A harmonic is a tone that’s developed by the guitar by touching the string above a fret on an open vibrating string. There are 2 kinds of harmonics Artificial and natural or I choose to call them pinch harmonics.
Natural Harmonics
Natural Harmonics can be produced by touching your forefinger on your fret-hand above at the 5th, 12th or 7th fret. Simply position your finger on the string above the fret, do not push to tough or you will silence the note, pluck the note and after that pull your finger off. Attempt it on the A string.
E|———— |
B|———— |
G|———— |
D|———— |
|– 12 —— |
E|———— |
Timing is important when playing harmonics. The length of time you keep your finger on the string will identify if you hear a harmonic, soft noise or simply a routine note. The harmonics in those positions will sound for all 6 strings on the very same fret.
——– 7 —–
—— 12 ——-
—– 5 ———
Pinch Harmonics
Pinch harmonics are done with the choice hand hand. Now when you pluck a string with your choice the technique is to strike the choice initially and then a little twist your thumb so that it touches the string right away after striking the string.
Why play a pinch harmonic. You can integrate string flexes with pinch harmonics and vibrato to get absolutely cool sounding “screeches”. The technique is to dedicate some of your practice time daily to simply playing cool licks and attempt including a pinch harmonic with some demonic vibrato.
Timing is vital when playing harmonics. The length of time you keep your finger on the string will identify if you hear a harmonic, soft noise or simply a routine note. Why play a pinch harmonic. You can integrate string flexes with pinch harmonics and vibrato to get completely cool sounding “screeches”. The technique is to commit some of your practice time daily to simply playing cool licks and attempt including a pinch harmonic with some demonic vibrato.