Guitar - Artificial Harmonics
Created | Updated Aug 16, 2005
The object of acquiring harmonics on the guitar is to produce notes much higher than those usually attainable by normal fretted notes. They give a bell-like sound, and are used in alot of popular music, especially rock and metal music.
Some notes on the guitar are capable of producing "natural harmonics" - they can produce harmonic sounds without using the artificial harmonic technique. These notes occur at the 5th, 7th, 12th frets on every string (and the frets 12 higher than each of these).
To produce these harmonics,
1.Position your fretting hand finger directly above the fret marker lightly touching the string but not pushing it down to the fretboard.
2.Then, pick the string (preferably near the bridge) and immediately release the fretting hand finger to produce the harmonic.
Most notes, however, do not naturally produce harmonics, and so a special technique is needed. This is called artificial harmonics.
To create artificial harmonics,
1.Fully fret the note on the fretboard, making sure to push down reasonably hard.
2.Position your index finger (of your picking hand) lightly resting on the same string, exactly 12 frets above the actual fretted note.
3.Holding the plectrum between your thumb and middle finger, pick the string behind the picking hand finger and quickly remove the entire picking hand.
It is important to note that artificial harmonics can be used to create an even higher note, by using the above technique, but finding a point on the string past the end of the fretboard which is effectively 24 frets higher than the fretted note (instead of 12 frets higher).
Another important note is that there ARE various other techniques for producing artificial harmonics, such as using your finger to pick instead of an actual plectrum etc. This is just one accepted method.
It is sometimes fun (and good practise), once the technique has been picked up, to play simple picking songs that you know in artificial harmonics to achieve a unique sound. Try to build up your picking hand accuracy, as it is required to move in unison with the fretting hand when playing more than one note, usually on more than one string. Practise, practise, practise!
Some notes on the guitar are capable of producing "natural harmonics" - they can produce harmonic sounds without using the artificial harmonic technique. These notes occur at the 5th, 7th, 12th frets on every string (and the frets 12 higher than each of these).
To produce these harmonics,
1.Position your fretting hand finger directly above the fret marker lightly touching the string but not pushing it down to the fretboard.
2.Then, pick the string (preferably near the bridge) and immediately release the fretting hand finger to produce the harmonic.
Most notes, however, do not naturally produce harmonics, and so a special technique is needed. This is called artificial harmonics.
To create artificial harmonics,
1.Fully fret the note on the fretboard, making sure to push down reasonably hard.
2.Position your index finger (of your picking hand) lightly resting on the same string, exactly 12 frets above the actual fretted note.
3.Holding the plectrum between your thumb and middle finger, pick the string behind the picking hand finger and quickly remove the entire picking hand.
It is important to note that artificial harmonics can be used to create an even higher note, by using the above technique, but finding a point on the string past the end of the fretboard which is effectively 24 frets higher than the fretted note (instead of 12 frets higher).
Another important note is that there ARE various other techniques for producing artificial harmonics, such as using your finger to pick instead of an actual plectrum etc. This is just one accepted method.
It is sometimes fun (and good practise), once the technique has been picked up, to play simple picking songs that you know in artificial harmonics to achieve a unique sound. Try to build up your picking hand accuracy, as it is required to move in unison with the fretting hand when playing more than one note, usually on more than one string. Practise, practise, practise!
