Harmonics??

myguitar123 · Fierce Puppy Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 236

I was just wondering how to put harmonics in the right key in a song. I have heard many recordings with them on it and I know how to make them, but how do you put them into a certian key? Or in a certian song? Is there a certian pattern to it? Take Jim Croce and "time in a bottle". OK, at the end of the song, he does some good harmonics with his accoustic guitar. But are they comming from a scale or pattern in the key he is playing in? I am kinda new to harmonics and how to apply them, but they do seem to intrest me.

Steve · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:56 am Post subject:

Harmonics, or "bell" tones, come from damping the fundamental at certain nodes, or null points, along a string's length. The harmonic overtone series is always present, but is quieter than the fundamental, so you won't hear them unless you can ring the string while damping the fundamental.
On open strings these "nulls" are easily found at the 5th, 7th, and 12th, positions by barely touching the string over the location of the fret itself.
The one at the 12th (half the length of the string) is the strongest and most easily accessed for me.

In fact if you half the length of any string (even the fretted ones) you can access the bell tones.
In the case of say, a D chord played commonly in the first position, the harmonics are available 12 frets above the fretted notes.
This technique requires touching the string with the extended 1st finger of the picking hand, while plucking that string with the thumb of the same hand.
With some practice, I can pick out harmonics for several chords played in the first position, 12 frets above the fretted notes.

So-called "open" tunings are even easier. These can be done at the 5th 7th and 12th positions, without any special techniques, as they are already chords in most altered tunings.

Hope this helps.

Herb · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:57 am Post subject:

Chet Atkins was a master at this, and one of the first to use it. To acheive an non-natural harmonic, with your left hand fret the note you want sounded, then either lightly touch with the nail or tip of your index finger of your right hand the same note 12 frets up, and pluck the string with your thumb. That's the proper method, an easier (and noisier) way is fret the note then tap 12 frets up with your index finger, that's the way I do it.

Herb · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:57 am Post subject:

Steve, you beat me by a minute! Wink

Steve · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:59 am Post subject: