Hitting more harmonics?

[Cecil6243]

I'm only able to produce a few harmonics in a few locations on my guitar unlike some performers. Is it my lack of skill or the adjustment of my guitar? Or both?

[rick-slo]

Assume you mean natural harmonics (mainly on open string at frets 12, 9, 7, 5, 4 and perhaps 3+) (there are other locations possible).

Try picking closer to the bridge.

Playing artificial harmonics is more involved. Plenty on the internet (youtube for example) you could check out.

[perttime]

What harmonics are you getting?
That might help with pointing ways to some more.

If you are fretting a string, there's definitely a harmonic 12 frets up from that.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

I'm only able to produce a few harmonics in a few locations on my guitar unlike some performers. Is it my lack of skill or the adjustment of my guitar? Or both?

Hi Cecil

I have one guitar which forces me to be more precise when playing harmonics on frets 7, 5, & 3-ish.

I sometimes resort to using my pinky which has a smaller area of contact with the string. There is nothing 'magic' about harmonics - just math in motion!

I also do a thumb-n-first-finger sidewise 'pinch' (with the fretting hand) on strings while doing fretted harmonics. I'm actually touching the string using the thumb and the pinch activates the string. The thumb hits the harmonic 'spot'.

I've seen folks reverse that and 'touch' the harmonic point from above with the first finger, and reach around and pluck the thumb behind the finger to pluck the string.

Fun experiments.

[perttime]

Just for fun, I sometimes get chords with harmonics. Just slapping (or chopping) the strings with the side of the thumb, 12 frets up from open strings or, for example, "A-shape" fretted chord gets me that.

[Al Acuff]

[Gordon Currie]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

I'm only able to produce a few harmonics in a few locations on my guitar unlike some performers. Is it my lack of skill or the adjustment of my guitar? Or both?

It's more of a developed skill.

There are 3 locations for natural harmonics, in descending order of volume:

12 fret
7th fret
5th fret

There are a few other locations that can produce a note, but the pitch is too far from equal temperament, so they aren't highly useful.

Maybe if you told us how you are doing it now, we could suggest ways to improve.

[Cecil6243]

Sorry for taking so long to get back. I use a technique I learned as in touching the string at the fret and quickly fingering or picking the string. This works quite well on the 12th fret but not so much anywhere else.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

Sorry for taking so long to get back. I use a technique I learned as in touching the string at the fret and quickly fingering or picking the string. This works quite well on the 12th fret but not so much anywhere else.

I've never had a guitar that didn't give me a harmonic at 5th and 7th fret, too. Or 12 frets up from any fretted note. It does take some precision to get the gentle touch placed just right, over the fret wire. And timing to remove the touching finger as soon as you pick the string. If the finger stays there too long, it will mute the harmonic.

[NormanKliman]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

...touching the string at the fret...

Are you touching the strings directly over the frets? Harmonics are not like normal playing, where your fingers press the strings behind the frets.

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by NormanKliman

Are you touching the strings directly over the frets? Harmonics are not like normal playing, where your fingers press the strings behind the frets.

Yes over the fret.

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by perttime

I've never had a guitar that didn't give me a harmonic at 5th and 7th fret, too. Or 12 frets up from any fretted note. It does take some precision to get the gentle touch placed just right, over the fret wire. And timing to remove the touching finger as soon as you pick the string. If the finger stays there too long, it will mute the harmonic.

Well I guess I'll have to work on it then.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

Well I guess I'll have to work on it then.

Some guitars or strings could be more stubborn? What kind of strings do you have and what guitar? Can you try some other guitar? It is pretty much a law of physics that the harmonics are there. The finger that touches the string basically removes some frequencies from the complex string vibration, so what remains is that very pure note.

Touching the string to get the harmonic only needs to be a gentle touch. No pressing or pushing the string: just barely touching it briefly at the right moment.

(Pinch harmonics, as mainly used by electric players, is a pretty different animal. There, it is usually the thumb that holds a pick, touching the string, and somehow pretty forceful touching works)

[rick-slo]

Reminder - pick string closer to the bridge and you will get a stronger harmonic, especially on the non 12th fret ones.

[NormanKliman]

And take your left hand (if you're right-handed) off the string as soon as you pluck it. Without seeing what you're doing, we're kind of playing detective here.