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Author
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Topic: Harmonics - What is your technique?
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Darrell Owens
Member From: Norco, California, USA
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posted 02 January 2006 10:55 AM
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As a fingerstyle guitar player I use harmonics a lot. I would like some input from the great players on the forum as to the technique of playing harmonics on the PSG. Thanks.------------------
Darrell Owens
www.darrellowens.com |
Roy Ayres
Member From: Starke, Florida, USA
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posted 02 January 2006 11:36 AM
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Darrell,I don't know how most do it, but I use four methods: (1) I place the tip of the ring finger of my right hand 12 frets above the bar and pluck the string with my thumb pick. You can also place the tip of your ring finger at any number of other locations, primarily 7 frets or 5 frets above the bar. 5 frets above the bar produces the same note as the 12th fret but an octave higher. The 7th fret gives harmonics of the V chord relative to the chord where your bar is placed; (2) I strike the string or strings with my thumbpick while the heel of my right hand momentarily touched the strings 12, 7 or 5 frets above the bar; (3) using open strings, I place the side of the little finger of my left hand over the 12th, 7th or 5th fret and pluck the string with either pick or any combination of picks. As with (1) above, there are numerous other places along the fingerboard where you can place your little finger to produce harmonics, but getting the harmonic to ring out clearly takes a lot of practice. If you have a pedal steel, depending on your copedent you can sometimes play an entire song using harmonics at the 12th fret by using your pedals and knees. On my copedent, for example, I can play "Music Box Dancer" in harmonics in its entirety at the 12th fret. No demonstration of great mastery of the instrument, but great for showmanship in front of an audience of non steel guitar players. (4) The fourth method is difficult to master, but gets some neat effects -- I place the tip of the thumb of my right hand 12 frets above the bar on a given string, then use my two finger picks to pluck that string and another string, causing two notes, one note a harmonic and the other note a harmony note that is not a harmonic. ------------------
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. [This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 02 January 2006 at 11:45 AM.]
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Hans Holzherr
Member From: Ostermundigen, Switzerland
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posted 02 January 2006 11:55 AM
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Since 15 Feb., 2004 I have been using Paul Franklin's method: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/007181.html Before, I was only struggling. Hans |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 02 January 2006 10:09 PM
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No Technique! That’s always been my problem! Most guys get Harmonics that are clear as a Millionaires~Bell, but; I've tried everything and only get (1) good harmonic, once in a Blue~Moon! Good harmonics is something I've always wanted, but; never had!  I've tried everything I could think of, but; no soap!
[Edited to put an ‘h’ in my ‘tink’!]
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“Big John” Bechtel
’05 D–10 Derby – (6 & 8)
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment
Newest Steel [This message was edited by John Bechtel on 03 January 2006 at 11:18 PM.] |
Larry R
Member From: Navasota, Tx.
