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Mike here again from KillerGuitarTips.com

We are going to look at a series of three tips on harmonics.

Harmonics occur over the 5th, 7th and 12th fret and are a natural phenomenon of your instrument.

If you gently touch the string over the fret and pick the string you will play a harmonic. We’ll use the 12th fret for this example. DO NOT fret the string, just touch it directly over the fret and pluck the string.

You will hear the harmonic note. If you just get a muted dull sound move your finger towards the fret whilst constantly plucking the string until it becomes clear.

Try this over all the strings at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.

This killer technique is a ‘must know’ in your armoury of tricks. Harmonics should be practiced and mastered by all guitarists.

If you would like to look at a good example of harmonics, take a look at the middle section of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Practice it until you have mastered it.

Now that you have had chance to practice harmonics I would like to show you how to tune your guitar using this technique.

This is a very easy and accurate way to tune your guitar. Following on from last weeks tip…

The harmonic over the 5th fret on the 6th string is the same pitch as the harmonic over the 7th fret on the 5th string.

The two harmonics when played together will produce wavering sound if the strings aren’t in tune with each other. If for example you tune the 5th staring and this wavering sound speeds up then this means the string is going further out of tune. If the sound slows down then this means it’s coming into tune. Keep tuning until the wavering has stopped, when stopped it means the two strings are in tune with each other. If you tune too far then the wavering sound will speed up again!

Repeat on strings 5 & 4 and 4 & 3.

To tune the 2nd string we be a little innovative. This is because this string is tuned 4 frets higher than the 3rd, the others are tuned 5 frets higher so this technique has to be altered here. Play the harmonic on the 3rd string at the 12th fret this is the G note, then FRET the 8th fret on the 2nd string again the note is G of course! Now use your strumming hand to turn the tuning peg and tune the string!

OK, now we’re back to normal, tune the 1st string 7th fret harmonic to the 2nd string 5th fret harmonic.

Try this tuning technique with distortion on as this really makes the wavering sound stand out.

As stated earlier this is a great way to tune your guitar and much more accurate than the normal and tuning method.

Ok for the last in this series of three on harmonics, let’s now have a look at pinched harmonics also known as false harmonics or artificial harmonics!!

This type of harmonic is created by slightly touching the string with the side of your thumb immediately after you have picked it. It works best with a lot of distortion/overdrive and sounds like a screech.This is how we do it:Move your picking hand up and down the string whilst picking constantly to find where the different harmonic notes are.

Listen to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top he’s a master of this technique.

Remember practice equals progress!!

About The Author: Mike Jones is a Pro Guitar Tutor. Offering Guitar Lessons geared to getting the beginner through to an great player in the shortest possible time, using amazing speed learning techniques developed over two decades of teaching and playing guitar as a Pro. To find out more about Mike’s teaching methods and receive FREE tips and tricks each week visit his website at: Guitar Lessons