Natural Harmonics, Tab Explanation

Natural Harmonics

Listen to audio example of this technique - 83kb

NATURAL HARMONICS: These are produced by lightly touching the string with your fretting hand at specific frets then striking the string normally with your pick. The sound produced is a "Bell" like tone.

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Use the image slide show to help with this explanation

Image 1/8	In this example the red line represents the "A" string. Natural harmonics can be played on any string but for this example I used the 5th A. Naturally I have made the string red to emphasise this example.
Image 2/8	When a string is picked it vibrates in a simple bowed fashion from side to side.
Image 3/8	Graphically this is only showing the side to side bowing effect. There is no string movement at either end of the string (nut & bridge) with the most movement occuring in the middle.
Image 4/8	Place your finger on the 12th fret (this is half way between the nut & bridge) then strike the string to produce the 12th fret natural harmonic. This will have a "Bell" like tone similar to when you strike a larger bell with a soft mallet.
Image 5/8	Now the string is bowing in two places with 3 points having no movement (bridge, 12th fret & nut). Since the bowing/vibrating length is halved then pitch of the sounding note is now one octave higher.
Image 6/8	This graphically shows the bowing effect from side to side.
Image 7/8	By placing your finger on either the 7th or 19th fret divides the string equally into 3 sections. When you striking a natural harmonic in either of these two places the string will bow in 3 areas producing a note that is one octave plus a fifth higher than the string you are playing it from (in this case "A").
Image 8/8	This graphically shows the bowing effect from side to side.

Also you can play a natural harmonic from the 5th fret dividing the string into 4 bowed points.

You will notice that some harmonics are harder to sound out than others. The 12th fret would be the easiest, so start there playing all six string. When you get a nice strong sound move on to your 7th then 5th frets. When you add distortion to your electric guitar you will notice that you can produce harmonics from any fret position along the string.