Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Harmonic notation revisited (Read 3819 times) previous topic - next topic

Harmonic notation revisited

Many composers for guitar use diamond shaped notes to indicate harmonics. Has anyone figured out a way to do this with Noteworthy? I noticed Scot Boyd offered the idea placing a small "o" just above the note, but this doesn't seem satisfactory or "standard" if I dare to use that word regarding harmonic notation. Any ideas?

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #1 –
One thing you can try is to insert a teXt item (with Wingdings font selected), just before the note you want. the characters you can use are t, u and w (three different diamond shapes/sizes). In order to fully overwrite the note with the diamond, you may try different sizes of the font (and play with bold or not).
This is not perfect, but seems acceptable to me.

For playback purpose, do not forget to create a hidden stave with the real note (the usage I know is that you write the note where it is played as harmonic, which is not what it sounds. Am I wrong?) and mute the "printable" one.

Hope this helps,
                    MAD

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #2 –
There is a "Guitar Harmonics" patch in General Midi (patch number 32). You can insert an instrument patch change before the harmonic note(s), then another one to change back to the original guitar sound afterwards. These patches changes (like other insertions such as MPC's) don't show up in the final printed document, Print Preview, or NoteWorthy Player display. (Saves having to have a separate staff for harmonics or other effects.)

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #3 –
The small "o" above the note is standard notation for
harmonics on strings (viol family). The sounded note is
the same as written, it's just produced differently and
sounds different (touching the string, rather than
stopping). It may be that you touch the string in a
different place from where you'd stop it to get the
same note.

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #4 –
Harmonic symbol and brass mute open/close are on my list for the next update of 'Boxmarks'.

In the meantime hold down Alt and type 0176 (that's zero-one-seven-six) to get a small degree symbol that may be suitable for your purpose.

I agree with John - the small circle is generally recognized by string players.
I usually use a small triangle for guitar though (comment Fred?) but it has to be small or it's read as a whole chord symbol marker.

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #5 –
Thanks for all the good suggestions. I'll give them a try. I'm a student of classic guitar, so the reference to using the small "o" for harmonics on bowed instruments went right by me. Also, I'm a user/fan of the boxmarks font. We all appreciate your contribution, Barry.

Re: Harmonic notation revisited

Reply #6 –
I've seen them all different ways; little circles, triangles, even "harmonic" or "armonico" spelled out. I think my favourite, though, is a little "x" just as is used for percussion.

There have also been different ways of displaying "artificial harmonics". These are where you play a harmonic while fretting with the left hand while touching the string an octave higher with one finger while plucking with the thumb (and fretting over how you're going to accomplish this!) as opposed to simply touching a point on an open string and plucking. My preference here is, again, the little "x" notehead, with "A.H." in text above or before the note.