heck I do it. :)

[@villymiranda1]

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

[@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. 🤘😎🎸🤘

[@denverrandy7143]

How dare you attack me with that big ol' pick in your hand!!!🤘😜👍Thanks man,sounds awesome as usual.

[@specifictoken]

Talented instructor!

[@JV-rx3ov]

Great video! This is a much easier technique than how I learned this back in the 80's. I've always used my pick hand thumb nail.

[@denverrandy7143]

Same here👍

[@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.

[@yaytabs]

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

[@robreustle]

The best video that teaches this! TY!

[@joetroutt7425]

I just recently learned how to do them by accident after trying on purpose for about a year and then I understood what was going on. Just hold your thumb really close to the bottom of the pick and hit the string at an angle. As you pick the string you let your thumb graze the string muting it just enough to make a harmonic sound and then bend the hell out of the string. Last part optional.

[@olliefleming6860]

Thanks ! Great video. Awesome tone too.. what amp/pedals/settings are you using for your gain tone ? Thanks

[@61kevdog]

Thank you for the de-mystification. Good presentation, easy to understand.