Artificial Harmonic

On most stringed instruments, an artificial harmonic is one that is played on an fingered or fretted string. (Versus a natural harmonic, which is played on an open string.) Harmonics occur at certain points on the string called “nodes.” A note of purer tone can be produced by touching these nodes while the string is being plucked. On most stringed instruments, this is especially true of the 12th fret or octave harmonic. A natural harmonic can be dampended by touching the anti-node.