Guitar notation guide
For a natural harmonic, put the fret number inside angle brackets—for example, <12>. You can also write N.H. above the note or passage to make the technique explicit.
The number indicates where to lightly touch the string directly above the fret wire. Keep the string off the fretboard and pluck it to produce the harmonic.
Handwritten tablature
Angle brackets are easy to write by hand and distinguish harmonics from ordinary fretted notes. In this example, play three natural harmonics on the high E string: touch above frets 12, 7, and 5, in that order.
Notation in programs like Guitar Pro
Guitar Pro uses angle brackets around natural-harmonic fret numbers in tablature. The same passage can be presented in a clean, engraved style:
When standard staff notation accompanies the tab, a diamond-shaped notehead commonly identifies the harmonic. The tab supplies the string and touch position.
Conventions vary between publishers and programs. Some use a small dot beside the tab number and write Harm. above the passage. Include a brief legend if you use an unfamiliar marking.
Artificial, pinch, and tapped harmonics
For harmonics produced from a fretted note, identify the technique and provide any touch or tap position the player needs.
| Marking | Technique | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| N.H. | Natural harmonic | Put the touch fret inside angle brackets, such as <12>. |
| A.H. | Artificial harmonic | Show the fretted note and specify the touch point. For example: fret 5; touch 17. |
| P.H. | Pinch harmonic | Show the fretted note with P.H. above it. Specify the desired harmonic pitch if it matters. |
| T.H. | Tapped harmonic | Show the fretted note and specify where to tap. For example: fret 5; tap 17. |
Guitar Pro provides separate effects for these techniques. In handwritten tab, keep the fretted note and the touch or tap position clearly distinguished so the player knows what each number means.