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Topic: Palm harmonics technique |
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 6:34 am |
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I found pinched harmonics to be intuitive and I learned the technique rather quickly. However, using the side of my hand just doesn't seem to work for me. I want to be able to strum several strings at once, creating harmonic chords, but it just doesn't ring out clearly.
This video of Rick Alexander makes it look easy:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uTesk0DPcgY
It just doesn't seem like it would be difficult to get this working right if I already understand how to create harmonics with my fingertips.
Is this easy for you guys? Any tips for getting it down? Is it the instrument that enables or holds one back? |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 8:28 am
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| I use the side of my pinky finger for creating harmonics with muliple strings, as well as playing skipped-string harmonics. I can even do slant harmonics this way if I am careful. It is still easier to play harmonics with my fingertips, though. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 12:21 pm
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James, the important thing with palm harmonics is to place the palm 12 frets above the bar - parallel to the fret.
You only touch the strings for a nano second.
Did you see this video? HARMONICS
It demonstrates palm harmonics as well as fingertip and knuckle harmonics. |
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 2:31 pm
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Rick, I'm stating the obvious...
But you are one bad mamajamma...
Thanks for those videos man |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 2:36 pm
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| Rick Alexander wrote: |
James, the important thing with palm harmonics is to place the palm 12 frets above the bar - parallel to the fret.
You only touch the strings for a nano second.
Did you see this video? HARMONICS
It demonstrates palm harmonics as well as fingertip and knuckle harmonics. |
Yeah, I've watched the video and I've understood the concepts of playing an octave higher for years. However, I just can't seem to touch it light enough. I just deaden the strings. I can do it with the fingertips, no problem. When you strum whole chords, do you already have your palm lightly touching the string? |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 4:01 pm
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James says,
| Quote: |
| ... I just can't seem to touch it light enough. I just deaden the strings. I can do it with the fingertips, no problem. When you strum whole chords, do you already have your palm lightly touching the string? |
If you can do harmonics with your fingertips, you can do the palm harmonics because you already have the idea. For the feel of it and to accomplish good palm harmonics becomes a matter of practice.
The technique is using the nano second idea of Rick and then using a feather touch with the full extension of the left pinky finger (the outer edge of the finger)as a bar done at the same time you pick, not before. It becomes a matter of light, soft touch.
Practice this and you will be doing palm harmonics soon.
Aloha, 
Don |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 4:12 pm
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James ... you keep asking about "the strum".
Watch Mr. Alexander's right hand carefully ... the whole hand moves ... with the thumb "relatively static" ...
As the thumb pick/palm hits the lowest string ... it moves as a unit ... to the next string ... yada, yada, yada.
Moving the palm off the string just activated ...
If you try sweeping the thumb ... with the palm static ... you ain't gonna achieve what you want. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 4:47 pm
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That's exactly right Mr. Aiello.
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| When you strum whole chords, do you already have your palm lightly touching the string? |
The palm touches and lifts off at the same time the notes are picked/strummed. If your palm lingers at all, it will kill the harmonic.
| Quote: |
| For the feel of it and to accomplish good palm harmonics becomes a matter of practice. |
Ain't that the truth . .
Jason, thank you for the nice comment. |
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Richard Gonzales
From:
Davidson, NC USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 5:22 pm
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| I get best palm harmonics when the strings are still vibrating from the previous notes. I think it is a timing thing for that nano second, an extremly light touch and moving the palm forward when doing multiple strings. |
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Eric Ebner
From:
Texas Republic
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 5:42 pm
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Hi Rick,
I must say how impressed I am with your "how to" videos. What a great service for players. Hat's off to you for adding such a valuable line of content and the guys and gals at YouTube that make it possible. I just installed high speed internet service recently and really have enjoyed getting to see your videos. Just thought I'd say thanks!
And James,
Palm harmonics are well worth the effort... and in the words of Bob Brozman "It's not always a 100% guaranteed effect" but you can come close to that with practice. Have fun and follow along with Rick's advice. Nothing beats seeing it done "live" on video. How cool is that!
Most sincerely,
Eric Ebner
_________________
Tribo-Tone™ Bars |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Aug 2007 8:13 pm
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Eric, thank you. Yep, it really is a cool application of technology.
Imagine if someone had described all this to you 20 years ago . . |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 3:59 am
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I had a YouTube clip up once ... a "heckler" made it too uncomfortable ... 
So here's a video clip showin' some "double stop" palm harmonics while slantin' ...
http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/mc_1.htm ... click "Clip 2" ...
At least you have to show your real name ... if you wanna "get mean" here ...  |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Aug 2007 5:09 am
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Good stuff Mr Aiello!
Dang those hecklers anyway. Those who can't create have to do something I guess . . |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 17 Aug 2007 1:15 am
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James, you may get another "slant" on palm harmonics by watching these videos :-
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=114503
Not as instructional as the excellent ones by Rick - Rick and all, but nonetheless a live playing environment. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Aug 2007 5:30 am
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Those are great Bas - a perfect angle for viewing your right hand technique.
You sure get a beautiful sound with that Fender and the NV112! |
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