What is Pinch Harmonics?
1.
On the guitar, pinch harmonics is the act of lightly touching a string with the edge of your thumb/palm (picking hand) after plucking it. Similar to natural harmonics except you're not playing off a fret. If you use a lot of distortion and gain it produces a squealing effect.
A lot of guitarists use pinch harmonics, most notably
Zakk Wylde , but also players likeZZ Top ,Dimebag Darrell , and evenSteve Vai .
2.
AKA "artificial harmonics"
An electric guitar technique in which the player slightly touches the string AFTER picking a note. The fundamental sound of the note will be effectively cancelled, producing a high-pitched, chimelike harmonic squeal in any position on the fretboard.
Often used to "spice up" rock and heavy metal songs, when overused they are a great way to disguise terrible playing and/or writing.
Zakk Wylde is a fucking dipshit and horrible guitarist who covers up his shitty playing/songwriting with excessive pinch harmonics.
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