Music Lesson: Understanding Harmonics

Okay then, guys, let's take a look at another technique. We're going to look at two types of harmonics today: Pinched harmonics and natural harmonics. So let's get the natural harmonics out of the way first; it's slightly easier.

What are Natural Harmonics?

Natural harmonics are signified by a diamond shape around the note in the tablature. For example, if you see a 12 on the tab with a diamond around it, what that's telling you is that we have to play that note as a natural harmonic.

How to Play a Natural Harmonic

To play a natural harmonic, it's dead simple. I'm going to show you how to play the 12th fret on the E string as a harmonic:

1. Normal Fret Harmonic: You hear the difference there?
2. Placement: To play the natural harmonic, place your finger directly above the fret. The metal fret wire goes directly above that. Normally, when you fret a note, you want to be just the other side of that.
3. Touching the String: For a natural harmonic, you want to be directly above that metal fret. You should only touch the string lightly, do not apply enough pressure for the string to touch the fret or the fretboard. It should just hover and touch the string very, very lightly.
4. Picking the Note: Pick the note. As soon as you've caught the harmonic, move your left hand out of the way, and you'll hear that the harmonic will continue to ring.

Demonstration

Here it is:

• The natural harmonic will continue to ring.
• The difference between that and a fretted note: If I play the fretted note and take my hand away, it doesn't continue to ring.

You can hear the difference in tone between a pitched note and a harmonic.

Best Places for Natural Harmonics

There are three really predominant places on the guitar where you can achieve really easy natural harmonics:

1. 12th Fret: Probably the easiest place to start.
2. 7th Fret: A really, really cool place to play.
3. 5th Fret: The pitch gets even higher here.

Generally, the closer to the note you get for the harmonics, they'll be very delicate. But it's a really, really cool technique!

You will see this crop up in quite a few rock songs, actually. Always signified by the diamond symbol around either the note head or the tabbed number. It may even have NH above it, short for natural harmonic.

Creative Use of Harmonics

You can come up with some really cool melodies with those. Or chords can sound fantastic with a bit of delay, creating some really ambient sounds.

But yeah, quite an unusual sound for a guitar to make. So that's the first type of harmonic we're going to talk about.