Cello: Natural Harmonics — Ex. 1, Dividing the String in Half
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Cello: Natural Harmonics — Example 1, Dividing the String in Half
All the pitches in this section are played on the G string.
“Open string: The entire length of the string from nut to bridge is allowed to vibrate freely.” [0:00–0:06]
“Lightly touching the string halfway between the nut and bridge forces the string to vibrate in two sections, each one half the total string length. The sound produced is twice the frequency of the open string, sounding an octave higher than the open string.” [0:06–0:11]
“Pressing the string down against the fingerboard in this same place allows only half the string to vibrate. This sound is also twice the frequency of the open string, the 2nd partial, sounding an octave higher than the open string. Adding vibrato emphasizes the difference in tone quality between the full-bodied stopped tone and the airy, non-vibrato sound of a natural harmonic.” [0:11–0:18]