Mike here again from KillerGuitarTips.com
For this week's tip we have a series of three on harmonics.
Harmonics occur over the 5th, 7th and 12th fret and are a natural phenomenon of your instrument.
Harmonics are played by gently touching the string over the fret without depressing it. We'll use the 12th fret in this example. you DON'T fret the string, just touch it gently and directly over the fret and pluck the string.
You should hear the harmonic note once you pluck the string. If a dull muted sound rings out then you need to move your finger towards the fret while plucking the string and once you hear the clear ringing harmonic sound you have found the spot.
Now practice this over all the strings at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.
You really do need this killer technique and is a 'must know' for any guitarist and should be part of their bag of tricks.
Check out the middle section in U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Give it a whirl.
Now that you have had chance to practice harmonics I would like to show you how to tune your guitar using this technique.
Using harmonics is the most accurate way to manually tune up your guitar. Let's have a look...
By using the 5th fret on the 6th string you will get exactly the same pitch harmonics as by using the 7th fret on the 5th string.
The two harmonics when played together will produce wavering sound if the strings aren't in tune with each other. If for example you tune the 5th staring and this wavering sound speeds up then this means the string is going further out of tune. If the sound slows down then this means it's coming into tune. Keep tuning until the wavering has stopped, when stopped it means the two strings are in tune with each other. If you tune too far then the wavering sound will speed up again!
Repeat this method on strings 5 & 4 and 4 & 3.
To tune the 2nd string we have to be a little innovative as this string is tuned 4 frets higher than the 3rd whereas the others are tuned 5 frets higher so this technique has to be adapted here. Play the harmonic on the 3rd string at the 12th fret (the note is G) then FRET the 8th fret on the 2nd string (the note is G of course!) now use your strumming hand to turn the tuning peg and tune the string!
Back to normal now, tune the 1st string 7th fret harmonic to the 2nd string 5th fret harmonic.
When using this technique to tune your guitar it is best to have your distortion turned on as it really makes the wavering sound ring out.
As stated earlier this is a great way to tune your guitar and much more accurate than the normal and tuning method.
Moving along to the last in ghis series of three on harmonics. We will have a look at what's known as pinched harmonics or also known as false or artificial harmonics.
To produce this type of harmonic we have to touch the string ever so slightly with the side of the thumb straight after plucking it. To get the best effect turn your distortion/overdrive on and will sound like a screech. Here is how we do it: Move your picking hand up and down the string whilst picking constantly to find where the different harmonic notes are found.
Listen to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top he's a master of this technique.
Above all - remember, practice equals progress!
For this week's tip we have a series of three on harmonics.
Harmonics occur over the 5th, 7th and 12th fret and are a natural phenomenon of your instrument.
Harmonics are played by gently touching the string over the fret without depressing it. We'll use the 12th fret in this example. you DON'T fret the string, just touch it gently and directly over the fret and pluck the string.
You should hear the harmonic note once you pluck the string. If a dull muted sound rings out then you need to move your finger towards the fret while plucking the string and once you hear the clear ringing harmonic sound you have found the spot.
Now practice this over all the strings at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.
You really do need this killer technique and is a 'must know' for any guitarist and should be part of their bag of tricks.
Check out the middle section in U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Give it a whirl.
Now that you have had chance to practice harmonics I would like to show you how to tune your guitar using this technique.
Using harmonics is the most accurate way to manually tune up your guitar. Let's have a look...
By using the 5th fret on the 6th string you will get exactly the same pitch harmonics as by using the 7th fret on the 5th string.
The two harmonics when played together will produce wavering sound if the strings aren't in tune with each other. If for example you tune the 5th staring and this wavering sound speeds up then this means the string is going further out of tune. If the sound slows down then this means it's coming into tune. Keep tuning until the wavering has stopped, when stopped it means the two strings are in tune with each other. If you tune too far then the wavering sound will speed up again!
Repeat this method on strings 5 & 4 and 4 & 3.
To tune the 2nd string we have to be a little innovative as this string is tuned 4 frets higher than the 3rd whereas the others are tuned 5 frets higher so this technique has to be adapted here. Play the harmonic on the 3rd string at the 12th fret (the note is G) then FRET the 8th fret on the 2nd string (the note is G of course!) now use your strumming hand to turn the tuning peg and tune the string!
Back to normal now, tune the 1st string 7th fret harmonic to the 2nd string 5th fret harmonic.
When using this technique to tune your guitar it is best to have your distortion turned on as it really makes the wavering sound ring out.
As stated earlier this is a great way to tune your guitar and much more accurate than the normal and tuning method.
Moving along to the last in ghis series of three on harmonics. We will have a look at what's known as pinched harmonics or also known as false or artificial harmonics.
To produce this type of harmonic we have to touch the string ever so slightly with the side of the thumb straight after plucking it. To get the best effect turn your distortion/overdrive on and will sound like a screech. Here is how we do it: Move your picking hand up and down the string whilst picking constantly to find where the different harmonic notes are found.
Listen to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top he's a master of this technique.
Above all - remember, practice equals progress!
About the Author:
About The Author: Mike Jones is a Professional Guitar teacher. Offering Guitar Lessons geared to bringing the beginner through to an accomplished player in the shortest possible time, using unique speed learning techniques engineered over twenty years of teaching and playing guitar as a professional. To get more information about Mike's teaching methods and receive FREE tips and tricks each week visit his website at: Guitar Lessons
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