# Harmonics

Source: https://arcosounds.com/glossary/harmonics
Also known as: natural harmonics, artificial harmonics, flageolet

**Harmonics are pure, flute-like tones produced by touching a string lightly at a node instead of pressing it to the fingerboard, notated with a small circle above the note.**

Touching the string at its midpoint sounds the octave; at a third of its length, the octave plus a fifth; at a quarter, two octaves. These are natural harmonics, available at fixed points on each open string. Artificial harmonics stop the string with one finger and touch it a perfect fourth higher with another, producing a harmonic two octaves above the stopped note and making the technique available on any pitch.

Harmonics need very little bow pressure and a contact point closer to the bridge than usual; the commonest failure is squeezing, which kills the node and produces a stopped note or nothing. They also serve a practical purpose beyond colour, the octave harmonic is the standard reference for finding thumb position on the cello and bass.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/glossary/harmonics