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While natural (open-string) harmonics are usually stopped with the left hand and plucked with the right hand, octave harmonics are stopped and plucked with the right hand alone. This is accomplished by using the r.h. index finger to stop the string an octave (twelve frets) above the note fingered by the left hand. (Stopping in this sense means to touch the string lightly directly above the fret wire, without depressing the string to the fingerboard). The string is then plucked with the r.h. ring finger, the resulting sound being an octave above the fingered note. This should first be practiced with an open string, stopping it at the twelfth fret with the index finger and plucking with the ring finger (see fig. 1). Once this can be done satisfactorily, finger b-flat (first string, first fret) with the left hand index finger, and sound the octave harmonic by stopping the string at the thirteenth fret with the r.h. index finger while plucking with the r.h. ring finger. This excercise can be easily expanded, including all the notes on all the strings at the twelfth fret and above by simply adding 12 frets to the fingered note position. (note fingered at 2nd fret, octave harmonic produced at 14th fret; at 3rd fret, harmonic produced at 15th, etc.)
Index finger over 12th fret, ring finger plucking the string to produce open A octave harmonic.
To play intervals or chords of two or three notes which include an octave harmonic, play the harmonic as indicated previously (with r.h. index and ring fingers) and pluck the other string or strings with the thumb and middle finger of the right hand (see fig. 2). Because eye-hand coordination is an integral part of this technique, it is imperative that the left and right hand movements of such passages be committed to memory before attempting to perform them at tempo.
Octave harmonic played by index and ring fingers on the first string, accompanied by notes plucked on the second and fourth string by middle finger and thumb.
A short video demonstration of octave harmonics
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