Originally Posted by: dlwalkeI understand how to do pinch harmonics (not that I'm particularly good at it) but I don't understand why they work. In particular, why do you not have to touch the string at the exactly 12 frets up from where your left hand is fretting?[/quote]
Good question! The reason is that the 12th fret isn't the only location for harmonic nodes.
Place your finger lightly on the low E string right over the 12th fret. Don't press down, we are after the natural harmonic. It helps if you have a little gain (overdrive) to boost the signal & help those overtones pop out. But it's not necessary. The most important part is a light touch.
Now start regular picking (not pinch harmonic technique!) the E string & slowly slide your finger toward the nut (the headstock, down in pitch). If you doing it right you'll hear natural harmonics near or at the 9th, 7th, 5th, 4th & 2.5th!
There are harmonics all over the place! But those are the strongest & most used ones.
Now you can do this with any string starting on a fretted note! But it's much harder to do. You have to fret a note, then find a way to play a harmonic node 12, 9, 7, 5, 4 or 2.5 frets higher than your fretted note.
Usually this is done by lightly tapping on the harmonic fret. And you can pick the note with one finger while plucking with another finger or your thumb. Anders does some of that here.
https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=15239&s_id=1046
The harmonic list of related intervals is:
12th fret - root
9th fret - major 3rd
7th fret - root
5th - 5th
2.5 - minor 7th
Those are the natural places that a harmonic nodes occurs. This is the result of physics in a linear closed end system! Those are the places that the string gets divided into equal potions. Now we're ready for pinch harmonics.
Originally Posted by: dlwalkeSecondly, and related to this, I am aware that there are places on the string that are generally better for getting pinch harmonics (apparently independent of what notes you are playing / what frets you are fretting). Why is this? Is it related to where you are pinching in relation to the pickup?
It's related to the distance between the fretted note & the artificial node or "temporary bridge" you are forming with the side of your thumb when you "pinch" after picking.
[quote=dlwalke]Are these all the same notes just with different octaves emphasized? I assume they must be, right?
No. The first 3 notes are a high A (an octave pinch harmonic), the next 2 are C# (octave plus major 3rd), the next an E (5th), and the next a G (minor 7th).
He's fretting one note, the A 2nd fret G string. And by moving his picking hand (most importantly, his thumb which grazes the string) he can create artificial nodes of the harmonic series.
Anders covers pinch harmonics in this tutorial.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1520
And this tutorial also has some info on pinch & natural harmonics.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1520
Hope that helps!
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks InstructorChristopher Schlegel Lesson Directory