TE-010 • How Harmonics Work

[justinguitar]

Questions...

[shuthehellup]

hey!um yeah ive kinda got it but for some reason i can only start doing harmonics on the 7th fret.i tried to do harmonics on the 5th fret but there was nothing hapning! little help please!

thax!

[richard91]

hi 'shutthehellup',

The harmonic on the 5th fret will be quite quiet, ensure the finger is only touching the string and try the harmonic just above the fret (just above the metal bit) 

[Markus]

Have you also tried the Harmonics on the 12th fret its the best.
M

[albertkiaba]

  i am finding this hard whenever i even touch lightly on the string i mute it got any tips that might help

[shuthehellup]

albertkiaba...

ive got it now...whoo...you have to put your finger over the actual fret itself and then pick....it should then work even if your still touching the string

[albertkiaba]

FANKS ^_^

[Rock_N_Roll_Star]

Hey I was wondering if someone can help me with tuning my guitar via harmonics as my amp has a tuning fork but I have no idea how to use it?

[Orion]

Hey I was wondering if someone can help me with tuning my guitar via harmonics as my amp has a tuning fork but I have no idea how to use it?

Check justin's lesson index. There's a whole lesson devoted to tuning with harmonics...

[jrockfever]

Okay well I get the concept.. and I get how if you do a natural harmonic on the 12th fret the sound would be divided but how would this apply for 7 and 5. How does doing natural harmonics at the 7th fret split it three ways and doing it at the 5th fret split it four ways?

[Tourniquet]

Okay well I get the concept.. and I get how if you do a natural harmonic on the 12th fret the sound would be divided but how would this apply for 7 and 5. How does doing natural harmonics at the 7th fret split it three ways and doing it at the 5th fret split it four ways?

Get a tape measure
Measure the string as it exits the nut to the point of contact on the saddle
(on my red special it happens to be 610mm, this varies by manufacturer, I'm just using mine as an example)
Divide the original number by 2 (305mm) from the nut or bridge you will find the 12th fret
Divide the original number by 3 (203.3mm) from the nut you will find the 7th fret (19th fret measured from the bridge) same harmonic
Divide the original number by 4 (152.5mm) from the nut you will find the 5th fret (24th fret measured from the bridge) same harmonic

Harmonic nodes exist as whole divisions of the strings length (the strings length and position of the frets is dictated by the scale length used by the manufacturer).

[guitar123ev]

I stilldon't really get it. It would be more helpful if you did a video on it. Thank you

[guitar123ev]

I still don't get it. It would be really helpful if you did a video on it. thank you.

[close2u]

you don't need to get it ... just relax about it ... concentrate on the basics and this harmonics stuff can wait

 

[Tourniquet]

My video equipment is rather lacking so I doubt it would add much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S7-PDF6Vzc&NR=1
Look at the above video, It is a lab demonstration of standing waves. A standing wave is essentially the same thing as a harmonic except that a harmonic deals only with audio waves.
The pictures at the beginning describe
one loop: fundamental
two loop: 12th fret harmonic
three loop: 7th fret harmonic

the video also shows movement for the two loop directly after the pictures and for the three loop about 3 minutes in.

see those points where the string isn't moving, that's why it's called a standing wave, it's also the location of the harmonic node.
When you pick a string you get not only the fundamental but a whole host of harmonics giving the string a rich sound (pick the string above the 12th fret and you'll hear what the fundamental sounds like).
By lightly touching the string exactly where that node is you kill the fundamental and all the other harmonics. the remaining harmonic survives because you aren't interfering with it.