Best Harmonic/Chime Tone ?

Gerald Menke · From: Stormville NY, USA

Hello,

I love the sound of harmonics/chimes on the steel, and since I received the PF E9 video for Christmas (thank you Bob) I have been trying to get that chime technique he uses together, and find it very hard. It sounds amazing though, when you get it right.

Was curious who uses what, i.e. how many of you use the "flesh" of your fingers, how many use your third or fourth finger fingernails to get harmonics? What do Jay Dee, Lloyd Maines, Buddy use?

Thanks for reading my post.

Gerald

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Here is a page from our latest Issue of "Aloha Dream" that covers this subject a little..

Basil

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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Gerald, I don't think there is a "best". I'm not a famous player, but I think if it's done properly, the harmonic will sound good. Personally, I've done 'em all 3 ways and don't notice much, if any, difference in the sound. I know some pro's to do 'em differently, and they all sound equally good to me.

Don't get discouraged! It just takes lots of practice, as pressure, placement, and timing (removal of the harmonic-creating knuckle, fingertip, nail, etc., right after picking) are all critical.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 28 September 2004 at 05:48 PM.]

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The different ways of playing harmonics definitely affect the sound. Try playing a natural harmonic by laying your left hand pinky finger along the strings at the twelfth fret, and strumming. Then, try doing the same thing but with the soft, fleshy part of the "karate-chop" edge of your hand, or by using your right hand on the twelfth fret.

Also try playing a single string harmonic, natural or artificial, with both the ring-finger knuckle of your right hand and the fleshy side of your palm. You'll definitely hear a difference.

-Travis

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Over the past 50 years of playing, I find that the types I described in the Aloha Dream article, are the most practical,AND, reliable ways of playing harmonics.

Nothing sounds worse than a missed one..IMHO
Baz

Gerald Menke · From: Stormville NY, USA

Thanks for the responses guys, to clarify, I can get harmonics using the "skin" on my third finger easily in many positions.(one octave up, two octaves, etc.)

The "fingernail" technique Paul uses sounds better to me; brighter, more attack, and best of all you can pick a note with your first finger and chime one with your third,creating a beautiful diad sound. I think Buddy Charlton does this too. In any case, I was just curious what some of the other players who are recording/playing out a lot are using these days, and what some of the greats have used in the past on their recordings.

Thanks for reading my post.

Gerald
Williams PSGs, Beard resonator
VHT amps

Nicholas Dedring · From: Beacon, New York, USA

Gerald, are you referring to the combination pinky fingertip/pinky fingernail harmonic you had mentioned a while ago?

I find that an interesting sound, but with that (and certain other methods) that there's a certain "set up time" for them. At the least I'm lining myself up on the fretline. The palm harmonic has to my ears the nicest/"roundest" sound, but it's harder to keep it ringing while pulling the artificial harmonic off a neighboring string. The arched over ring finger is actually really cool, but makes it impossible to use three fingerpicks... sometimes I'll just pull the ring finger pick off if I know I want to use that method.

Each has a particular tone, I don't know whether one is better than another... just different. If you want to get an even harder bite on the sound, you can play it off your thumbpick... takes a little getting used to, but has it's own sort of appeal.

For what it's worth, I remember seeing Lloyd Green and Sarah Jory using the ring fingertip arched above the thumb in St. Louis. They seemed to not just use one technique... depending on the situation, different things are called for.

[This message was edited by Nicholas Dedring on 29 September 2004 at 07:56 AM.]

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

FWIW. I am certainly no pro, but one of my methods is to use the thumbpick for "flesh" and a fingerpick to pick the string.
more than one way to skin a cat.

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