String Harmonic Node Calculator
Find where to touch a string for each natural harmonic: the node positions along the scale length, the pitch it rings, and how far that pitch sits from equal temperament.
Node positions
| Node | Fraction | From nut (in) | From bridge (in) |
|---|
A string touched lightly at a node k/n of its length rings the n-th harmonic at n times the open string's frequency, and the node nearest the nut sits at 1/n of the scale length. Harmonics 2, 4, 8 and 16 land exactly on octaves; 3, 6, 9 and 12 are within two cents of equal temperament, while 5, 7 and 11 sit audibly flat or sharp — about 14, 31 and 49 cents — which is why they are used for colour rather than tuning. Positions are measured from the inside face of the nut to the bridge saddle on a string at rest; a fretted or bent note, saddle compensation and string stiffness shift a real node slightly. Everything runs locally in your browser with no storage, uploads or network access.