Guitar Lessons – Playing Harmonics

A harmonic is a tone that’s created by the guitar by touching the string above a fret on an open vibrating string. There are 2 types of harmonics Natural and Artificial or I prefer to call them pinch harmonics.

Natural Harmonics

Natural Harmonics can be produced by touching your index finger on your fret-hand above at the 5th, 7th or 12th fret. Just place your finger on the string above the fret, don’t press to hard or you will mute the note, pluck the note and then pull your finger off. Try it on the A string.

E|------------|
B|------------|
G|------------|
D|------------|
A|----12------|
E|------------|

Timing is critical when playing harmonics. The length of time you keep your finger on the string will determine if you hear a harmonic, muted sound or just a regular note. Natural harmonics occur in various locations along the fretboard. The most common ones are on the 5th, 7th, and 12th fret. The harmonics in those positions will ring for all 6 strings on the same fret. Try playing them in all 3 positions. Place your finger across all 6 strings and play from the Low E to the high E lifting your finger as your pick strikes each individual string. You have to work at this and it takes some time, but it sound so cool.

E|---------5-----|--------7-----|----------12---|
B|--------5------|-------7------|--------12-----|
G|-------5-------|------7-------|-------12------|
D|------5--------|-----7--------|------12-------|
A|-----5---------|----7---------|-----12--------|
E|----5----------|---7----------|----12---------|

Pinch Harmonics

Pinch harmonics are done with the pick hand hand. I found this technique very difficult to master. The best method is to “choke” down on your pick so there is very little pick exposed between your thumb and your index finger. With time you’ll learn the pick has to be mobile in your hand, and you will move it into different position depending on how you play. Now when you pluck a string with your pick the trick is to hit the pick first and then slightly twist your thumb so that it touches the string immediately after hitting the string.

Why play a pinch harmonic…..well because they are very cool when playing solos. You can combine string bends with pinch harmonics and vibrato to get totally cool sounding “squeals”. They even sound great when you do them by accident. The trick is to devote some of your practice time everyday to just playing cool licks and try adding a pinch harmonic with some demonic vibrato. Oh yea, it makes you want to play more guitar because you can just create some of coolest sounds!

Related Information of Interest:

Still Life Photography In A Home Studio
Still life photography has a long dated history and goes back to ancient times where a camera obscuras where used. This type of still life was done by standing in a dark room and through a pinhole placed in the wall the outside world was projected onto the opposite wall, but it is given that they where shown upside down and in vivid color. So as it stands today, still life photography has the same concept and idea, but done a lot differently and much more hi tech. Still life photography in the home studio is an old and ancient form of art and very prestigious.

The beauty of having to do still life in the comfort of a home studio is that you can capture a certain mood you are looking for and express it on film. All that will be needed is any object or objects that strike you as beautiful, strange or even the most common thing found in or around your home. Add some unique lighting sources at different angles and you are well on your way to take a great still life photograph. It is easy to produce a very creative and beautiful picture because you have the control over all the elements in your studio.

The subjects of still life can convey a classic look and flowers do the perfect job for this look, they are extraordinary and very easy to photograph. This type of still life subject will always be a reminder of a simple but a powerful beauty that we see almost every day in a photo. To create a bold still life that gives off flair try placing your subjects on a white background. This will accentuate the color of the object and create a unison look overall in the photo. Remember - with still life photography - everything has a special beauty.

Albreht Moy offers framed fine art print collections on his website.

Steel building advice for business
Steel framed buildings are one of mans modern day wonders. These pre-fabricated steel structured enable us to quickly and efficiently construct and finish a permanent strong metal framed structure in as little as a week. With today's tight schedules and financial constraints it is vital that steel and concrete structures can be created as fast as possible.

Pre-fabricated steel building kits are used for all kinds of purposes from farm buildings to factories and of course for human habitation. Because of the way these kits are designed it is now easier than ever for architects to design from pre-existing sets of steel building modules and add on's.

The basic steel framed building kits will consist of the frame components, Cement sections, insulation and construction fittings. Because steel frame structures are now rolled of the production line it is now easier to keep control of project costs as the contractors will to some degree have to work to the know schedules of previous building projects.

Most steel building manufactures will be able to put you in contact with contractors that are familiar with their design and kits and this works out well for both the customer and contractor. If good feedback is generated about the construction company then they will get more work. The more work they get using a manufacturers steel kits then the faster they become at building them.

