GUITAR A2Z
[ HARP HARMONICS | Roger Zimish ]
In my last column we started looking at Chet
the harmonic and it won’t ring out as desired.
is important. As always, work the examples
Atkins style “Harp Harmonics” combining
The volume between the natural note and the
slowly and then work on your speed. Try to play
fretted notes with Harmonic notes (also known
harmonic should be the same.
them as fast as you can while keeping it under
as “Artificial Harmonics”). Every note can be
control.
played as a harmonic on the guitar. There are
You may have noticed that the sequence of
natural harmonics on the 12th, 7th and 5th frets
notes has a familiar pattern to them. They are
Check
that you should be familiar with, along with
the same notes as in the E Pentatonic scale,
Emmanuel; they are masters of this technique
the concept on how to produce harmonics.
E-G-A-B-D-E. Next try barring across the neck
on the acoustic guitar as is Eric Johnson on
In this lesson we are going to expand across
as if you were making a bar chord with one
the electric guitar. Each of these players have
the whole fret board combining harmonics and
finger at the 5th fret and play the harmonics
a slightly different right hand technique. Doyle
natural notes.
12 frets up at the 17 fret the same way as
and Tommy use thumb picks along with
th
out
Doyle
Dykes
and
Tommy
in example #2. Play this on other frets on the
their index finger to make the harmonies and
First try just the right hand fingering pattern
neck and play the harmonic 12 frets up from
alternate between their middle and ring fingers
using open strings in Example #1. Start with
your root notes.
to play none harmonic notes. Eric Johnson
your thumb (P) followed by your ring finger (I)
plucks the string with his thumb while using his
the string sequence is 6+3+5+2+4+1+3+1 then
It will take some practice to master this. Your
middle finger to play the harmonic and his pinky
back, 4-1-5-2-6-3-6. Now add the harmonic in
fretting hand will get a workout! You will be
to play none harmonic notes.
Example #2, use your index finger to produce
applying pressure across the neck like playing
the harmonic. The key is to pluck the string with
a bar chord with the one finger, so be sure not
Coda: I have found that artificial or harp
your thumb while laying your index finger lightly
to overdo if you start to feel pain in your hand.
harmonics are a nice effect when used at the
on the string. You should have about 3 inches
Work on keeping the volume between the
right time in a piece of music. Next time we will
between your thumb and index finger. If you
non-harmonic notes with the harmonic notes
add full chords and scales to create heavenly
have your fingers too close you will choke out
at the same volume level. The right balance
sounds.
Exp.#1
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Exp.#2
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Sep Oct 2016
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ChristianMusician.com
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