[Hopeful]

Originally Posted by borntorock

im surprised no one has put this yet but...
to get even higher pitch on a bend, take your right hand and go behind the nut of the guitar (at the top of the fretboard where the strings fit into) and push down on that...

Jimmy Page did that in a solo once

It's also a bass player's trick.

[CheshireCat]

Originally Posted by Hopeful

It's also a bass player's trick.

Well, that's why it wasn't mentioned. See, the fact that bass players do it too disqualified it.

[Hopeful]

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

Well, that's why it wasn't mentioned. See, the fact that bass players do it too disqualified it.

[CheshireCat]

Tho, truth is, I never thought of nutbending as qualifying because that's not really a trick, anymore than using a whammy bar would be. It's simple part of the vocabulary of articulation techniques. Go ask Zakk.

[Jenacen]

I've done bending behind the nut before. It actually sounds a bit nice and you can make a nicer, more specific vibrato than the whammy bar.

[CheshireCat]

Originally Posted by Jenacen

I've done bending behind the nut before. It actually sounds a bit nice and you can make a nicer, more specific vibrato than the whammy bar.

Well, at the risk of a gross oversimplification, Zakk built his career on it. 17 years and going strong.

[everyman]

The "Needle on a String Trick"

Here's a trick I've seen some Hawaiian slack-key players do.

Thread a needle with a piece of string long about 2 feet long. Let the needle end of the string dangle over your guitar strings and put the other end of the string between your teeth. Then fingerpick your acoustic guitar while letting the needle touch the strings as you play. If done correctly, this should result in a mandolin-like tremolo effect.

[CheshireCat]

Originally Posted by everyman

The "Needle on a String Trick"

Here's a trick I've seen some Hawaiian slack-key players do.

Thread a needle with a piece of string long about 2 feet long. Let the needle end of the string dangle over your guitar strings and put the other end of the string between your teeth. Then fingerpick your acoustic guitar while letting the needle touch the strings as you play. If done correctly, this should result in a mandolin-like tremolo effect.

Sounds interesting. I'd need to see a pic.

[ChuckO]

Originally Posted by Jenacen

I was just wondering, does anyone know any unusual guitar tricks, or a really cool enhancement on any normal ones (which would include palm muting, harmonics of any kind, tapping, etc.)? Or do you just know any really cool combinations? I'm just looking for really awesomely cool stuff to try.

There are lots of good things on here. One of my favorite things to use is polyrhythm. Not really a technique or trick, and probably overly obvious, I know. BUT sometimes we forget to use it to spice up our chops. Another (probably obvious) thing I do sometimes is create harmonics over chords or notes with the strumming/picking hand. Basically, you just contact the strings with the pinky side of your palm as you pick or strum. You'll notice the sounds change depending on where you're at on the neck, clean or otherwise.

[Rainer.]

Octave harp harmonics are cool, too. Finger any chord, then tap the frets that are 12 frets above each fretted note to create an octave harmonic.

[ryanxxxx]

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

[SIZE=1]

The most unusual trick I've ever seen, and one that I don't often see, is to learn how to play clean.

So few guitarists are doing it these days.

this is so very true

[KATMAN]

You can pick out a solo to Amazing Grace,crank up the distortion,and play it with your teeth. This may not go so well in the middle of your Sunday morning services however. I pick out the vocal parts on the guitar and use it to play lead.Sometimes,not most,I play clean.

[iAMspartacus]

your tone knob and pickup selector can be fun to mess with

i was watching Leno and avril was on (when she was still huge) and as all cliche rock songs end with a resounding distorted chord, the lead guitarist switched between his pickups, one on and one off. sounded cool but looked wierd cuz avril was just standing still and all the other musicians were all so...into it.

[Rainer.]

Listening to Tom Morello's work just gives a ton of ideas for odd effected sounds.

[dcunning30]

Originally Posted by iAMspartacus

your tone knob and pickup selector can be fun to mess with

I forgot all about that. Like Rainer said, that's a Tom Morello thing. You need a guitar with a pickup selector toggler and two volume controls. It won't work with a strat. Turn one volume on and the other off. Then get some good distortion, rub the palm of your hand across the strings like a saw with one hand, and toggle the switch on and off with the other. Now, you're a guitar scratcher! :-)

But be forewarned, doing this dated technique may be as painful as watching someone play Stairway To Heaven in the music store. Rap-Rock is pretty much dead and buried. But I have to admit, seeing that Cox cable commerical with that band is pretty cool.