Natural Harmonic

On most stringed instruments, a natural harmonic is one that is played on an open string. (Versus an artificial harmonic, which is played on a string that is fretted or fingered.) 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.