Need help on Satriani Sound

[Kugalskaper]

I have a problem. I can't get the squeling sound that guitarist (like Satriani, Steve Vai) get when bending high notes
Does any one have any tips

Please Help me

Thanks from Morten- Norway

[The Fury]

Hi, I've never heard anything by Satriani or Steve Vai but it could be something called a pinch harmonic.

To do one of these fret the note as usual then pluck the string and at the same time as the pick hits the string you must hit the string with your thumb of your pick hand in one smooth motion.

To practice these, try the G, B and high E strings around the 12th fret. Also try varying the place on the string that the harmonic is produced.

Sorry if that was a bit complicated, but they're not very easy to describe:)

[The Fury]

I've just been to try it for myself and I realized I made a mistake in explianing it.

When I said hit the string with your thumb, you have to use your 3rd finger not your thumb.

See, I said it was complicated:)

[Slash]

yeah satch uses the pich harmonic alot and its easier (IMHO) to get it whilst bending upward.

theres this lesson on pinch harmonics on Cyberfret, Check it out.

[smfulla]

umm it actually is with ur thumb

[The Fury]

Are you sure?

I thought is was the thumb when I was sitting in front of the computer, but I went to check and found it impossible to do unless I use my 3rd finger a couple of cm's behind the pick to produce the harmonics.

Perhaps I'm doing it wrong, or are there multiple ways of doing it?

Slash, I find them easy to do if I bend the string aswell.

[smfulla]

yeh mate, its your thumb.
Reason why....
it's the most convenient. Your thumb is already behind the pick, so all you need to do is pick and let the string hit your thumb lightly. There's the section on pinched harmonics in this site. Also the name of the technique should give insight to how to play them. Coz you usually pinch things with your thumb and first finger, and thats how you hold the pick, sooo the thumb seems like a good choice.

But I'd also say that using the thumb will free you up to do more things, so you dont have to worry about where your third finger is all the time

[The Fury]

Hmmm.....Well I dont know what the hell I've been doing, but it certainly isn't a pinch harmonic.

I've just checked out the videos and the write up about them and they sound totally different. I can get a squealing sound but not like on the videos.

Maybe I've invented something..........then again maybe not.

I think I'll go and practice the thumb thing. Thanks:)