Guitar & Harmonics: Learning Fundamentals & Techniques

[ZealScience]

I am learning to play guitar now, I am wondering why guitar strings always give the same sound (pitch). In my opinion, it is because it is always the fundamental, but why there is never presence of harmonics during playing?

Also there is a technique in guitar playing called HARM. You just put your finger loose at approximately 1/2, or 1/3 of the string and leave it when it is working. Then you can play harmonics. Then how is it working?

 

[aim1732]

Also there is a technique in guitar playing called HARM. You just put your finger loose at approximately 1/2, or 1/3 of the string and leave it when it is working. Then you can play harmonics. Then how is it working?

Maybe by placing the finger at specified places you are creating artificial nodes that forces the string to vibrate with that particular harmonic.

 

[ZealScience]

Maybe by placing the finger at specified places you are creating artificial nodes that forces the string to vibrate with that particular harmonic.

Makes sense, thank you

 

[rcgldr]

There are harmonics when you play a guitar. You can affect the ratio of harmonics to fundamental tone by where you pick or strum the string, near the middle of the string (less harmonics) or near the end (more harmonics). As mentioned, placing your finger on the string at key spots (1/2, 1/3) prevents the normal fundamental tone, resulting in a higher tone.

 

[Meir Achuz]

I am learning to play guitar now, I am wondering why guitar strings always give the same sound (pitch). In my opinion, it is because it is always the fundamental, but why there is never presence of harmonics during playing?

There are harmonics, but they die out rapidly because they oscillate faster.
You can hear them die out. That is why you hear 'twang' if you pluck a string.
The 'tw' is the sound of the higher frequencies. The 'ng' is the lower frequency fundamental.

 

[ZealScience]

There are harmonics, but they die out rapidly because they oscillate faster.
You can hear them die out. That is why you hear 'twang' if you pluck a string.
The 'tw' is the sound of the higher frequencies. The 'ng' is the lower frequency fundamental.

Yes, that is true. I've heard that, thank you for explanation.