Harmonics are notes too!

Chive Gherkin
Technique
February 8, 2026

Table of Contents

Everyone knows the 12th fret octave harmonic. Do you know what notes are produced at the other natural harmonic fretboard positions?

What are harmonics ?

A harmonic is the interesting high pitched frequency that occurs when touching a string in a very particular place.

Natural harmonics occur when the string is divided up into equal parts.

The easiest natural harmonic to play is at the 12th fret. The midpoint across the string’s length.

NB: A string starts at the bridge saddle and ends at the nut above the first fret.

A harmonic played at this point produces an octave harmonic. The same note as the open string but at a higher frequency.

The two equal lengths of string above and below the point of contact ring separately. The point of contact can be referred to as the node.

The ringing results in a more “pure” sine wave compared to the complex, overtone-heavy sound of a plucked open string.

How to play a harmonic?

To play a harmonic place a finger from your fretting hand on string 3, fret 12. (string 3 = G in standard tuning). Lightly place your finger on the string directly above the fret wire but do not depress the string into the fretboard. Use your other hand to pluck the string. Remove your fretting finger from the string soon after plucking to allow the note to ring out.

The resultant note is a G. This is an octave harmonic. It shares the note name with the open string and the 12th fret that it is played at.

Frets 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Dividing the string into two parts of unequal length can result in different pitches to the underlying fret position.

Consider the 5th string in standard tuning (A = MBN: [10])

Fret Position	0	3	4	5	7	9	12
Standard Note	A [10]	C [01]	C# [02]	D [03]	E [05]	F# [07]	A [10]
Harmonic Note	-	E [05]	C# [02]	A [10]	E [05]	C# [02]	A [10]
+ Difference	-	+4	0	+7	0	+7	0
- Difference	-	-8	0	-5	0	-5	0
Compared to Open	-	24 + 7	24 + 4	24	12 + 7	24 + 4	12
Compared to Open	-	2oct + P5	2oct + M3	2oct	1oct + P5	2oct + M3	1oct

Dividing the string into 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 results in octaves above the open string note.

Key to ‘Music By Numbers’ notation vs intervals

+4 = Forward a (M3) Major 3rd (4 semitones)
+7 = Forward a (P5) Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
+10 = Forward a (m7) Minor 7th (10 semitones)
-5 = Back a (P4) Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
-8 = Back a (m6) Minor 6th (8 semitones)
12 = (1oct) Octave (12 semitones)
24 = (2oct) Double Octave (24 semitones)

Having trouble ?

There is good reason! The harmonics at frets 3, 4 and 9 do not quite line up with the fret wire!

For the natural harmonic at fret 3 place your finger slightly towards the bridge
For the natural harmonic at fret 4 place your finger slightly towards the nut
For the natural harmonic at fret 9 place your finger slightly towards the nut