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→Beginner Excercises
Now we are practicing holding the fret constant and changing the harmonic achieved, as well as changing the fret while keeping the harmonic order constant.
== Tapping Technique ==
This technique uses tapping instead of picking. Unlike normal tapping, where the right-hand is actually fretting the string and holding that note for a duration, here the right hand simply taps the string against a fret to cause it to sound but is '''immediately removed''' from the string. That means you tap the string ''directly over'' the fret (like the position used for a natural harmonic), not slightly behind it like you would if you were actually fretting it. However, unlike natural harmonics, you are actually pressing the string down and touching it against the fret for an instant. The idea isn't to hold the string against the fret, but to use the metal (string) against metal (fret) contact to cause the string to vibrate then remove the right hand entirely and let it vibrate.
You tap the frets usually one octave above whatever notes the left-hand is fretting. So for instance, if you are fretting the 2nd fret with the left hand, you'd tap against the 14th fret with the right hand. The result is that you get the 2nd order harmonic (one octave higher) for the fretted note.
The basic effect of this technique is much different than when using the picking technique. The picking technique usually generates higher order harmonics that really stand out, useful to emphasize a particular note in a riff or solo. This technique is more often used to give arpeggiated chords a chime-like sound.
e-----------T2(14)--
b---------T2(14)----
g-------T3(15)------
d-----T4(16)--------
a---T4(16)----------
e-T2(14)------------
Tab with artificial harmonics via tapping usually look something like the above - the first number indicates the left-hand fret, while the number in ()'s indicates the fret number to tap to sound the harmonic. Remember, the tap isn't designed to actually fret the note in ()'s, but to simply tap the string into the top of that fret, causing the string to sound.