Natural Harmonics

• There are points along the guitar string that will produce complex harmonious sounds if held in the correct position. In normal circumstances, you would fret the string at say the 12th fret, and then play a tone one octave above the note produced by the unfretted (or open) string; however, if you lightly touch your finger to the string directly above the 12fth fret, the string will produce a different sound that consists of several different notes played at one time. These natural harmonics aren't only located at the 12th fret, but also at the 19th and seventh frets. To play the harmonic, touch your finger to the string directly above the metal fret, then pluck the string without pressing it down onto the fretboard.
  
  

Pull-Off

• The pull-off can be performed with any two frets along a single string that you can hold down at the same time. It is done by fretting a string in two places, plucking it once, then releasing the finger farthest away from the headstock to switch from one note to another. For example, hold the fifth fret on any string with your ring finger, while simultaneously fretting the third fret with your index finger. Pluck the string to sound the tone of the fifth fret, then, while it resonates, pull off the ring finger to continue making a sound from the third fret. This is a quintessential trick utilized by many guitarists and a great technique to master early in your studies.
  
  

Bend

• The bend is a way to fret a note and bend it up to another tone without lifting your finger from the fretboard. To bend a note, fret the string at any location. While the note resonates, apply vertical force to the string to pull it closer to one of the parallel strings. Listen to the change in pitch and try to practice mastering the amount of bending required to produce the exact tone from adjacent frets.
  
  

Pinch Harmonics

• Pinch harmonics are sometimes called "squealies," since they produce a sort of wailing, squeal - especially with distorted electric guitars. To perform a pinch harmonic, hold the pick in a way that will allow for your thumb to rub the string directly following it. The key to a good pinch harmonic is to pluck the string with both your thumb and the pick.