It's a bit of a mystery to me as to how anti harmonics are created. I've only heard Immolation using them but I'm guessing that they are not alone in employing this technique.

So as to avoid any possible misunderstanding: I'm not asking about artificial, pinch or natural harmonics here: just anti harmonics. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

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can you describe what anit-harmonics are?

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never heard of those, what immolation song?

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They use them throughout Unholy Cult but just as an example listen to Sinful Nature. Anti Harmonics sound like natural harmonics but are much higher in pitch - I've tried playing along using natural harmonics but they just don't sound right.

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Is that what dimebag does when it looks like he does a natural harmonic on the high e string and the uses the trem. I cant get a naturaly harmonic on the 3rd fret on the high e thats anything more than a plink sound.

I don't know but, to my memory, I've never heard an anti harmonic in a Pantera song.

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well try hitting a pinch harmonic then pulling up on the whammy bar, that should make it go higher that might be what your looking for

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It might well have something to do with the whammy bar. Still, if you listen to the Immolation song I mentioned earlier, I think it would be very hard to incorporate the use of the whammy bar.

Earlier today I tried pinch-picking a natural harmonic but the result was barely audible and sounded like a muted string. I wonder if that technique will yield an anti harmonic with more practise?

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anti harmonic? the sheer science of that is like impossible, anti harmonics would make the earth implode or something

but seriously i kinda know what your talkin about, never heard them called that and have even less of a clue how to do em. good luck on it though

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They're making my head implode when I'm trying to figure out how to do them!

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I might be wrong but those are called artificial harmonic squeals.

I know what your talking about. Skeleton of God does that ALOT. I don't know how to do it..I haven't really tried but I will fuck around with it later today and get back to you. I'm sure I can figure it out.

By the way, are you sure they are called "Anti Harmonics"?

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Thanks, mate.



Yeah, I think so. I've heard their "use of anti harmonics" being described in reviews of their albums so I presumed it was talking about the same thing as I am here.

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i did a search for them online at a few guitar sites and came up with nothing, maybe they are more commenly known as something else

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Maybe. At first I thought that the reviewer had gotten mixed up with artificial harmonics but when I heard Unholy Cult I knew that he wasn't confusing with something else.

They're certainly not standard fare - I can only think of Immolation that uses them and Darko contributed Skeleton Of God - so most people probably just think I'm going insane! Again...

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I dont know what an anti-harmonic is but if you depress your whammy bar then hit a natural harminic and pull up its makea high pitch harmonic.

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Listen to Immolation and you'll hear them used quite a lot. Most songs from Unholy Cult utilize them at some stage. You'll instantly know what I mean if you hear an example of it.

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in Wolf Among The Flock at 2:44 would that be what your talking about?

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No it's more like Sinful Nature at 0:12.

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I don't know what you're talking about,but try doing a pick harmonic and stepping on a whammy pedal(like on becoming)maybe that'll do the trick.

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I'm pretty sure that there is no whammy bar or effect pedals involved. Just from the sound of it you can tell it resonates naturally, ie, it's borne out of a technique rather than an added effect.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed!

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Ok, I'm pretty sure I've got it. If you hit a pinch harmonic on a open string and then hammer on quickly to to a fret (don't pull off) then it seems to get the same sound. On the anti harmonic riff, I can get the last anti harmonic section (00:16-20). Try this:

(I am tunned in E)
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------------
-PH0h3-----
------------
------------
------------

I don't know about the other ones, I will have to tunedown and find them which I will have to do later tonight, as I am leaving right now. Tell me what you think.

Also: Keep in mind that It will never sound exactly like it does on the album. Studio production overlapses harmonics and stuff to give it a much more "fuller" sound.

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i dont really understand what youre talking about john, but i will listen to some immolation soon and see if i can find any

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I'm going to have to agree with Darko that definitely seems like a hammer on. Cool sound and all. Also another thought on how to make it could be a pinch harmonic on open string then slight touch the fret. You get me? Like if you were doing a natural harmonic. Might work that way too...

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I am pretty sure that I am right with that 00:16-20 part. I haven't done the others yet..jsut got home.

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Darko, rapeandruin: Thanks for your input, I'll try out your ideas when I get home today.

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i DON´T KNOW WHAT ARE YOU TALKING EXACTLY BUT SOME IDEAS:
What about if you do the pinch and then slight hammer-on 12 fret higher???

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
----P-0h12-------------
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hehe I think I just said that man but you described it better i'd say.

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Why are everyone bothering to learn this sh*t out. It sounds lame and without any response or force, do a artificial harmonic instead, it sounds even better and more full of metal.

why even bother posting man. Just don't read it the guy had a question and people are trying to help him out. So go fuck a goat or something.

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Go listen to Immolation and tell me that it would suffice to play an artificial harmonic in place of an anti harmonic. They wouldn't sound the same if they 'just did artificial harmonics' instead. It's just like saying play higher up the fretboard instead of pinching.

I want to learn how to do anti harmonics for two reasons:

1) They sound strange and are compelling in their abruptness.
2) It's another skill that I want to add to my repertoir - why be closed-minded to a new technique?

Once again I'd like to thank the constructive efforts of all that have contributed. I'm pleasantly surprised at the level of involvement that some have given in aiding my attempts to learn this technique. Cheers!

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Ok I'm sorry, I know I posted something without any scense, but when you johnmansley told that Immolation did the anti-harmonic on Sinful Nature, I thought: "wow that must be something cool, I've never heard of a anti-harmonic". Then I went and download Sinful Nature, and heard all the song and was dissapointed, don't get me wrong, Sinful Nature is an excellent song, and the riffs are amazing, I really liked it . But I was dissapointed with the anti-harmonic they use, it didn't sound anything out of the ordinary or something amazing, I prefer using artificial harmonics or pinch harmonics, but everyone has their taste.

And is good to learn some new techniques johnsmansley.

I'm glad you checked out Immolation - they're a great and unique band. It's one of those "harmonic" sounds that are hard to explain to people who haven't heard it before - you checked it out, most people wouldn't.

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where is Immolation from?

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NY.

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good to see domestic bands...wish there were more good domestic bands...

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Decapitated have one (at least, I think this is what you are talking about), Vogg hits one on the end of the second solo on 'The First Damned', and I'm pretty sure it's just a pinch harmonic with a octave pedal or whatever to make it that evil almost toneless high squeel.

I also think Vader have done this on the 'Silent Empire' solo.

I've done it too, I intended to hit a pinch harmonic and dive with the trem, but I must have struck the string in a weird way, because instead of just doing the normal squeel it was a high pitched whine instead. I have also done it a few times at practise, but it's not intentional and I find it rather annoying, because it's not how I want that dive to sound. For me it was just a result of hitting the string badly and awkward fingering (to get to the fret I want). Maybe if I was using wah or something like Vader does it'd sound abit cooler.

Not especially related, but I can't hit pinch harmonics on the high E, I prefer them on the G string, I can get more purchase on them, and in terms of actually getting the pinch to sound, the string thickness must make a difference. When I do get them, they sound pretty crap. Too thin.

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