There are so many amazing ways that Sammy organically folds harmonics into arrangements that it really warrants some examples. Here are a few of my favorites.
Radiohead, No Surprises. You'll definitely notice the all-harmonic intro, but check how smoothly they flow through a number of phrases throughout.
The Verve, Bittersweet Symphony. He's using harmonics to replace the string section!!! Where it gets INSANE is when he hits the harmonics on his way into the strums to keep the riff going behind the melody! I'd already been following Sammy for a couple of years when he dropped this, and a year later, this still freaks me out. I'm glad for Sammy's sake and ours that practitioners of wizardry are largely left to pursue their magical arts in peace, because seriously, this is INSANE.
It's also a perfect example of the strategem he calls "not breaking the chord" -- it's hard to imagine any practical alternative to playing this many sounds this elegantly.
Those songs, and others that Sammy performs and teaches, have elements in them that are naturally in this range, but they're mostly contemporary-ish pop songs (plus whatever the f Radiohead is
-- I love them and still couldn't tell you).
I'd love to see some classical arrangements that take advantage of this too, but I don't currently have any nominees. Anyone else?
In any case,
@4stringboy, thanks for sharing, and thanks for all the magical sparkles!
