8,720
edits
Changes
m
→Tapping Technique
== Tapping Technique ==
== Beginner Excercises ==
2nd harmonic
---<7>---<19>----*0---
3rd harmonic
---<5>---<24>----*0----
4th harmonic
---<3.8>---<?>---*0---
5th harmonic
---<3.2>---<?>---*0---
6th harmonic
---<2.6>---<?>---*0---
First we need to practice getting the motion down, and locating the pivot points for open strings. The fret numbers inside <>'s are natural harmonics. Notice how each line has two natural harmonics, then an open-string artificial harmonic. All 3 pitches should be identical.
The first two examples have fret numbers for the 2nd natural harmonic. If you measure the distance from the nut to the 7th fret, this is the same amount of distance as the bridge to the 19th fret. Same thing for the nut to 5th fret and bridge to 24th fret. Remember that a harmonic has the string resonate in equally-sized chunks on the string, divided by pivot points. The distance from the nut to the first pivot point is the exact same distance as the bridge to the last pivot point.
Once we find the closest pivot point to the bridge, we know where to apply our thumb for the artificial harmonic. So in the first two examples, your thumb should touch against the string above the 19th and 24th frets, while your pick strikes the string slightly closer to the bridge. These are the best places to practice the actual artificial harmonic picking stroke. Your artificial harmonic should sound almost identical to a properly-played natural harmonic. The pitch should be pure, not the open-string pitch plus a slight harmonic pitch. It will take quite a bit of practice to get this to start sounding right, and even more practice to get it consistent.
Once you have the stroke working well, let's move to the 4th, 5th, and 6th harmonics. For these, the last pivot point is not over the fretboard, so it is basically impossible to list exactly where it is without taking an actual distance measurement (but even this will change if your instrument has a different scale).