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Artificial harmonics?

B

BellBottomBlues

Feb 21, 2007
1,853
7
New York
Disclosures
Endorser:Fender User:Rotosound, LaBella, Ashdown, Lindy Fralin
#1
How do you do them? I've been trying to do pieces where an artificial harmonic would be nice to have to add a different texture and what not. That and I'm also trying to play Portrait of Tracy.:smug:
 
#2
One example of artificial harmonics is when you hold down a fret then with the plucking hand you put the index finger over the node of the harmonic (i.e. if you held fretted the second fret you would put your finger over the 14) then use your thumb to pluck the string. In this case think of all the natural harmonics available to you. 4th 5th 7th 12th etc. and moving them all up two frets because your fretting on the second fret.

There's loads of ways to approach this. You could hold the node with your index and pluck with your ring. I've also managed to get a harmonic in a similar way a guitarist uses his plec to get one. By popping a string with my index finger but at the same time resting the meat below the pinky on the same string. At certain points it will get you a harmonic.
 
#6
thanks, this has helped a lot. I've got to work on my right hand technique so its more natural.

What would one do if they wanted to make a harmonic on say the 2nd fret (any string)
 
#7
BellBottomBlues said:
thanks, this has helped a lot. I've got to work on my right hand technique so its more natural.

What would one do if they wanted to make a harmonic on say the 2nd fret (any string)
Click to expand...

Do you mean create a harmonic when you fret the 2nd fret or create a harmonic on the 2nd fret. You can't create an artificial harmonic there (at least to my knowledge) There are a few unusual sounding natural harmonics around the second fret though. (They aren't on the second fret but just a little before and after it)
 
#8
theshadow2001 said:
Do you mean create a harmonic when you fret the 2nd fret or create a harmonic on the 2nd fret. You can't create an artificial harmonic there (at least to my knowledge) There are a few unusual sounding natural harmonics around the second fret though. (They aren't on the second fret but just a little before and after it)
Click to expand...

The question was for creating a harmonic on the second fret:)
 
#9
The harmonics around the second fret are natural. Not artificial. There isn't one exactly on the second fret but there are a few close by.

lightly place your finger on the string (don't fret it just barely touch it) in the second fret region and start plucking. Move it around and you'll eventually find a few different harmonics in that area. They are tricky to get to ring out compared to other natural harmonics such as those on the 5th 7th 12th.

I think guitarists with lots of distortion will find the natural harmonics in the second fret region easier to get to ring out than the bass player.

Why do you want to get those harmonics in particular?

As a side note. Another way to think about artificial harmonics is that all your really doing is moving the natural ones up by fretting the strings.
Also portrait of tracy is mostly natural harmonics. Not artificial. Apart from the final harmonic and another one near the start. I don't have time to go and find out exactly where it is in the song.
 
#10
mambo4 said:
when i was experimenting with artificial harmonics, I would make the "devil horns" with my right hand, hold the node with my index and pluck with my pinky. Picked the idea up from Gary Willis' book i think.
Click to expand...

I do it the opposite, made the node with the pinky and pluck with the index

harmonics aren't like fretted notes. It doesn't matter what side of the node you pluck from.
 

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