How To Play Guitar Harmonics: Natural and Artificial

What are harmonics?

Harmonics are chime-like tones produced when picking a note while lightly touching the guitar strings in specific positions on the fretboard or over the pickups. Natural Harmonics are produced from open strings, and Artificial Harmonics are produced from fretted strings with the picking hand, usually over the pickups. Harmonics can be played without distortion on an unplugged guitar, but with the aid of high gain and distortion settings, harmonics are easier to produce (in addition to being louder and more clear).

Natural Harmonics

Here are the steps to performing Natural Harmonics:

1) Place your fretting hand finger lightly over one of the designated areas in Table 1. Do not press the string down.

2) Pick/ Pluck the string, and let it sound. Note that horizontal vibrato can be added by moving your finger from side to side over the area of the harmonic.

Table 1c: Shows fretboard and where natural harmonics can be sounded. Shows notes on each string, and interval in relation to originalpitch.

*If you are having problems making a clear tone, check through this list of advice:

- Make sure you are not pressing down too hard on the string

- After striking the string, remove your fretting finger quickly from the string

- Try striking the string first, and then lowering your finger over the fret until the harmonic is produced. Once you can do this consistently, begin trying by striking the string while your finger is already over the fret.

- Some spots are harder to make harmonics over. For instance, the 3rd fret. To make a good harmonic over this fret requires good accuracy and timing.

Artificial Harmonics

Artificial harmonics are one of the most popular techniques in the guitar community. The main draw being that, once a guitarist has mastered this technique, he or she can make the guitar scream and squeal (by adding vibrato), mimicking a human voice. This is a very cool effect, and can really add some extra punch to your phrases. Artificial harmonics vary from natural harmonics because they are produced while fretting a note, and with the picking hand. There are two ways to produce artificial harmonics:

I.) Performing Artificial Harmonics Type 1:

1) Fret and play a note on the guitar.

2) While the note is still sounding, take the index or middle finger from your picking hand and place it lightly over the fret that is 12 frets (1 octave) above the fretted note. This is exactly like creating a natural harmonic, except with your picking hand. Now you have changed the locations of where the natural harmonics are made.

This same effect can also be done like this:

1) Fret a note on the guitar.

2) Take the index or middle finger from your picking hand and place it lightly over the fret that is 12 frets (1 octave) above the fretted note. Using the ring finger from your picking hand, pluck the string causing the harmonic to sound.