Will Kirk
06-01-2009, 01:23 PM
I get many requests here in my hometown to teach people how to play the fabled "Harp" or "False" harmonics that have been made famous in recent years by artists like Tommy Emmanuel and Doyle Dykes.
Well I'd like to start with a little history on the technique. According to my research one of the earliest users of this technique was none other than Chet Atkins. Chet had written a piece that used the technique almost exclusively, the piece was entitled Country Champagne. Although I'm hard pressed to find a recording of it, I used to have it on an old vinyl that my dad had at one point, until it got wet and ruined.
The concept is quite simple, take full advantage of the Guitar's natural harmonics capabilities and tone.
This lesson is intended for those who already grasp the concept of basic harmonics, the most common natural harmonics are at the 12th fret, 7th fret, and 5th fret. The intervals for these harmonics are an Octave above (12th) an octave and a 5th (7th) and two octaves (5th).
To play these basic natural harmonics, you simply lay your finger directly over the fret and pluck the desired string. Most commonly this is done with the left hand finger positioned directly over the fret, and the right hand simply plucks the string.
For this technique we are going to eliminate the left hand in making the harmonic and replace the left hand finger with the right hand index finger. Step one is to place the right hand index finger right over the 12th fret as shown.
http://i42.tinypic.com/ht7bxj.jpg
The next step is to place the third finger, which does the job of plucking the string, behind the index finger. You cannot use your middle finger as it will not have enough space to move to pluck the string sufficiently. I have pulled my middle finger back so that you can see how to position the ring finger behind the index.
http://i39.tinypic.com/1175sac.jpg
Here is what your right should look like when using this technique (sorry for the blurriness of this one)
http://i39.tinypic.com/rhtyyc.jpg
Now that you have the position down, the next step is to practice plucking all the strings at the 12th fret harmonic in succession with each other. Using the third finger to make the harmonic sound and the index finger to make the harmonic on all the strings.
There are two ways to play artificial harmonics. The first being the Index and ring finger technique just discussed. And the other is to simply replace the ring finger with the thumb.
First place the index finger in the same position as before.
http://i39.tinypic.com/15p3a53.jpg
But instead of positioning the ring finger behind the index, place the thumb behind the index in the same manner as the ring finger.
http://i40.tinypic.com/afd8h5.jpg
Practice the technique the same way as before, but simply replacing the ring finger with the thumb.
Now that you have both ways down, this is where we put the two together and begin to achieve the "waterfall" sound that is so amazing.
First, position the index finger and thumb as shown before
http://i40.tinypic.com/afd8h5.jpg
however, instead of only playing the harmonics, we're going to add one open note inbetween each open note. The first finger that plays is the third finger, your hand should looks something like this (hopefully you can read the text I put in the photos)
The ring finger plucks the open string that is 2 strings higher than the low E, so in this case it would be the D string.
http://i42.tinypic.com/1692jvl.jpg
Next, the harmonic is played by the thumb and index finger. Essentially this is a 3 finger only technique.
http://i44.tinypic.com/aahjzm.jpg
You repeat the Open/Harmonic/Open/Harmonic pattern going up, however going down you simply reverse the pattern Harmonic/Open/Harmonic/Open. Remember to always skip every other string.
That as best as I can describe in text. The best way to really master this technique I've found is to simply write a piece or apply it to a piece you already know or have written.
For hopefully a better understanding of the technique here is a video demonstrating the technique, I recorded it quite a while ago but it gives you an idea of what you want the technique to sound like and some ways it can be applied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZYp1v9xCE
Hope you find this lesson informative and helpful :)
Well I'd like to start with a little history on the technique. According to my research one of the earliest users of this technique was none other than Chet Atkins. Chet had written a piece that used the technique almost exclusively, the piece was entitled Country Champagne. Although I'm hard pressed to find a recording of it, I used to have it on an old vinyl that my dad had at one point, until it got wet and ruined.
The concept is quite simple, take full advantage of the Guitar's natural harmonics capabilities and tone.
This lesson is intended for those who already grasp the concept of basic harmonics, the most common natural harmonics are at the 12th fret, 7th fret, and 5th fret. The intervals for these harmonics are an Octave above (12th) an octave and a 5th (7th) and two octaves (5th).
To play these basic natural harmonics, you simply lay your finger directly over the fret and pluck the desired string. Most commonly this is done with the left hand finger positioned directly over the fret, and the right hand simply plucks the string.
For this technique we are going to eliminate the left hand in making the harmonic and replace the left hand finger with the right hand index finger. Step one is to place the right hand index finger right over the 12th fret as shown.
http://i42.tinypic.com/ht7bxj.jpg
The next step is to place the third finger, which does the job of plucking the string, behind the index finger. You cannot use your middle finger as it will not have enough space to move to pluck the string sufficiently. I have pulled my middle finger back so that you can see how to position the ring finger behind the index.
http://i39.tinypic.com/1175sac.jpg
Here is what your right should look like when using this technique (sorry for the blurriness of this one)
http://i39.tinypic.com/rhtyyc.jpg
Now that you have the position down, the next step is to practice plucking all the strings at the 12th fret harmonic in succession with each other. Using the third finger to make the harmonic sound and the index finger to make the harmonic on all the strings.
There are two ways to play artificial harmonics. The first being the Index and ring finger technique just discussed. And the other is to simply replace the ring finger with the thumb.
First place the index finger in the same position as before.
http://i39.tinypic.com/15p3a53.jpg
But instead of positioning the ring finger behind the index, place the thumb behind the index in the same manner as the ring finger.
http://i40.tinypic.com/afd8h5.jpg
Practice the technique the same way as before, but simply replacing the ring finger with the thumb.
Now that you have both ways down, this is where we put the two together and begin to achieve the "waterfall" sound that is so amazing.
First, position the index finger and thumb as shown before
http://i40.tinypic.com/afd8h5.jpg
however, instead of only playing the harmonics, we're going to add one open note inbetween each open note. The first finger that plays is the third finger, your hand should looks something like this (hopefully you can read the text I put in the photos)
The ring finger plucks the open string that is 2 strings higher than the low E, so in this case it would be the D string.
http://i42.tinypic.com/1692jvl.jpg
Next, the harmonic is played by the thumb and index finger. Essentially this is a 3 finger only technique.
http://i44.tinypic.com/aahjzm.jpg
You repeat the Open/Harmonic/Open/Harmonic pattern going up, however going down you simply reverse the pattern Harmonic/Open/Harmonic/Open. Remember to always skip every other string.
That as best as I can describe in text. The best way to really master this technique I've found is to simply write a piece or apply it to a piece you already know or have written.
For hopefully a better understanding of the technique here is a video demonstrating the technique, I recorded it quite a while ago but it gives you an idea of what you want the technique to sound like and some ways it can be applied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZYp1v9xCE
Hope you find this lesson informative and helpful :)