Harmonics are the high – pitched, bell like sound produced by gently touching the strings over specific frets on the guitar. Natural harmonics are produced on the open strings of the guitar. There are other methods of doing harmonics and one of them is natural harmonics. There are artificial harmonics, pinch harmonics, tap harmonics and touch harmonics but today we’ll talk about natural harmonics.
Now how do you do a natural harmonic? You gently touch the string with your fingers and pluck it then remove your fingers quickly to let it resonate. It’s kinda difficult at first but you’ll get used to it. Try doing a natural harmonic on the open sixth string.
Actually, this is how I do relative tuning. I do an open harmonics on the 12th fret on the 6th string and compare it with note on the 7th fret on the 5th string and do the same with the other remaining strings. By doing so, I can assure accurate relativity with the tuning, all I have to do is get a basis for the 5th string or the A note and that’s it. Why don’t you try it see if it works on you. Sometimes, octaves are much clearer to listen to when I’m tuning so I tune this way.