Another great advantage of steel building kits is that because the different parts such as steel girders and the fixing components have already been manufactured the faster the kit can be shipped to where it is needed.

The design and strength of steel framed buildings is suited to all needs and terrains. From skyscrapers to remote military installations and in all kinds of climates, The all round qualities of steel buildings are ideally suited.

Steel and concrete building kits are obviously a purchase that your business or organization will not want to purchase without thoroughly checking out the vendors credentials.

The below are words of extreme wisdom when buying steel construction kits.

If you are indeed looking to purchase such a steel product then the best advice is to ask to be put in contact with a past customer of your potential supplier. Ask them what their experience was and secondly take into account the length of time a steel building supplier has been in business.

Xavier Savion is a construction industry expert in the area of steel buildings . For purchasing tips, visit: ftsteel.com

Five Reasons Why You Should Drink More Water Everyday
1. Drinking more water everyday will keep your skin looking smooth and supple. Applying expensive creams and lotions to your face is not an effective way to conceal the effects aging has on your skin. The real fountain of youth can be found in a glass of water.

2. Drinking more water everyday will help you cut calories. Most popular beverages are loaded with calories. A can of soda can have as many as 240 calories per serving. Drinking 1 or 2 of these each day is a recipe for gaining weight. Choosing to drink water instead is the calorie free way to quench your thirst.

3. Drinking more water everyday will help you distinguish thirst from hunger. If you allow your body to become dehydrated it will be difficult to discern whether that gnawing feeling in your stomach is a call for food or a call for water. And if you keep eating food when what your body really needs is water, you will gain weight.

4. Drink more water everyday will help your think more clearly. Research has repeatedly shown that staying hydrated is necessary for the human brain, which is 85 percent water, to function at optimal levels. That is why many school systems throughout the country now encourage students to keep a bottle of water at their desks and to drink it throughout the day.

5. Drinking more water everyday will help you feel better. Your body is about 75 percent water and 25 percent solid material. Doesn’t it make sense that you would need to drink water on a daily basis to ensure that your body has all the water it needs to perform at optimal levels. It is a mistake to believe that thirst is the only indicator of a need to drink water. Constipation, achy joints and fatigue are also signals that your body may be dehydrated.

Jacqueline D. Stanley: Author, Speaker, Chief Encouragement Officer at Lettuce Is Not Enough University: The Place to Learn How to Live Well and Lose Weight. lettuceisnotenough.com

Learn All About Stained Glass In A Class
In the past few years I have made it a goal each year to try at least three new things during the course of that year. So when January rolls around I sit down and consider what skills or hobbies I'd like to gain in the next year and then I make plans to learn those very things. This past year I decided that I finally wanted to learn how to make stained glass pieces of my very own.

I've always been intrigued by stained glass and I think it is one of the most beautiful kinds of art that exist. I love seeing stained glass pieces hanging in windows or used as candleholders. So I was very excited when I remembered my long lost desire to learn stained glass and I began the search for the best possible way to learn stained glass making.

There are many ways to learn any new skill or hobby that is of interest to you. In fact, I was a bit overwhelmed in choosing how I would undergo the task of learning about stained glass. The first move I made was to do a little research of my options. I went to the library and found quite a few helpful resources on doing stained glass at your own home on your own time. However, for me, this wasn't the best plan. I know that I would start with great intentions and then let the busyness of life overwhelm my best intentions with the project.

I ended up signing up for a class that would teach me how to do stained glass once a week at the local college. I went this route because I know myself and my tendency to do better when I have the outside accountability that a class and other classmates provides for me. So I began attending this class and was so thankful for the choice I made. I was thankful because I learned more than I expected to about stained glass work in a short amount of time. It seemed like it was only a few weeks before I was working on a stained glass piece of my own that I could have and cherish in my home.

So my encouragement is to anyone that desires to learn about stained glass. I'd suggest that you find a class to enroll in at a local college or an art shop. Getting involved with other artists will inspire you and hold you accountable on weeks when you don't really have time to work on your pieces. If you enjoy your stained glass class half as much as I do than you'll love it.

Hallidae Thomason is a busy author that loves to squeeze in time for art classes. Her stained glass class was her favorite so far.