- 1). Get familiar with harmonics by playing the octave harmonic, which is one of the easiest to achieve. Place the tip of a finger lightly on one of the strings at the twelfth fret. Your finger should just barely touch the string. Pick the string as you lift your finger away. Your finger lightly touching the string will dampen it, and as you pick and remove your finger, a harmonic note will be produced. The harmonic is a high-pitched, bell-like tone. If the string vibrates, you will end up hearing the string note (fundamental note) instead of the harmonic.
- 2). Create tuning harmonics by placing your finger lightly over the string at the fifth fret of your thickest guitar string. Pick the string as you pull your finger away then move to the next string while the harmonic is still ringing and play the harmonic at the seventh fret on that string. These two harmonics match. Many guitar players find it easier to tune to harmonics since they are such pure tones. Continue this method across your strings to tune your entire guitar using these harmonics. The exception is the third string from the thinnest, the G string. You'll need to tune that in the standard way, placing your finger on the fourth fret and tuning that next string to that note.
- 3). Add pinched harmonics to your playing repertoire. A pinched harmonic is a technique many guitar players use to add a specific stylistic layer to their solos. Pinched harmonics can be produced at many locations on the neck of the guitar. To get a pinched harmonic, use your pick to hit a string and them immediately dampen the string with the tip of your thumb. Sometimes this is referred to as "squeezing out harmonics" because you are forcing the harmonic note. It's helpful to hold your thumb and forefinger up near the tip of the pick and use the very tip of the pick to play the note. You can put tiny grooves in one side of your pick by dragging it over your strings, then use these grooves to hook your string when you play. This helps produce harmonics.
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