How Do You Play Artificial Harmonics on Guitar?

You hear guitarists play beautiful bell-like notes called harmonics.

But trying to play them yourself can be confusing.

There are both natural harmonics and artificial harmonics.

For more about how to play natural harmonics, check out this article. 

Natural harmonics are great, but the notes you can play with them are limited.

If you want to play a harmonic on any possible note, you need artificial harmonics.

These are harmonics over a fretted note. They are not really false or artificial. They’re simply based on a fundamental that is not an open string.

So how do you play them?

1. Fret Any Left-Hand Note.

This is the simple part. For example, put your left-hand 3^rd finger on G on the third fret of the first string.

2. Place “i” Finger 12 Frets Higher.

To play an artificial harmonic over G on the third fret, the right-hand index finger, “i”, will touch the string lightly over the fifteenth fret.

How will we pluck the string?

3. On Treble Strings, Pluck With “a”.

In other words, use the right-hand ring finger.

The “i” finger will lift immediately after the string is plucked.

4. On Bass Strings, Pluck With “p”.

On the basses, plucking with “a” can result in scraping noises on the windings of the string. To avoid this, pluck with right-hand thumb, “p”.

Also make sure the thumbnail is parallel to the string. And "p" should contact and leave the string at the same point.

Artificial harmonics are tricky at first but can add a whole new sound to your playing!

Keep making music!

Before you practice artificial harmonics, I recommend starting with a simple Warmup Routine.

If you want a free PDF of my Warmup, click here.