somebanjoguy - Posted - 05/14/2023:  17:14:00

When you put your finger just above the banjo string, barely touching, and then pluck, a unique sound may appear. This is called "chiming" or "harmonics." It's a very percussive sort of sound, with different pitches depending on where you put your finger on the string.

Chiming the fourth fret will get you the major third of the string's open note, the fifth fret will get you a note two octaves above, and the seventh fret will get you the fifth of the string's open note.

You can play melodies with this, though it's quite limited.

The notes you can get:
(string) - 4th fret, 5th fret, 7th fret
1st string - F#, D, A
2nd string - D#, B, F#
3rd string - B, G, D
4th string - F#, D, A

The 9th and 16th frets have the same sound as the 4th fret.
The 12th fret has the same sound as the 5th fret, but an octave below.
The 19th fret has the same sound as the 7th fret.

You can also go off the fretboard, and get some higher harmonics.

so, you have the notes G/A/B/D/D#/F# at your disposal. Doesn't let you play much, maybe "Mary Had A Little Lamb."

Bluzeman - Posted - 05/15/2023:  03:01:58

Buffalo Springfield used them in For What It's Worth.  Yes used them in Roundabout.  Those are the first ones that come to mind for me as I used to play both of those songs.  Obviously that was on guitar.  I'm new to banjo but I've been playing around with harmonics some.  I've always really loved natural harmonics.  Touch harmonics are a bit difficult for me, I've never been good with those.

Now I'm thinking I should plug the banjo into a fuzzbox and try some tap and pinch harmonics.

Edited by - Bluzeman on 05/15/2023 03:03:24

banjoy - Posted - 05/15/2023:  04:10:01

What you are referring to are called "natural harmonics." There are other harmonics called "artificial harmonics" where you can get any note to chime by fretting it and artificially "stopping" that note 12 frets higher, and chiming it there. Tommy Emmanuel and Kent Nishimura makes fantastic use out of artificial harmonics. But that's a different animal for another discussion.



I think of all banjo players I've ever heard, Bela Fleck gets the most use out of natural harmonics, using them as melody lines and tag lines all the time. The first that pops to mind is "Psalm 136" where the harmonics carry the melody hook line



youtu.be/YSJqEgSpXTc



There are other tunes he's done where he uses natural harmonics in extended lines, and as soon as I can remember what those tunes are I'll add a link. One lick comes to mind that uses the 5th and 7th fret harmonics back and forth to create a descending melody line, very cool. That one I actually remember and can tab out if I can't find the tune.



Harmonics can add a very nice flavor to a tune.

Edited by - banjoy on 05/15/2023 04:19:01

Bluzeman - Posted - 05/15/2023:  05:54:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjoy

What you are referring to are called "natural harmonics." There are other harmonics called "artificial harmonics" where you can get any note to chime by fretting it and artificially "stopping" that note 12 frets higher, and chiming it there. Tommy Emmanuel and Kent Nishimura makes fantastic use out of artificial harmonics. But that's a different animal for another discussion.

That's the touch harmonics I was talking about.  They are a type of artificial harmonic.  I use them some on guitar but it's clumsy for me so I don't use them often.  Other artificial harmonics would be pinch and tap.  I doubt those would be used on banjo but who knows?  I've listened to a lot more banjo music since I started playing and I hear a lot of bluesy bending.  I never would have expected that either.



I think of all banjo players I've ever heard, Bela Fleck gets the most use out of natural harmonics, using them as melody lines and tag lines all the time. The first that pops to mind is "Psalm 136" where the harmonics carry the melody hook line



youtu.be/YSJqEgSpXTc

Thanks for the link, that was great!



There are other tunes he's done where he uses natural harmonics in extended lines, and as soon as I can remember what those tunes are I'll add a link. One lick comes to mind that uses the 5th and 7th fret harmonics back and forth to create a descending melody line, very cool. That one I actually remember and can tab out if I can't find the tune.



Harmonics can add a very nice flavor to a tune.

---

Edited by - Bluzeman on 05/15/2023 05:55:19

banjoy - Posted - 05/15/2023:  06:20:16

Yeah, artificial harmonics are really clunky on a banjo because of the fingerpicks. Guitar players just use their fingertips, those banjo picks really make it hard to do so I don't use them at all.

This topic came up years ago so I made three rather scatter-brained videos to explain both types of harmonics. I kinda wish I had scripted these videos they would be a little more clear and probably shorter, but they get the basic ideas across...

Natural harmonics on the 5-string banjo PART 1 (short demonstration)

Natural harmonics on the 5-string banjo PART 2 (short demonstration)

Artificial harmonics on the 5-string banjo (short demonstration)

I've seen Bela Fleck use artificial harmonics, although for the life of me I cannot recall which tune(s). I'm pretty sure I've seen Eli Gilbert use them or demonstrate them, I can't remember. This topic does not come up often, but it does come up.



I think artificial harmonics would be more of a "thing" in banjoland if not for those pesky picks :) ... but the new generation of pickers might change all that.

Edited by - banjoy on 05/15/2023 06:28:51

monstertone - Posted - 05/15/2023:  08:25:54

Artificial harmonics are more common on dobro.

Tractor1 - Posted - 05/15/2023:  09:21:36

natural are exactly the same divisions of the string--these are also the tones of the major chord --built on that string--some of the rare scientific findings that correlate to music theory==the ears of the early humans realized these rang together and sounded better-science has found out that they hit at the same moments in close ratios such as once every other time as in a 12th fret chime

Edited by - Tractor1 on 05/15/2023 09:24:23

 

somebanjoguy - Posted - 05/15/2023:  09:26:23

You could probably do pinch harmonics using the thumb and third finger, or using the bottom section of your thumb and the first and second fingers.

Half Barbaric Twanger - Posted - 05/15/2023:  13:15:38

"The 12th fret has the same sound as the 5th fret, but an octave below."

 

I don't know much about harmonics. except for using the 12th fret harmonic to position the bridge (AKA "setting the intonation").  

When "setting the intonation", the tone is the same as the open string. but an octave higher.  I have verified this with my electronic tuner. confirming that I set the intonation properly. 

 

I also believe, concerning 

"The 9th and 16th frets have the same sound as the 4th fret",

that the 16th fret has the same tone as the 4th fret (but an octave higher). but the 9th fret is not the same.

 

 

 

Tractor1 - Posted - 05/15/2023:  13:31:49

the 4th -9th-- and 16 th are b notes --this is what I was speaking of above --the string is ringing in 4 different segments at the same time--if you hit it along with an open G at the same time --supposedly for every 4 times this b goes back and forth the G would do one cycle - -thus they hit together --the D notes at the 7th fret and 19th fret do the same every three times they make their cycle----

Edited by - Tractor1 on 05/15/2023 13:35:29

 

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/15/2023:  14:08:51

Alison Brown uses natural harmonics in the B part of her original tune "Leaving Cottondale."

Here's a live performance, so you can see where she plays them.  Better camerawork in her third/final solo.