Episode 9 - Harmonics

[@brucegremo]

Thank you! Very useful for the composer!

[@JoshLayne]

Excellent, thanks Bruce!

[@JoshLayne]

Hmm, certainly slower than "normal" notes! When writing a piece with harmonics, as a general rule I wouldn't want to write anything faster than 16th notes, and even those might be suspect (all depends on tempo, obviously, but that maybe gives an idea). Felix Godefroid certainly employs some fairly fast harmonics in his Carnival of Venice variations, for example, and they start to approach the limit of how fast one would want to do them...

[@DissonantSynth]

Thank you so much for making this video! The sound of harp harmonics are so beautiful to me and I've never known what to call them! The Miroslav Philharmonik Orchestra refers to this sound as playing "open tones"...

[@JoshLayne]

Yeah, harmonics on the harp have fantastic color!

[@Tyron-u9l]

Thank you Josh; best tutorial on KZbin! Your explanation is very encouraging and explicit! You are a true friend to all of us out here that are learning and yearning to play like you!

[@Angel-cu5mf]

Wonderful detailed explanation and demonstration, thank you!

[@SongOfMoonchild]

Thank you for detailed explanation! Very helpful :)

[@elizabethdexter3779]

I find the right hand harmonics easier than the left. Getting my left hand to relax is challenging

[@mishellreinoso8888]

Awesome! It's just I was looking for. Very useful!

[@thesumualfamilyministry2031]

I always feel hard to do harmonics, but this video make me feel easy about it!❤🎉

[@XeniaStCharlesIrisLlyllyth]

I have three questions regarding harmonics on different nodes other than the 1/2 harmonic. 1. How would would you recommend notating these? 2. What is the highest harmonic possible on the lowest C string? 3. How quickly could you expect a harpist to find these different harmonics? Thanks!!

[@sullengirl1698]

For your first question, I've seen harmonics notated with a small open circle above the note. For the life of me I can't remember it's proper name, but I hope that's helpful.

[@NnenStMartin]

Thank you for this video Josh!

[@runciter58]

Thank you! I will use in my next compositions thank to your teaching ( composer).

[@JoshLayne]

Wonderful!

[@Clown321321]

Thanks a lot!

[@littlepix101]

Thanks, I just need this

[@ReenBlom]

Thank you! Very useful 💐

[@Emperatriz_Valentina]

Thank you for the video, it was very helpful

[@vangeliszografos6999]

Thank you.

[@DaveGardner-Composer]

I love all of your videos. They are so informative. Would you ever be open to proofing harp parts (a cursory review)? I am always looking for different perspectives. Each harpist seems to have a unique perspective, particularly with regard to notation.

[@typo1345]

fun fact: the Coraline score uses harp harmonics more than any other film score

[@jcortese3300]

Harmonics == falsetto for the harp. :-)

[@MancoSaci]

Thank you for the video, Josh, its very useful! I'm writing a piece for orchestra and I really need some help with the harmonics, would you help me? What I want to do is to play the E string harmonic (third space on bass clef, sounding one octave higher), and "gliss" it a half tone downwards using the pedal. Is it "audible"? I wanted the glissando to be "slow", but I imagine that this would make the effect even harder to listen. Am I right?

[@JoshLayne]

Hi Martim, slowly "bending" a pitch with a pedal slide doesn't work very well - either the pedal is engaged or not, and if it's slowly in the process of engaging you get a rather nasty sound rather than a slow gliss/bend. As for a harmonic +pedal slide - yes, it's possible, but rather quiet so in an orchestral setting will likely be hard to hear... Sorry not to have better news :) Hope that helps!

[@reyfernandezjr]

greetings how fast can you play harmonics????

[@artman40]

Is it much easier to play harmonics with 2 players on a single harp??

[@rhiannonfugatt3269]

Just going over this technique for playing harmonics with the left hand still gives me trouble. I have been using a similar position with my left hand as the same one used for the right hand harmonics and having better results. While this position does not leave my right hand ready to jump into the next chord I seem to get much clearer harmonics with using the same hand position with my left hand as with my right. If I try to use the more open palm position with my left hand my carpal tunnel seem to get stuck or cramps. This could all be a personal problem as my daily income job requires the use of power tools and handling very heavy weights.

[@JoshLayne]

Yeah, definitely go with what works for you!