Getting the Most Out of Harmonics

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 6 Mar 2008 4:17 pm

Can you share any tips and techniques for getting the most volume and sustain from harmonics? I've been working on my harmonic technique (mostly using my little finger knuckle and the edge of my hand), and I'm more consistant than I use to be, but I'm not getting the volume and sustain I would like from harmonics, especially when hitting a harmonic and sliding the bar up the neck. I was just listing to Dicky Overbey on an Amber Digby record, and he gets some really great harmonic rides that have as much volume and sustain as regular notes. (Dicky Overbey is such an awesome player!). I know that volume pedal technique can boost the notes, but there must be something else going on that I'm missing.

Thank you,
Cliff

Ron Bryson · Post by **Ron Bryson** » 6 Mar 2008 4:42 pm

Repetition.

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 6 Mar 2008 4:55 pm

And lot's o' reserve in the volume pedal. I sat in on Dicky's steel once and it scared me when I hit the first note!

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 6 Mar 2008 5:23 pm

Dick Overby's steel makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What neat notes I hear in his work. Chord note combinations that just grab your consciousness, Beautiful stuff!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Mar 2008 5:27 pm

Harmonics aren't just one technique, they're the combination of many. Accuracy and touch at the harmonic point are equally important, as is how hard you pick (a proper attack), and good strings. Lastly, proper volume pedal technique and amp setting are important too. On non-slurred notes, you can increase sustain by using vibrato, (and sometimes) undampening the strings behind the bar.

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 6 Mar 2008 6:29 pm

I use my fingernail to do harmonics...it tends to make them ring better. There are many techniques and it takes a lot of practice.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 7 Mar 2008 4:08 am

Harmonics(for Me)are hit and miss.I get best results from using My palm and also the knuckle of My little finger.The most difficult thing for Me to do is find the harmonic spot with my right hand since I cannot actually see the fret marker.A lot of practice pays off and I get some really good chimes at home and some really good clicks

when I gig.
Best regards
Billy

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 7 Mar 2008 5:21 am

Harmonics(for Me)are hit and miss.

For me, mostly miss, but when I hit, it's a beautiful thing...

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 7 Mar 2008 6:04 am

Billy, try this, bar on the fret 7 chord of E ,now pick with thumb pick the string you want to chime on the 13 fret with your ring and little finger closed . 1 fret above the E with no pedals. this rule works with most notes. if your using the palm of your hand then pick at the 12 fret, you may need to adjust a little..

Nathan Golub · Post by **Nathan Golub** » 7 Mar 2008 9:18 am

For palm harmonics, it's easier for me to learn where my thumbpick hits the strings. For instance, if I want to get an octave harmonic from the fifth fret, I know my palm is over the correct fret if my thumb is picking at the 10th fret. Some positions require my thumb to be in-between frets, but it's quicker than trying to figure out where my palm is. This would vary depending on the size of your hand, of course.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 7 Mar 2008 6:17 pm

John,
Thanks for the tips.I tried to post earlier but the net was very slow.
I gigged tonight and am getting the spot a bit easier but my main problem is the adjustment You mentioned.It is very understandable that as the bar moves up and down the fretboard the "Pick"fret alters in that it does not remain constant,
ie., with the bar on the 3rd fret I get a really good chime by picking at the 9th fret and with the bar at the 12th fret I pick at the 15th fret.this is finding the "halfway mark of the string in relation to the bar placement.
My problem would seem to be in remembering the pick positions, with advancing age the brain cells begin to disappear and I have a hard enough job keeping an eye on the position of the feet,knees,hands and of course the pretty girls all around.
The world loves a tryer and I can be very trying according to Ann.
Thanks again
Billy

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 7 Mar 2008 8:34 pm

Billy, just keep working at it. It will come in time with a lot of time sitting on your A$$. One day you will wonder why you ever had a problem. Practice until you are tired of it,, then go practice some more.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Mar 2008 8:53 pm

fresh strings!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 7 Mar 2008 9:02 pm

I remember hearing a story about Buddy sitting back stage at the Opry for hours on end playing nonthing but harmonics. Guess that's how you do it!!!
JE:-)>

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 7 Mar 2008 9:33 pm

Nathan Golub wrote:...it's easier for me to learn where my thumbpick hits the strings...

Yeah Nathan. Although I'm just getting a handle on chiming with thumb pick and ring finger tip, I recently discovered the idea of learning where to put my thumb in relation to the string touch. As long as a person always stretches his hand the same distance, and takes into account the different fret distances up and down the neck, all you've got to do is learn where to put your thumb to make it work. I can't see my ring finger when in position.

Would like to learn 2 strings at once using palm. That's tough.

Gabriel Stutz · Post by **Gabriel Stutz** » 10 Mar 2008 10:06 am

The best thing that ever happened to me in regard to learning harmonics is when our band started playing Sleepwalk on the bandstand. That opening harmonic is so loaded that I had to get it right. Once that happened I got a lot more consistent - at least on my octave harmonics. A little pressure made me better, but it wasn't that I practiced harmonics more - my subconscious just seems to have not wanted to embarass itself..?

Gabriel

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 10 Mar 2008 1:31 pm

Thanks for the tips, guys. Lots of good advice and helpful ideas!

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 10 Mar 2008 6:02 pm

Jim Cohen wrote:fresh strings!

What Jim said. When the harmonics become difficult to do and sustain is suffering, change your strings. (It's also a good way to know when you should change strings. Harmonics are the first thing to go.)

ed packard · Post by **ed packard** » 11 Mar 2008 7:30 am

Whoops

ed packard · Post by **ed packard** » 11 Mar 2008 7:35 am

The most used open string harmonics are at frets 12, 7, 5, 24, 19, and 17. These are usually played with the left hand doing the chiming (touching), but can be done with the right hand also.

For open strings, the cleanest picking point appears to be half way between the chiming point and the bridge = pick on the loop, and chime on the null. Ideally, picking half way between the bar and the chime point for right hand chiming, but A compromise is required when using the bar and touching with the right hand re where to pick...hand size limitations.

To see the effect of where to pick, chime the open string(s) at a harmonic point and pick at different places.

Usually a "firm" part of the finger (knuckle/nail) gives the most crisp sound, but also requires the
most accuracy.

A knowledge of nodes loops and nulls in string vibration will help.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 Mar 2008 7:56 am

Billy Murdoch wrote:It is very understandable that as the bar moves up and down the fretboard the "Pick"fret alters in that it does not remain constant,
ie., with the bar on the 3rd fret I get a really good chime by picking at the 9th fret and with the bar at the 12th fret I pick at the 15th fret.this is finding the "halfway mark of the string in relation to the bar placement.

Billy, there's really no "finding" involved. The first-order harmonic will always be 12 frets up from the bar. So if you're at the 2nd fret, pick at the 14th fret. The second-order harmonic is always 7 frets up from the bar, so if your bar is at the 3rd fret, that harmonic is picked at the 10th fret. The 3rd-order harmonic is always 5 frets up from the bar, so if you're bar is at the 6th fret, that harmonic is picked at the 11th fret.

12, 5 and 7. That's all you need to know!

Another way to "remember" the 2nd and 3rd-order harmonics is that they're always at the 5 and 4 chord positions, respectively.

Edit:
I guess I should explain that the "pick fret" is the actual harmonic point. The actual plucking of the string can be done fairly closely, on EITHER side of this harmonic point.