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posted 03 January 2006 05:39 PM
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I hate it when I get that "THUD" sound. Especially when I try it again and again. Then I have to make it look like I was trying to make that "THUD" sound. |
Richard Sinkler
Member From: Fremont, California
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posted 03 January 2006 06:22 PM
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I'm with Big John on this one. After 35 years, I still can't get good harmonics to save my life. The only decent ones I get are using the palm of my picking hand 12 frets above.So, I would say that the technique I use is "bad technique". ------------------
Carter D10 9p/9k, NV400, Korg Triton Le88 Synth, Korg CX-3 organ, Yamaha Motif Rack Module, Regal Dobro, Tele, Gretsch Acoustic. |
Al Marcus
Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA
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posted 03 January 2006 09:35 PM
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Roy has it pretty well covered. I think most of us old timers were pretty well practiced up on harmonics, as they used them a lot in hawaiian and the old tunes, as I remember it.Even Fast tunes too..al  ------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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Roy Ayres
Member From: Starke, Florida, USA
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posted 04 January 2006 12:32 PM
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For those of you who are finding it difficult to produce nice, bell-like chimes, learn to do the "finger harmonics" I explained as method #1 above. There is really no special knack to it. Twist your right arm around so that your right elbow is over the right end of your guitar and your right forearm is parallel with the strings; this makes it easy to place your right ring finger 12 frets above your bar without cramping your right hand while keeping your thumbpick in the correct position to pluck the string. Lay the tip of your right ring finger (or, if you prefer, the tip of the fingernail of your right ring finger) exactly over the fret that is 12 frets above your bar. Don't press down with your fingertip or nail, just let it rest lightly on the string. Then pluck the string with your thumb pick between the point where your fingertip touches the string and the pickup just a fraction of a second before you remove the tip or your finger or fingernail from the string. As Al said above, back in "olden times" just about all steelers used harmonics a lot. For you guys who are having trouble with harmonics, just do the following exercise over and over for about a half hour: Select one position (say, bar at fret 3, fingertip at fret 15) and stick with that position until you get the hang of it. If you will invest a half hour into this exercise, you will find that it will significantly improve your ability to get clear harmonics.------------------
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book. [This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 04 January 2006 at 12:36 PM.]
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Michael Haselman
Member From: St. Paul Park, Minnesota, USA
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posted 04 January 2006 04:54 PM
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I believe Buddy uses the first knuckle of the pinky of his right hand on the harmonic fret. I've tried, but this seems to take a long time to master. Actually, knowing Buddy's MO, he probably used this at the time he wrote it and has tried and mastered a couple dozen other methods by now. ------------------
Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E [This message was edited by Michael Haselman on 05 January 2006 at 05:09 PM.]
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Gerald Menke
Member From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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posted 05 January 2006 06:34 AM
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I use the method Paul teaches in his fine video, namely using the nail of your fourth finger instead of the skin. Harder to get right at first, but gives really nice bright punchy sound. Also makes it easier to get a chimed note and "non-chimed" note at the same time, which although pretty tough, sounds incredibly cool when you get it right!Just set your metronome slow and practice playing scales vertically (with pedals) and horizontally (without) in a few different keys, trying to get three different harmonics on the same string (i.e. 8th fret C on the high E string, and play harmonic at the C octave fret , then the 15th and then the 13th.) I'm not sitting at a steel right now, but I think those fret positions are right. It's said that Buddy Emmons used to practice harmonics for three hours at a time, and his sound like little angels ringing tiny bells, you won't believe the difference if you practice them for just a half hour, let alone three. |
John Daugherty
Member From: Rolla, Missouri, USA
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posted 05 January 2006 06:47 AM
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Roys method #1 is what I have always used. I first started using that method on lead guitar after watching Chet Atkins play "Bells of St. Marys". Chet did a lot of harmonic work, using that method. It has been the more "accurate" method for me when playing steel guitar.------------------
www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar
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basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 05 January 2006 07:39 AM
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This may help a little, it's taken from the August 2004 Vol.2. Issue 3. of "Aloha dream"
Baz------------------
quote:
Steel players do it without fretting
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Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 05 January 2006 07:54 AM
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I can remember listening to Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys. The steel player had a fill in where he would rake the strings at the 12th, 7th and 5th fret with his ring finger and pick and create harmonics like Roy said. He was using the C6th tuning so all the strings would harmonize. Listen to some of their old records and you will hear it.
Erv |
Darrell Owens
Member From: Norco, California, USA
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posted 06 January 2006 10:43 PM
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I appreciate all the responses to this post. I was about to make phone calls to ask various players for their input, but I donl't need to do that. Everything I needed to know has been posted here. Thanks again for the information. ------------------
Darrell Owens
www.darrellowens.com |
Drew Howard
Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A.
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posted 07 January 2006 08:00 AM
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For chimes I use the knuckle of my ring finger. For chord strums I use the side of my hand.Drew ------------------
Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.
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