Introduction

Why Do Patterns Form?

Harmonic Patterns

Examples of Harmonic Patterns

List of Harmonic Patterns

Fibonacci Discussion

Advantages & Disadvantages of Harmonic Patterns

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Now that you’ve got the basic chart patterns down, it’s time to move on and add some more advanced tools to your forex trading arsenal.

In this lesson, we’ll be looking at harmonic price patterns.

These bad boys may be a little harder to grasp but once you spot these setups, it can lead to some very nice profits!

The whole idea of these patterns is that they help people spot possible retracements of recent trends.

In fact, we’ll make use of other tools we’ve already covered – the Fibonacci retracement and extensions!

Combining these wonderful tools to spot these harmonic price patterns, we’ll be able to distinguish possible areas for a continuation of the overall trend.

In this lesson, we’re going to discuss the following Harmonic Price Patterns:

• ABCD Pattern
• Three-Drive Pattern
• Gartley Pattern
• Crab Pattern
• Bat Pattern
• Butterfly Pattern

Phew! That’s quite a lot to cover!

But don’t you worry… Once you get the hang of things, it’ll be as easy as 1-2-3!

We’ll start off with the more basic ABCD and three-drive patterns before moving on to Gartley and the animals.

After learning about them, we’ll take a look at the tools you need in order to trade these patterns successfully in the forex market.

For all these harmonic price patterns, the point is to wait for the entire pattern to complete before taking any short or long trades.

You’ll see what we’re talking about later on so let’s get started!

Harmonic price patterns are those that take geometric price patterns to the next level by utilizing Fibonacci numbers to define precise turning points. Unlike other more common trading methods, harmonic trading attempts to predict future movements.

Let’s look at some examples of how harmonic price patterns are used to trade currencies in the forex market.

Geometry and Fibonacci Numbers

Harmonic trading combines patterns and math into a trading method that is precise and based on the premise that patterns repeat themselves. At the root of the methodology is the primary ratio, or some derivative of it (0.618 or 1.618). Complementing ratios include: 0.382, 0.50, 1.41, 2.0, 2.24, 2.618, 3.14 and 3.618. The primary ratio is found in almost all natural and environmental structures and events; it is also found in man-made structures. Since the pattern repeats throughout nature and within society, the ratio is also seen in the financial markets, which are affected by the environments and societies in which they trade.

By finding patterns of varying lengths and magnitudes, the trader can then apply Fibonacci ratios to the patterns and try to predict future movements. The trading method is largely attributed to Scott Carney,1 although others have contributed or found patterns and levels that enhance performance.

Issues with Harmonics

Harmonic price patterns are precise, requiring the pattern to show movements of a particular magnitude in order for the unfolding of the pattern to provide an accurate reversal point. A trader may often see a pattern that looks like a harmonic pattern, but the Fibonacci levels will not align in the pattern, thus rendering the pattern unreliable in terms of the harmonic approach. This can be an advantage, as it requires the trader to be patient and wait for ideal set-ups.

Harmonic patterns can gauge how long current moves will last, but they can also be used to isolate reversal points. The danger occurs when a trader takes a position in the reversal area and the pattern fails. When this happens, the trader can be caught in a trade where the trend rapidly extends against them. Therefore, as with all trading strategies, risk must be controlled.

It is important to note that patterns may exist within other patterns, and it is also possible that non-harmonic patterns may (and likely will) exist within the context of harmonic patterns. These can be used to aid in the effectiveness of the harmonic pattern and enhance entry and exit performance. Several price waves may also exist within a single harmonic wave (for instance, a CD wave or AB wave). Prices are constantly gyrating; therefore, it is important to focus on the bigger picture of the time frame being traded. The fractal nature of the markets allows the theory to be applied from the smallest to largest time frames.

To use the method, a trader will benefit from a chart platform that allows them to plot multiple Fibonacci retracements to measure each wave.

Types of Harmonic Patterns

There is quite an assortment of harmonic patterns, although there are four that seem most popular. These are the Gartley, butterfly, bat, and crab patterns.

Harmonic Patterns are a type of complex patterns that occur naturally in financial charts based on geometric price action and Fibonacci levels.

The patterns were introduced to the trading world by Harold McKinley Gartley in 1932. Gartley created a pattern which he named after himself and outlined in his 1935 book, Profits in the Stock Market.

When properly identified, harmonic patterns allow traders to enter the trade in a high probability reversal zone with minimal risk. Harmonic trading techniques utilize Fibonacci price patterns and numbers to quantify these relationships.

