natural harmonic
techniquesNATCH-ur-ul har-MON-ik
A harmonic produced by lightly touching an open string at a nodal point without pressing it to the fingerboard
Natural harmonics are the simplest harmonics to produce. The most common is at the midpoint of the string (producing a note one octave above the open string), at one-third (producing a note an octave and a fifth above), and at one-quarter (producing a note two octaves above). These correspond to the second, third, and fourth partials of the harmonic series. Natural harmonics are notated with a small circle above the note or with a diamond-shaped notehead.
Young violin students are often amazed to discover that their instrument can produce flute-like harmonics — it is usually one of the first extended techniques they learn.