How do I get a high pitched sound on my guitar strings without using the pitch effect?

Question

For example, when Eddie Van Halen plays low strings and normally low notes should come out, but he can play high pitched notes on a low string. How do I do that?

Answer 1

electronic devices that can modify the tone, pitch, or sound of an electric guitar, or condition or reroute the signal in some fashion can be housed in small effects pedals ("stomp boxes"), guitar amplifiers, guitar amplifier simulation software, and in rackmount preamplifiers or processors. http://www.music123.com/Search/Default.a...

Answer 2

The technique used to produce that sound effect can be one of two things.

The first, natural harmonic, is performed by lightly (touch the string but don't push) putting your fretting hand finger over, let's say, the 2nd fret low E string.  Play it as normal (keep it light on the fretting hand, but pick it normally), and it will be a very high pitched note.

The second is a pinch harmonic, and more likely what is used by EVH.  This is quite a bit more difficult in my opinion, and takes some practice.  To make a pinch harmonic, fret the string normally, let's use D string 3rd fret.  Put your finger there, push it as hard as usual, but when you pick it, shove the side of your thumb into the string near the pickups.  Difficult to explain, the more gain the better.  Here's an excellent guide to it: http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/harm...

You should be able to find natural harmonics as well.

Answer 3

He uses a very high quality distortion amplifier.

Answer 4

They don't know what they are talking aobut...

What you are hearing is called a pinch harmonic...

You can make the sounds by scraping your pick against the string in a certain way ... it's hard to explain... maybe this will help though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFSgY8Be6...

Answer 5

the one dude is right - they are called pinch harmonics. you do em by picking but sort of using your thumb on your picking hand to almost mute the string right after you pick it, causing that ever so popular sound.