Harmonics Still....

[zbalz]

I'm sorry I am making no progress with harmonics after nearly a week. I tried all the methods mentioned in lesson 5 and I still cant do anything. I think the problem is that I don't know what I am trying to play or look for.

For example, I tried playing some of the songs on the music section of lesson 5 (http://www.zentao.com/guitar/lesson5/music.html) such as Barracuda by heart. I am fine until i get to the harmonics in the 4th/5th measure. I hold down the 12th fret and then play ON the fret an octave higher...and then fret the 7th fret and play ON the 19th fret...isn't that what I am supposed to do? It just sounds like if I were to play the octave frets normally...so whats the use of fretting the 12th, 7th, and 5th fret?

Obviously this is difficult to explain my problem but can someone maybe do a quick walktrhough on the harmonic section of" barracuda" in the lesson 5 music section.

-zbalz

[StoneDragon]

Ah... I can (hopefully) help you with this one http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/wink.gif

In Barracuda.... you don't fret those harmonics. Just touch the string at the Fret given.... don't even push the string down.... just touch it with your finger. While your finger is touching the string (right over the top of the fret) pick the string as you normally would.

In the case of that song, you need to lay your finger across several strings at once like you are going to play a barre chord... except don't push the strings down to the fingerboard.... just rest your finger across the strings right over the fret wire and strum those strings with your pick. Right after you strum, lift your finger off the strings.

Try it!

[zbalz]

i think i got that type down. Just as a quick question, what type of harmonics is that? tap harmonics?

-zbalz

[StoneDragon]

Those are usually just called harmonics. You can call them open harmonics or natural harmonics and *most* people will know what you mean.

The other techniques in that lesson are called "artificial" harmonics... because you are producing them by "artificial" means. That's not the best name but it is the most common way to refer to them.

The artificial techniques that I show in that lesson don't really have "standard" names... the closest is probably pick squeals.... but even that one technique is called by several names... "pick harmonics" "pinch harmonics" etc...

So... now that you know how to play natural harmonics, the other techniques work off of the same principle. There are certain spots along a vibrating string that will yield a harmonic tone. The open string will yield harmonics (most easily) at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.

If you are playing a note at the 3rd fret, you can get artificial harmonics by touching the string 12, 7, or 5 frets higher. Since your left hand is busy holding down the note at the 3rd fret, you have to use your right hand to get the harmonic. Again... you just touch the string right over the fret wire with the right hand... you don't try to push the string down to the fingerboard.

So if both hands are busy (left hand holding the note at the the 3rd fret... right hand touching the string 12 frets higher) how are you going to pick the string?

you can either pick the string before you touch it with the right hand (touch harmonic)... use another finger on the right hand to pluck the string while you touch it (pluck harmonic) or smack the string right on the fret wire with your right hand finger to get both the harmonic and cause the string to vibrate (tap harmonic)

Pick squeals work the same way but the technique is harder to master.

[MrSamson]

Zbalz...

Just chill...I was were you are at once...and not all that long ago...

pinch harmonics are one of those things that are cool for a number of reasons...one thing I have found cool is they are something a lot of "experienced" players cannot do...for whatever reason...

Just picture it...jamming...leaching off of them...getting a feel for each other...and you accent a couple of solos with 2 or 3 pinch harmonics (squeals)...I have had people actually stop playing..once they noticed I did it on purpose...and asked how I did that...they instantly give you respect...

and then they force you to show them...and it is not something they can do in 5 minutes...so, you got something on em...for a while

ALSO...pinch harmonics can be overused...try cranking the gain to a rediculous level...that will lend itself to pinch harmonics easier...

I also found that left hand vibrato (I think that is what it is called) helped out immensely in facilitating it to happen.

Good Luck!!!

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/devil.gif

[zbalz]

I just want to say thanks to all of you who were patient with me on this subject (and the original harmonics message). I re-read over the lesson StoneDragon originally wrote and it is much more clear now. I have a better grasp of it and understand how it can take a LONG time to master. Ill work on it for a bit alongside my otherstuff now.

Thanks again

-zbalz

[This message has been edited by zbalz (edited December 06, 2000).]

[Namaguederaz]

I have a question related to those artificial harmonics. Can I execute them with my acoustic guitar, or these types of harmonics need amplification to be heard ?

I ask that because I'm trying to do them as writen in SD lessons, but with no success, and I want to know if it's because of my guitar or because of my technique.

[ghodaddyyo]

You can, but electric guitar coupled with amplification produces rich dynamics in sound that are not possible with accoustic guitars. Regular harmonics sound great on an accoustic, but artificial harmonics are usually coupled with string bending and is much harder to perform on an accoustic.

[StoneDragon]

ghodaddyyo is right.... amplification and distortion definitely help to bring out the harmonics, but except for the pick squeals, each of those techniques have been used quite effectively by acoustic players.

The first time I ever saw anybody do "plucked" harmonics was when I went to see a classical player at my high school years ago. Then there's Eddie Van Halen doing "tap" harmonics on acoustic in Spanish Fly off of VHII. Listen to practically anything by Michael Hedges For "plucked" harmonics, "tapped" harmonics and "touch" harmonics.... 'course that guy was from another planet as far as I'm concerned.

I tend to use "plucks" and "taps" quite a bit on acoustic, myself. But everytime I do, Cybe says, "Hey, that sounds like Hedges." http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/stern.gif