They offer a means to establish where the turning points will occur.

What are Harmonic Patterns?

Harmonic patterns are trend reversal patterns that are based on the Fibonacci extensions, retracement levels, and geometric structures.

These patterns provide traders the potential reversal zone, which help to hop in reversal trades at the brink of exhaustion.

What do these patterns look like?

In general, all harmonic patterns are based from 5 turning points in price.

However, each type of harmonic pattern has a different geometrical shape and Fibonacci ratio. We name these points X, A, B, C and D. Each harmonic patterns follows its own set of rules that will discuss in greater detail later in the article.

Why these patterns important?

The main importance of harmonic patterns is to predict price movements.

By finding patterns of different magnitudes and lengths and applying Fibonacci coefficients to them, day traders can try to forecast the future movement of financial instruments like stocks, options, and more.

Harmonic patterns are the key to identifying reversals. They are a very precise instrument, characterizing very specific price movements.

Trading Harmonic Patterns

Trading Harmonic Patterns is similar to trading any other chart pattern.

Here are the main factors to consider:

• Practice trading these patterns in a simulator before using real money
• Always have a profit and loss target before entering the trade
• Establish where each patterns entry and exit points are
• Only trade A+ setups

Bottom Line

Every trader wants to become successful at trading. Learning to trade the market using harmonic patterns is not hard. They are one of the most useful patterns if plotted correctly.

However, don’t forget that harmonic trading has some inherent pitfalls and it is a rules-based method which requires discipline.

To make harmonic patterns more reliable, make sure to pay attention to support and resistance levels. Combine this with price action reversal patterns such as bullish or bearish engulfing to give yourself some confidence.

Finally, remember to set your stop losses and target levels to reasonable price levels.

Fine-Tune Entries and Stop Losses

Each pattern provides a potential reversal zone (PRZ), and not necessarily an exact price. This is because two different projections are forming point D. If all projected levels are within close proximity, the trader can enter a position at that area. If the projection zone is spread out, such as on longer-term charts where the levels may be 50 pips or more apart, look for some other confirmation of the price moving in the expected direction. This could be from an indicator, or simply watching price action.

A stop loss can also be placed outside the furthest projection. This means the stop loss is unlikely to be reached unless the pattern invalidates itself by moving too far.

The Bottom Line

Harmonic trading is a precise and mathematical way to trade, but it requires patience, practice, and a lot of studies to master the patterns. The basic measurements are just the beginning. Movements that do not align with proper pattern measurements invalidate a pattern and can lead traders astray.

The Gartley, butterfly, bat, and crab are the better-known patterns that traders watch for. Entries are made in the potential reversal zone when price confirmation indicates a reversal, and stop losses are placed just below a long entry or above a short entry, or alternatively outside the furthest projection of the pattern.

Key takeaways:

1. The 5-0 pattern is a reversal harmonic pattern.
2. It follows specific fibonacci ratios (which you can read more below)

The patterns are relatively new but are getting more popular lately. It stands out from the other harmonic patterns because it is meant to begin a new trend rather than discover retracement. There are two types of this pattern, bullish and bearish.

The convergence zones discovered with the help of the shark pattern makes it possible for us to accurately detect the rebound but doesn’t necessarily lead to the restoration of the previous trend. On the other hand, regular rollbacks aim to determine the ability of the forces dominant on the market in the previous period (bears or bulls) to get the initiative back to their disposal. If they are not sufficient, the last reversal of the previous trend occurs, but already within another pattern – 5-0 harmonic pattern.

How to identify the 5-0 pattern?

The 5-0 pattern begins with either an uptrend or a downtrend which gets exhausted and draws zigzag like corrective movements. The qualities of the 5-0 pattern to look at include:

• AB movement has to be 1.13 to 1.618 retracement of XA.
• BC movement has to be 1.618 to 2.24 retracement of an AB.
• CD movement ought to be 0.5 retracements of BC
• C should be between 0.886 and 1.13 of 0X movement

If the conditions are satisfied, some traders trade the last leg of CD. They entering at C with a stop below 2.24 of AB retracement and aiming at 50 percent correction of BC movement.

The 5-0 harmonic pattern is traded when the price is getting to point D. The stop-loss is positioned a few ticks below/above the farthest possible D level. Unlike a lot of the other patterns, 5-0 doesn’t have specific targets because it usually begins a new trend. Here the pattern fib ratios don’t matter much. Entries might be done with a limit order or on price reversals away from point D. All entries have to be confirmed for risk/reward ratio. Entries having less risk/reward have to be taken cautiously or discarded altogether.

