Pentatonic Scale      Harmonics         Chord Building          Warm-ups      Licks

The definition of harmonics are a bit difficult for me to explain. Most guitarists know what a harmonic is

even if you've never played one on the guitar or even heard that word before. Have you ever listened to a song

and the guitar just made this beautiful high-pitched sound out of no where. Whether you listen to rock, pop,

country, classical or whatever you'll agree that this can really bring a certain feeling to a song. Well get ready

to start playing harmonics!

There are two types of harmonics: Natural and Artificial.

Natural Harmonics are made by lightly touching your finger to a string and plucking.

 It is best if you go ahead and remove your finger as you pluck. This let's the harmonics

ring better because you are taking away the "fundamental" or main note and just letting the

natural harmonic ring out. Some good places that seem to work the best are the 12th, 7th, and

5th frets. Also it is important to note that a harmonic is not always the same note that is fretted.

At the 12th fret they will be the same note, a good way to adjust your "intonation".

At the 7th fret the harmonic is one octave higher.

At the 5th fret the harmonic is the fifth of the fretted note and two whole octaves higher.

Artificial Harmonics are harmonics created when a note is fully fretted.  Artificial harmonics tend to

be easiest when played with distortion, although with enough practice sound great clean.

Fret a note like you would any other time and with a finger from your right hand graze the string. using

a pick may be the easiest for the non-experienced. If you use a pick position it so that a little of your thumb hangs

 down below the pick. This will allow you to pick the note regularly and after coming down with the initial pick

 stroke, graze the string with your thumb. Boom! you have a harmonic. On Electric guitars you might want to find

what I call the "sweet" spot. Usually it is just behind the Pickup closest to the fret board. Experiment to find

your guitars sweet spot or spots.

if you can't do it right off the bat don't feel bad. Most people can't. Just keep Practicing and you'll have it in no

time!

Listen to Artificial Harmonic - PLAY  (With Distortion)    PLAY (Clean)

Listen to Natural Harmonic - PLAY (With Distortion)    PLAY (Clean)

Listen to a very simple solo with artificial harmonics - PLAY

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