|
|
Guitar Lessons For Beginners - How To Play Harmonics
Mike here again from KillerGuitarTips.com
This week let's have a look at a series of three on harmonics.
Harmonics on the guitar are a natural phenomenon. They occur over the 5th, 7th and 12th fret.
To play a harmonic all you have to do is gently touch the string over the fret - we'll use the 12th fret for this example - you DO NOT fret the string just touch it 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.
Try this over all the strings at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.
Harmonics are a 'must know' killer technique that every guitarist must have in there armoury of tricks.
If you would like to look at a good example of harmonics, take a look at the middle section of U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Practice it until you have mastered it.
Now that you have had chance to practice harmonics I would like to show you how to tune your guitar using this technique.
This is a very easy and accurate way to tune your guitar. Following on from last weeks tip...
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.
When you play the two harmonics together you will hear a wavering sound if the strings aren't in tune with each other. Tune one of the strings - lets say the 5th if the wavering 'speeds up' the string is going further out of tune!! If it 'slows down' its coming into tune - keep tuning until the wavering has stopped. The two strings are then in tune with each other. If you tune too far the wavering will start to speed up again!!
Repeat 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.
Try this tuning technique with distortion on as this really makes the wavering sound stand out.
This is a great way to tune your guitar and is a much more accurate method than the conventional manual tuning method.
Ok for the last in this series of three on harmonics, let's now have a look at pinched harmonics also known as false harmonics or artificial harmonics!!
To create this type of harmonic we need to touch the string very slightly with the side of the thumb immediately after you have plucked it. To get the best effect you need to have your distortion/overdrive turned on and sounds 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.
If you would like to see an absolute master of this technique, you need to listen to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top'
Above all - remember, practice equals progress!
About the Author About The Author: Mike Jones is a Pro Guitar Tutor. 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 Pro. To find out more about Mike's teaching methods and receive FREE tips and tricks each week visit his website at: Guitar Lessons
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 32 | |
|
| More Articles from Music | | |
| Top Articles in Music | | |
|
