Hitting Harmonics

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

I guess this is the place to post since there is no actual technique section.
Please correct Me if I am in the wrong room.
Out of curiosity I ask this question.
When playing harmonics or chimes Whilst holding the bar on a particular fret we execute the chime at a given fret above the one at which the bar is held.
I guess I am being a bit long winded but this is not a question on How or where to perform the chime.
If we consider the placement of the bar only and assume You(We) can hit the chime,what is the highest fret You(as a player)place the bar.
I find I rarely9if ever) go above the 12th fret.
Billy

[henry]

I can't do them at all! how does anyone manage to pull them off consistently?
I've tried using the edge of my palm and my knuckle, but even if I try it *really* slowly I can hardly get them to ring out at all?

(In answer to the question I can't get them going on any fret let alone above 12 )

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Henry,
I am certainly no expert but I have tried the various ways of doing it and If I use the edge of my palm I get best results.
I actually look at the thumbpick of My right hand and after a lot of practise I have found the spot to hit and I now rarely miss.
It will obviously depend on the breadth of Your hand,for example If I have the bar on the third fret I hit th pick at the tenth fret and find that My palm flesh is at the fifteenth fret.I was actually quite amazed tha even when you are a little bit out with Your placementYou will still get a chime.
Like everything else with this instrument it takes a lot of patience and peseverance.

Keep plugging away.
Billy

[henry]

cheers for teh encouragement! I will keep plugging away..

[James Crowbear]

Billy, you get harmonics 12 frets (octave) & 7 frets (fifth tones) above of where you are playing or having the bar at
yes, you can use the palm for chords & the folded ring finger or pinky for single, double & triple notes
just make sure you're right on the fret - w: practice it comes fairly easy

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Crowbear Mon Amee Hee Hee
I do'nt have a problem hitting the harmonics I was asking what was the higest fret You(as a player) place the bar,then obviously the palm, knuckle or finger will be at a higher fret.
Take care
Billy

[James Crowbear]

ok Billy sorry i missed yer point
i manage to chime all the way up to 24 & beyond
once past the fretboard, you're on yer own lol !
i don't really go past it but it can be done

[Basil Henriques]

There is an important harmonic position omitted so far in this discussion, the one 5 frets up from the bar, it's the double octave. Used in this way, (Bar at third fret) Play normal notes then with palm stopping the strings partially at fret 15, then 10 and then 7. What you have is G, G octave, D higher, and then G double octave.

The second part of this page may be useful



And any of these videos will show me playing palm and finger harmonics, pretty close-up.
This video use harmonics a lot.




The ones below show you other aspects of playing? close-up..
Pat Mike and myself, not taking it too seriously and me acting the fool as per usual (as is my BAD intonation .. The head wasn't so good that day)
On YouTube Here :-

Lovely hula Girl


Witchcraft


To Make you love me Kuuipo


Midnight in amarillo


White Ginger blossoms


Ten Tiny Toes


Little Brown Gal (AGAIN)


Baz >:-)

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Thanks evertone for the excellent replies.
Again I apologise for perhaps not asking the question correctly.
Bluntly,,,,Please for conversation sake forget the right hand.
What is the highest fret at which You place the bar(with Your left hand) before striking the chime !2th Fret? 15th,17Th or what?
Thanks

[James Crowbear]

17th