Harmoniques

As Printed on a Score

Printed above string or harp parts as harmoniques, sons harmoniques or harm., or as a small circle over a note; diamond-shaped noteheads show where an artificial harmonic is touched. It applies to the notes or passage marked; ordinary noteheads afterwards mean normal playing.

Abbreviations: harm.

Also spelled: sons harmoniques

How Composers Use It

Harmonics give strings and harp a pure, glassy, flute-like tone. On strings, natural harmonics speak securely; artificial harmonics need a stopped note and a lightly touched fourth above it, so keep them slow. On the harp, harmonics are written at the plucked pitch and sound an octave higher, and they are quiet — give them space. State whether you have written sounding pitch or fingering, and stay consistent.

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