How Harmonics Work on Guitar (WARNING: contains science!)
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- Опубликовано: 13 янв 2025
- ClassicalGuita... Discover how harmonics work on guitar, and what makes them sound as they do.
For tips on playing harmonics, go to www.classicalg...
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The string is not vibrating on both sides, this might be confusing. The string is actually vibrating at twice the frequency as it would vibrate when you're not holding any finger on the string. That's why you get a different harmonic on the same string on each fret
Wouldn't that just result in the note being an octave up?
But it is though isn’t it? I just played 12th fret harmonic and then I touched the string to the left of where i was fretting and it muted it completely, so the whole string vibrates.
This is *almost* accurate... the main correction is that strings *always* vibrate at the fundamental frequency but *also* at the 2nd, 3rd, etc... harmonic frequencies. It's not that you make it vibrate on each harmonic depending on which fret you hover your finger over. The 3rd harmonic i.e. the 5th is one of the strongest sounding harmonics in many instruments which is why it is often ok to leave out the 5th in basic triads or 7th chords, because it's frequency (albeit 1 octave higher than the root) is already very strongly present in the sound of the root note.
Great explanation! Truly gave me one of those "Aha" light bulb moments. It has always been a cool technique I used because it is cool but I'm really a "WHY" person just not only "HOW" and your video is a nice straight forward quick explanation that works. Thanks again!
This is very helpful, thanks. I always wondered what was going on.
Exactly what I was looking for, thank you 🙏
So,
Is the sound more like an E open string minus all the frequencies below those of the string division OR does it sound like the string plucked at that particular fret ?
What explains the softer more open sound of a harmonic ?
Great video!
But how exactly does that splitting happen? And what is the difference with holding the string down on the fretboard?
Is the string really vibrating in 2, 3, 4 etc... sections independently? How does that happen physically when you are only pressing down on one point when you up in the harmonic series?
It’s just physics, every action has an equal and opposite re-action
I have been looking for something like this for a while.
Is the same happening on a saxophone reed?
and now I understand how harmonics works, thank you Allen (:
Thanks for watching, Udit!
Cheers,
Allen
Sounds like a pretty good explanation .All I could think of was Steve Howe
You can actually compare this idea in quantum mechanics, with different values of n for the wave equations and get different solutions to equation.
Neat, thanks
Finally harmonics makes sence!
Now I know something new about the guitar but also now I have my science homework done
I'm diggin' those good vibrations! Thanks!
Alan can you recommend any composed pieces that make use of harmonics, more than just a few notes? I once heard Tal Farlow do this, but it sounded like he was improvising, being a jazz payer.
hi Lynne, The ending of Villa-Lobos Etude 1 has a nice harmonic section. It's sort of a tough piece overall though. The Scarborough Fair arrangement in the Christopher Parkening Method book 2 is very nice and has a harmonic outro. Harmonics are generally used sparingly, as an accent. I hope that helps.
Thanks. I guess an outro is the opposite of an intro? That's a new one on me. I will check out those pieces.
Does a good sounding harmonics varies from a guitar when i do harmonics it sounds bad in my guitar
your finger placement probably isn't correct
Is there a harmonic on the first fret, next to the nut? If so, why? Thank you
Hey abejacgot, there may well be one there, but it would be so high we may not be able to hear it (human ears), and your finger placement would have to be very precise. So yes, in a lab, you could get a harmonic on the first fret. But in practical terms, not really.
Cheers,
Allen
Thank you
I owe you money for this great lesson. I will pay you next time I see you.
finally, thank you. you explained it beautifully !
Thanks, Terri!
Cheers,
Allen