Artificial Harmonics Overview

Review of Natural Harmonics

In the lesson on Natural Harmonics we examined guitar harmonics that can be played without any notes fretted. This was done by resting a finger gently above fret XII, plucking the string, and removing the finger. We learned that this sound is created as a result of dampening the overtones while allowing the fundamental to ring. We learned that this effect occurs in simple ratios; the reason fret XII harmonic is so clear is because it is exactly one-half of the string length, producing the same note an octave higher.

Harmonics On Fretted Notes

What if we wanted to play a harmonic note that was not available as a natural harmonic such as the tone “C”?

We can play a “B” and increase its pitch by one half step. Fret the I^st fret of the B string, and now play the natural harmonic on fret XIII instead of fret XII. Previously, to damp the string above the harmonic fret, we would use our fret hand. Our fret hand is now occupied because it is fretting a note. Both dampening the string and plucking it must now be done with the picking hand.

For fingerstyle players, one finger will damp the string above the fret and another will pluck it. Pick-style players can use one finger to damp the note while plucking with the pick. If you use your thumb to damp the note, your index finger could pluck the string. This technique is just a little bit tricky at first. In order to master it, you will have to practice it repeatedly, over and over—even if you only want to use this technique as a special effect. After a few weeks or months of regular practice, you should achieve a satisfying result and you can decide for yourself how much more time to invest in the skill. Some players base their sound around this effect.

Let’s try it out, first using a natural harmonic on the open E string, plucked twelve frets higher—and then using an artificial harmonic on the fretted B string.

Artificial Harmonic Example

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The next step will be to apply this principle to chords and scales. Chords will be a good choice because we can exploit the “ringing”, sustaining sound of the harmonic note by playing chords using harmonics. Playing scales with artificial harmonics also produces an interesting effect.

For chords, a good place to start would be relatively “flat” chords, or chords that span just one or two frets. This means the picking hand will have less jumping around to do in order to pluck the harmonics. Later we can move to more angular chords.

Artificial Harmonic Chords — A^–7, D⁹

Try playing the chords below, and then turning them into artificial harmonics.

Key Exercises

Exercise 1. Play a G Major scale in the third position, but as harmonic notes plucked at the fifteenth fret. Play the scale ascending and descending, then in thirds.

Exercise 2. Play the A–7, D9 chords from above using harmonics. Move the chords up a half step and repeat; when you reach Fret IX, reverse direction and continue until you reach Fret II. Repeat this over and over, very slowly, in time.

Exercise 3. Play a chord progression using artificial harmonics. To start, try I , vi-, ii-, V.