HARMONICS

Do this...

Fret any string and then strike it - don't release your fretting hand.

Did you notice that the string only vibrates between the fretted portion and the bridge of your guitar? - It doesn't vibrate between the fretted note and the nut of the guitar.

So that's what happens when we usually fret strings - we are only using part of the string.

Playing "harmonics" however, is one method where we want the entire strike to vibrate.

Try this out on the E string 12th fret:

1. touch the string exactly over the 12th fret very lightly with any fretting finger

2. strike the string with your picking hand

3. lift the fretting-finger off (a split second) after the string was plucked

If you did this properly, you would have heard a bell-like sound.

Now try the same thing over all strings and over the frets mentioned below:

• 3rd fret

• 5th fret

• 7th fret

• 9th fret

• 12th fret

Don't press the strings all the way down to the fretboard - use the entire string.

Once you get the hang of this technique, you'll realize that you can play harmonics when you want to get some high pitches that you don't have frets for (since the fretboard is not the same length as the strings).

Here's something cool to know:

• Put your finger at one-third the string length to hear the third harmonic

• Put your finger at quarter the string length to hear the fourth harmonic

• Put your finger at one-fifth the string length to hear the fifth harmonic

...etc...etc...

I've made for you a harmonics chart of easy-to-play harmonics. You can introduce some diversity into your playing by sometimes playing harmonics instead of just fretting a boring old note on the fretboard.

For example, look at the A-string in the chart below...

Now, from the chart we can see that if we play a harmonic at the 7th fret of this A string, then we'll get an E sound!