Strings

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Ranges

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Suggested

Ranges

Tonal Effects (cont.)

Harmonics

String harmonics can be a confusing and complex subject. But for our purposes, we can limit the discussion to how they are most commonly created. There are two types of string harmonics: natural harmonics and artificial harmonics. Depending upon the note and the finger placement of the string player, a sound can be produced an octave or more higher than the original note. This creates a very atmospheric and ethereal sound.

Natural Harmonics

A natural harmonic creates a purer sound than an artificial harmonic. To produce a natural harmonic, a string player lightly presses an open string with a finger of the left hand while bowing that string with the right hand. By lightly pressing the string, the player in effect subdivides that string so that the entire string does not vibrate when bowed. A shorter vibrating area leads to a higher pitch.

The composer inserts a small circle over the note head to indicate that a note is to be performed as a natural harmonic:

Natural harmonics can only be produced at certain nodes along the string. The most reliable natural harmonics occur when the player player's left finger subdivides the string by 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5. Other natural harmonics can be created as well but they are undependable and, therefore, of limited usefulness.

When the performer presses the node that subdivides a string by 1/2, the natural harmonic sounds one octave above the node where the left hand touches the string. When the string is subdivided by 1/4, the natural harmonic sounds two octaves higher. Subdividing the string by 1/3 creates a tone one octave plus one perfect fifth higher, and subdividing the string by 1/5 produces a tone two octaves plus one Major 3rd higher.