What's the difference between artificial and natural harmonics?
I have heard a lot about natural harmonics, what are they, what's the difference to artificial ones?
electric-guitar harmonics
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Milo_666Milo_666
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I have heard a lot about natural harmonics, what are they, what's the difference to artificial ones?
electric-guitar harmonics
asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
New contributor
Milo_666 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I have heard a lot about natural harmonics, what are they, what's the difference to artificial ones?
electric-guitar harmonics
asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
New contributor
Milo_666 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I have heard a lot about natural harmonics, what are they, what's the difference to artificial ones?
electric-guitar harmonics
electric-guitar harmonics
asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
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Milo_666 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
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asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
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asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
asked 2 hours ago
Milo_666Milo_666
133
133
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Milo_666 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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Natural harmonics, on guitar in particular, are those found using open strings. The most used ones are those on 12th fret, 7th fret and 5th fret - or the same places nearer the pups - as in 1/2 the open string, 1/3 and 1/4 of it.
Artificial harmonics are those found using fretted notes. A straightforward example would be when one frets the 1st fret on, say, the top string. That's an F. The first artificial harmonic of that will be touching over the 13th fret, to give an octave F. Then touching over 8th fret will give the second harmonic of C, and touching over the 6th fret will give another F, an octave higher. That's artificial harmonics.
With some practice, the touching can be done with a digit from the picking hand - the other is busy lower down - and is getting very close to pinched harmonics - probably the next stage.
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The only difference between the two is:
- Natural harmonics are played on an open string.
- Artificial harmonics are the same, but they can be on any fret (you'll need to use your right hand to touch the string AND to pluck while the left hand frets the note).
The two names describe the same sound; the label only actually differs to signify the change in technique.
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Natural harmonics, on guitar in particular, are those found using open strings. The most used ones are those on 12th fret, 7th fret and 5th fret - or the same places nearer the pups - as in 1/2 the open string, 1/3 and 1/4 of it.
Artificial harmonics are those found using fretted notes. A straightforward example would be when one frets the 1st fret on, say, the top string. That's an F. The first artificial harmonic of that will be touching over the 13th fret, to give an octave F. Then touching over 8th fret will give the second harmonic of C, and touching over the 6th fret will give another F, an octave higher. That's artificial harmonics.
With some practice, the touching can be done with a digit from the picking hand - the other is busy lower down - and is getting very close to pinched harmonics - probably the next stage.
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Natural harmonics, on guitar in particular, are those found using open strings. The most used ones are those on 12th fret, 7th fret and 5th fret - or the same places nearer the pups - as in 1/2 the open string, 1/3 and 1/4 of it.
Artificial harmonics are those found using fretted notes. A straightforward example would be when one frets the 1st fret on, say, the top string. That's an F. The first artificial harmonic of that will be touching over the 13th fret, to give an octave F. Then touching over 8th fret will give the second harmonic of C, and touching over the 6th fret will give another F, an octave higher. That's artificial harmonics.
With some practice, the touching can be done with a digit from the picking hand - the other is busy lower down - and is getting very close to pinched harmonics - probably the next stage.
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Natural harmonics, on guitar in particular, are those found using open strings. The most used ones are those on 12th fret, 7th fret and 5th fret - or the same places nearer the pups - as in 1/2 the open string, 1/3 and 1/4 of it.
Artificial harmonics are those found using fretted notes. A straightforward example would be when one frets the 1st fret on, say, the top string. That's an F. The first artificial harmonic of that will be touching over the 13th fret, to give an octave F. Then touching over 8th fret will give the second harmonic of C, and touching over the 6th fret will give another F, an octave higher. That's artificial harmonics.
With some practice, the touching can be done with a digit from the picking hand - the other is busy lower down - and is getting very close to pinched harmonics - probably the next stage.
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
Natural harmonics, on guitar in particular, are those found using open strings. The most used ones are those on 12th fret, 7th fret and 5th fret - or the same places nearer the pups - as in 1/2 the open string, 1/3 and 1/4 of it.
Artificial harmonics are those found using fretted notes. A straightforward example would be when one frets the 1st fret on, say, the top string. That's an F. The first artificial harmonic of that will be touching over the 13th fret, to give an octave F. Then touching over 8th fret will give the second harmonic of C, and touching over the 6th fret will give another F, an octave higher. That's artificial harmonics.
With some practice, the touching can be done with a digit from the picking hand - the other is busy lower down - and is getting very close to pinched harmonics - probably the next stage.
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
answered 2 hours ago
TimTim
96.8k1099246
96.8k1099246
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
1
1
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Natural and artificial harmonics are also played on orchestral string instruments in the same way, except the word "fingered" is used instead of "fretted" (since they don't have frets), and unlike on guitar, artificial harmonics involve only using the left hand (fingering hand) to both finger the note and touch the harmonic node, while on guitar it's picking hand that usually touches the node.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
Way too early to choose this as the preferred answer. Others will follow. Having said that, I've often said I could do a term's lessons purely on harmonics - they're fascinating and numerous.
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
@ToddWilcox - interesting points. On violin and niola it's not too bad holding string and touching node with same hand. Cello not quite so. Although it can't be easy bowing and touching a node with the same hand..! I tend to play all harmonics, natural and artificial, one-handed. (On guitar or bass).
– Tim
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
My understanding on cello is that only the higher-order artificial harmonics are played, and perhaps none are played on bass. I've seen artificial harmonics played on cello before.Here's an entire blog post about them: moderncellotechniques.com/left-hand-techniques/harmonics/… This column seems to be about bass artificial harmonics, but the examples are notated with a treble clef so I'm confused: notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/08/artificial-harmonics-the-basics
– Todd Wilcox
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
@Tim we usually play the fourth harmonic on cello, i.e. two octaves up. This can be done quite easily in thumb position, i.e. the thumb fingers the note and the ring finger lays the flageolett five “frets” higher (which is its normal extend in thumb position, so well-practiced).
– leftaroundabout
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The only difference between the two is:
- Natural harmonics are played on an open string.
- Artificial harmonics are the same, but they can be on any fret (you'll need to use your right hand to touch the string AND to pluck while the left hand frets the note).
The two names describe the same sound; the label only actually differs to signify the change in technique.
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The only difference between the two is:
- Natural harmonics are played on an open string.
- Artificial harmonics are the same, but they can be on any fret (you'll need to use your right hand to touch the string AND to pluck while the left hand frets the note).
The two names describe the same sound; the label only actually differs to signify the change in technique.
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The only difference between the two is:
- Natural harmonics are played on an open string.
- Artificial harmonics are the same, but they can be on any fret (you'll need to use your right hand to touch the string AND to pluck while the left hand frets the note).
The two names describe the same sound; the label only actually differs to signify the change in technique.
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
The only difference between the two is:
- Natural harmonics are played on an open string.
- Artificial harmonics are the same, but they can be on any fret (you'll need to use your right hand to touch the string AND to pluck while the left hand frets the note).
The two names describe the same sound; the label only actually differs to signify the change in technique.
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
edited 1 hour ago
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
answered 2 hours ago
user45266user45266
2,235327
2,235327
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
I don't even know what I was thinking... Thanks @Tim.
– user45266
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
Maturity......?
– Tim
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
My thoughts exactly. Good thing we're here to correct each others mistakes :)
– user45266
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Milo_666 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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