How to play pinch harmonics (squeals) on your guitar in 7 steps

How To Play Pinch Harmonics (Squeals) On Your Guitar In 7 Steps

Tommaso Zillio

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guitar pinch harmonics

Pinch Harmonics (also known as 'squeals' - see the video below at 4:34 for an example of how they sound) are one of the most volatile techniques on electric guitar: you think you have learned how to do them, but then you try to play them and they just don't work.

This is because to successfully play a pinch harmonic, several little 'details' must come together - and if you miss even one, then the pinch harmonic will just not sound. Rather than a satisfying squeal, your guitar will just make a disappointing 'clunk'.

Note though that I did not say that pinch harmonic are hard. They are not hard at all. As long as you get the details right, playing a squeal is easy to learn and to do.

To help you get your pinch harmonic right every single time, I made a video with the 7 little things you have to do. Try them out, and you will see that there is nothing strange or mysterious in making your guitar squeal:

Since playing pinch harmonics often requires (if you want to get a good sound) some vibrato, you need to be able to apply vibrato at a moment's notice after any other technique. Vibrato is made by a sequence of bend and release, so this video may help you:

And... I was about to forget... you can find here the Guitar Harmonics eBook, and it's free!


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