Music and science have always had a strong relationship, and you can easily understand it with the help of harmonics. A harmonic in physics is a sound wave whose frequency is the integer multiple of the fundamental tone.
In music, harmonics are amplified overtones. Imagine you are plucking the acoustic guitar strings ; they vibrate at their main frequency and create the base tone you hear. At the same time, the string also vibrates in smaller sections; these vibrations are echoes of the main tone, also known as guitar harmonics or simply harmonics.
Guitar harmonics are highly appreciated for their unique sounds and for adding a rich flavour to the music. Please keep reading to learn more about this interesting music technique and how to practice it.
To explore sound production in harmonics, we will first understand how they differ from regular sounds.
If you take a guitar and start playing the second string at the 12th fret, the entire string will vibrate at its fundamental frequency. However, you will hear multiple pitches, which means that you are playing B5 and producing multiple overtones. These overtones contribute to the overall sound of the note.
Guitar harmonics occur at the integral multiples of the fundamental frequency, which is the loudest pitch. For example, if the base frequency is 100 Hz, the first harmonic will be at 200 Hz, 300 Hz, 400 Hz, and so on. This creates a unique blend of ethereal sounds such as wind-chime, bells, and sometimes raindrops.
Playing harmonics is all about consistent practice with different techniques. There are two famous methods of harmonics: natural harmonics (left-handed harmonics) and artificial harmonics.
Natural harmonics, also known as the left-hand technique, is a way of playing harmonics by resting your finger above the fret wire on the specific fret you are trying to play. To practice this, try the following method:
· Fret the string: Place your fretting hand or left hand lightly on a guitar string. An easy place to start is the third string at the twelfth fret, which divides the note into two halves. This will generate a harmonic with the same pitch and notes as the opening strings underneath it.
· Pluck the String: Lightly touching the string above the twelfth fret, strike the string normally with your picking hand.
· Release the string: Quickly lift your fretting hand and let the string ring. Doing this alters the string length and generates natural harmonics.
Artificial harmonics are more advanced techniques of playing harmonics. Once you have learned natural harmonics, you can continue to practice in different ways, such as:
· Tap Harmonics: Famous for Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Eruption,’ this technique combines tapping with harmonics. Use your index finger to tap the fret 12 frets higher than your fretted note. Producing a high-pitched, bell-like sound.
· Pinch Harmonics is a technique of guitar harmonics that produces an ethereal, bell-like sound. You can do this by picking a fretted note with a flicking motion so that your guitar strikes the note, but the flesh of your thumb mutes the vibration. This is used to create unique sound effects.
· Harp Harmonics: For generating harp harmonics, place your index finger lightly above the fret wire 12 frets higher than the base note. This divides the string into half and creates a 12th fret style harmonic.
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Music lovers have always been fascinated with guitar harmonics. This shimmery, ethereal, and unique blend of notes has been practised for decades by stars like Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, and many others. Alice has been producing some of the finest guitar strings and musical accessories to help musicians create the finest melodies of all time. With their highly professional Research and Development, every single string is developed with utmost care and perfection.
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