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Touch-5th Harmonics Playability

January 22, 2026, 6:19 PM · Is there a consensus on the playability level of touch-5th harmonics? Is that stretch of a 5th in the lower positions too large for some violinists or is it of no concern? Is it considered an advanced technique? Should they be avoided in orchestral/sectional writing?

TIA

Replies (8)

Katherine Dunham

January 22, 2026, 6:25 PM · They are no problem for me... my hands aren't particularly small however

Cotton Mather

Edited: January 22, 2026, 10:20 PM · They're so uncommonly used that section players may struggle to do them consistently. But no, they aren't especially difficult.

Lydia Leong

January 22, 2026, 10:25 PM · They're a stretch. I don't like to do them. I haven't seen exercises for them; it's likely that practice would make them feel more natural.

In orchestra, it seems there would be little reason to do them rather than regular artificial harmonics.

Andrew Fryer

January 23, 2026, 2:15 AM · In the other thread I was only talking about using them on open strings.

jean dubuisson

January 23, 2026, 5:10 AM · They actually sound clearer than "touch 4th" artificial harmonics. I think you should basically have no real qualms indicating them in your compositions.

Andrew Fryer

January 23, 2026, 10:59 AM · They are clearer because they are a lower overtone.

William Rinatti

January 23, 2026, 1:20 PM · Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

Adrian Heath

Edited: January 26, 2026, 6:28 PM · Elbow and wrist well to the right, allowing a guitar-like spread of the fingers?

Touch-5th Harmonics Playability

Replies (8)

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