What does this symbol mean?

[John Ruggero]

Looks like natural harmonics on the open A and D strings.

[hautbois baryton]

Thumb only with the Trumpets.

[RickP]

Why not just say "thumb"?

What does the symbol add to that?

As for natural harmonics, do you mean the faint ones near the 4th fret? Artificial harmonics would be easier and probably sound better, but then why say thumb? They aren't going to sound much different if you use a pick, which, btw, is much harder to do. In fact, I think it would be the hardest thing to play I've ever seen in a pro chart.

And then, why is a pro arranger writing a symbol that might not have seen before?

Sorry if this sounds ranty. I appreciate all the responses. Thanks.

[RickP]

I wish I could provide more info. I've never seen it elsewhere. If it's natural harmonics to be played with thumb, it would be difficult to get it to sound good. If it's artificial harmonics, why say thumb? A thumb pick sounds like a flatpick, more or less, why specify that?

Thanks for responding.

[John Ruggero]

Yo may need to take this to a guitar forum, Rick, unless we have a guitarist with answers in the house. I am ignorant about most things guitar and just took a wild guess since I see what is sometimes a symbol for harmonics over two notes two octaves higher than two open strings and an l.v. after them, which would be typical and very nice ending effect involving harmonics.

[Fred G. Unn]

And then, why is a pro arranger writing a symbol that might not have seen before?

You still haven't told us who the arranger or publisher is. Who is the arranger? Maybe it's a "house style" of that particular arranger or publisher that would become apparent if we could look at other examples of their work.

A similar symbol means to strike the top of the instrument. That seems pretty unlikely in a delicate context like this though.