A reliable indicator should automatically scan for, recognize, display, and alert emerging 5-0 and other harmonic chart patterns. It indicates the name of the pattern, when it happened, and the stop price. The pattern scanner goes through various charts in the same period and assists traders to find trading opportunities as soon as they come up.

Bearish 5-0 pattern

To correctly identify the bearish 5-0 pattern, first, find the shark pattern, wait for the implementation of its targets at 88.6 or 113 percent, and the following rollback in the direction of 50 percent of the BC wave. The length of this wave in both graphic configurations is 161.8 to 224 percent of AB. If after the convergence zones of the shark pattern is reached, a correction in the direction of 23.6 percent, 38.2 percent, or 50 percent has followed, we can talk about the transformation of the real pattern into 5-0.

Bullish 5-0 pattern

After the target at 113 percent of the shark harmonic pattern was achieved, it was followed by a rollback in the direction of 38.2 percent of the CD wave. The trader has to search for this place for confirmation signals to create a long position. It can be both indicators, prompts from price action, or other items and techniques used for technical analysis.

What does the 5-0 pattern tell traders?

The 5-0 harmonic chart pattern suggests a long entry upon completion of the pattern or confirmation of the D point of the pattern. The pattern is a unique 5-point reversal structure that typically shows the first pullback of an important trend reversal. It is a relatively new pattern that has 4 legs and particular Fibonacci measurements of each point within the structure, creating room for better flexible interpretation. The Potential Reversal Zone (PRZ) is described differently from other harmonic chart patterns.

Conservative traders look for more confirmation before getting into a trade. Targets for this pattern can be placed at the discretion of the trader as the reversal point could be the beginning of a new trend. Common stop-loss levels are found behind a structure level beyond the D point or the next vital level for the Fibonacci sequence.

How to trade when you see the 5-0 pattern?

One of the best processes of interpreting this pattern is to look at it from a tired and frustrated trader’s point of view. Taking the bullish 5-0 pattern as an example, then we can see why. The AB leg ends with B below X, making a lower low. We then get a longer move in time where the BC leg is the most prolonged move with C ending over A.

The movement from B to C may look like a bear flag or bearish pennant. C to D indicates intense shorting pressure and a belief among bears that new lows are on the way. Rather, we get to D – the 50 percent retracement of BC. Rather than new lower lows, we get a confirmation swing forming a higher low. That move will most probably create a brand new trend reversal or significant corrective move.

The elements of trading the 5-0 pattern

• The pattern starts (with 0) at the beginning of a long price move
• After 0 has formed, an impulse reversal at X, A, and B should have a 113 to 161.8 percent extension
• The projection off of AB has a 161.8 percent extension requirement to C. C can extend beyond the 161.8 percent extension but not beyond 224 percent.
• D is the 50 percent retracement of BC and is same as AB
• The reciprocal AB=CD is needed

Drawing the 5-0 pattern properly

To perfectly draw or locate a 5-0 harmonic chart pattern on the price chart, first of all, we need to locate the X and A points of the pattern. The X point is seen at the bottom of a strong bearish trend. The A point is found at the top of a bullish trend. The next thing traders need to do is to draw a Fibonacci retracement tool from X to A to determine the B point of the chart pattern. The B point should be within the 113 percent to 161.8 percent Fibonacci retracement of XA.

In the last step, we will get the entry point, D point, of the 5-0 harmonic chart pattern. To get the D point of the pattern, draw a Fibonacci retracement tool from B to C. The D point has to be at the 50 percent Fibonacci retracement of BC.

Traders can be sure when the D point of the pattern is confirmed. The stop-loss for the order should be set at the lower support level. The profit target for the order should be placed within the 50 to 88.6 percent Fibonacci retracement of CD.

The C axis can also be traded, if it is the D point of a bearish harmonic chart pattern. The B point can be traded if the entries are confirmed by the other tools for technical analysis.

References
https://patternswizard.com/5-0-harmonic-pattern/
https://harmonictrader.com/harmonic-patterns/5-0/
https://www.liteforex.com/blog/for-beginners/5-0-pattern-shark-hunt/
https://www.orbex.com/blog/en/2017/03/catch-key-reversals-5-0-pattern
https://algorush.com/trading-academy/advanced-lessons/harmonic-patterns/harmonic-trading-patterns/5-0-pattern/