Harmonique naturel: meaning and use in music

How is harmonique naturel played?

Rest a finger lightly at a nodal point of an open string—such as its midpoint, third or quarter—without stopping the string against the fingerboard, then bow so the required partial speaks. The midpoint gives the octave, a third-length node the twelfth and a quarter-length node the double octave. A small circle over the sounding note or a diamond at the touched node is common, but notation is not fully uniform. Natural harmonics are limited to each open string’s harmonic series and are generally more resonant and secure than comparable artificial harmonics, although higher nodes can be less reliable.

How does harmonique naturel sound?

The purest, most ringing string tone there is: open, bell-like, flute-pure, with a bloom the artificial harmonic lacks because the whole open string vibrates. Projects even at the faintest dynamic.

In context

Harmonique naturel means natural harmonic. A light open-string touch suppresses incompatible modes and favours a partial of that string’s series; it is distinct from an artificial harmonic built above a stopped note. Harm. abbreviates only harmonique, while circles and diamonds are symbols rather than text abbreviations. The complete two-word headword lacked three direct expansions and remains written out.

Equivalent terms

• EN natural harmonic
• DA naturlig flageolet