Posted in: Guitar by DavidGuitar on March 16th, 2008 | 0 Comments
Learn how to play Natural and Artificial/Pinch Harmonics on a guitar.
Harmonics are really quite simple when you learn them. Harmonics are simply notes that are played, but is over toned. Harmonics produce a high pitched sound, that you might have heard in a song. Or you might have even messed up once and heard one, but never knew you actually played a harmonic! Well lets get into the basics of harmonics.
We will discuss the first two.
The natural harmonic is the easiest of all harmonics, but the most limited of harmonics. Natural harmonics only happen at certain points on a guitar. But before we tell you where, we should probably learn how to make a harmonic.
For now we will choose the 7 th fret. Now when talking in harmonics, instead of talking about the actual frets (The spaces between the two bars), we will be actually talking about the bars. So if we say 7 th fret, we are referring to the bar after the 7 th fret.
So lets play it. What I want you to do is to place your finger VERY gently over the bar. So gently your not pushing the string at all. I want you to keep it there, and strum, and release your finger. It doesn’t have to be at the same time. If you got a ringing sound, you made a harmonic. If not, try to touch it even more gently. Keep practicing.
E–4–5–7–9–12–16–19–22–
B–3–4–5–7–9–12–16–19–22–
G–4–5–7–9–12–16–19–22–
D–3–4–5–7–9–12–19–22–
A–2–3–4–5–7–9–12–16–19–22–
E–2–3–4–5–7–9–12–16–19–22–
As you might notice, 2,3,4 sometimes are a bit hard. But they can sound pretty cool. Master these before you move on.
Alright, I’m note going to lie, these are a PAIN IN THE ASS. But they are awesome. These can be done ANYWHERE on the guitar. Of course, they charge a fee…and that is your anger and frustration. Look at it this way, you can play a pinch harmonic on fret 5 on high E, and you choose from A-G in pitch, including sharps, flats, double sharps, and double flats! That’s a lot of harmonics on one fret! So lets learn these pain in the asses. Show them you can master them.
Alright, this is how we do it. Hold your pick like you normally do, but make sure the tip of your thumb is clear. Test this by playing and making sure with a bit of an angle change, your thumb joint, or thumb tip will touch the string.
Ok, we will go with the 5 th fret on the G string. I want to place your finger on the fret like normal, not like natural harmonics. Just like normal playing. Now read this first, and THEN do it. At the same time, strum the string with your pick at the angle which your thumb will hit the string along with the pick. If you made a screeching sound, you made a pinch harmonic. If not, try move up and down the string and picking in different spots. This is how you change pitches. Or try changing your pick position.
Good luck. If you are having trouble, I do understand, its not easy learning from writing. Try to find some videos. You have probably heard practice makes perfect and your sick of it, but for this, there is no short cut. Pinch Harmonics will piss you off like hell, but they are worth it. So yeah, practice, practice, practice!
