How to Play Harmonics on Guitar

A harmonic is a bell-like sound created by lightly touching a guitar string over particular frets without actually fretting the string. When you can add harmonics to your playing, you add an entirely new range of tonic quality.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Start on the sixth string; place your finger exactly over the twelfth fret.
2. Touch the string lightly without pressing down all the way to the neck.
3. Pluck the string normally.
4. Release your finger after plucking. If done correctly, you should hear a bell-like tone.
5. Practice until you can create a clear sound. You may need to practice positioning your finger exactly over the fret, as well as finding the right amount of soft touch to use.
6. Create natural harmonics on any string at the twelth, seventh, fifth, and even third frets. However, the closer up the neck you go, the more accurate you have to be.

Tips & Warnings

• Harmonics are easiest to make on the lower strings. Harmonics on the high strings, particularly higher than the fifth fret, can be very difficult because they require a great degree of accuracy.
• Try plucking the string at different places as well, since certain parts of the string will not vibrate as well as others due to the way the strings vibrate to produce harmonics.
• When you are good at natural harmonics, move on to artificial, touch, tap or pinch harmonics.