web hosting short URLs photo sharing

    Harmonics divide the string into sections
    between the the bridge and the nut.
    The parts of the string that don't move are called
    nodes and they help determine where the pickups are
    located on the guitar.
    
    First harmonic - the string open

    Second harmonic - caused by harmonics at the 12th fret - node at the 12th fret
    (divides string into 2 equal sections)

    Third harmonic - caused by harmonics at the 7th fret - nodes at the 7th, and 19th fret

    Fourth harmonic - caused by harmonics at the 5th fret - nodes at the 5th, 12th, and 
    over the neck pu (or close to it)

    Fifth harmonic - caused by harmonics at the 9th fret - nodes: 4th, 9th, 16th, and 
    between the neck and middle pu's on a strat

  
    Lightly touch the strings and pluck, then
    quickly remove fretting finger to let the
    harmonic ring out. If your finger was only
    as wide as the node, it would not damp the
    string at all and not have to be removed.

    open string harmonics are directly over these frets:

E ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E ||--5--7--9--12-------------------------------------------------------------------|


    Try using the flat part of your 3rd
    finger (left hand) all the way up to 
    and past the 2nd joint if needed for 
    these harmonics:

    open string exercise: in G & Em

E ||:-----------12-------:||
B ||:----12---7-----7----:||
G ||:-12----7-----5---7--:||
D ||:--------------------:||
A ||:--------------------:||
E ||:--------------------:||



    Harmonics can be tapped or slapped from a chord formation.

    For example: Em, use your index finger to lightly touch the 
    6-string at the 12th fret and pluck with your thumb at the 
    same time. Go to the next string and up 2 frets, etc.

    i=index to lightly touch string above fret
    t=thumb to pluck

      Em               G              A              D             E             Am
 
E ||--0----12i+t-------3----15i+t-----0-----12i+t----2----14i+t----0-----12i+t----0----12i+t----|
B ||--0----12i+t-------3----15i+t-----2-----14i+t----3----15i+t----0-----12i+t----1----13i+t----|
G ||--0----12i+t-------0----12i+t-----2-----14i+t----2----14i+t----1-----13i+t----2----14i+t----|
D ||--2----14i+t-------0----12i+t-----2-----14i+t----0----12i+t----2-----14i+t----2----14i+t----|
A ||--2----14i+t-------2----14i+t-----0-----12i+t------------------2-----14i+t----0----12i+t----|
E ||--0----12i+t-------3----15i+t----------------------------------0-----12i+t------------------|
    

    You could also slap every note in the above example
    with your index finger for a more aggressive attack.
    Slapping works best over the actual fretboard so that
    your finger will hit the top of the metal fret and bounce
    off quickly.

    Now try this technique using the same Em chord but move your right hand over 
    or near your neck pickup for plucking (i+t)

    Note:  For electric guitars, use your bridge pu to bring out
           the sound of the harmonics (the pickups can't amplify
           the nodes because there is no string motion - with fourth
           harmonics, the neck pu is directly under a node)