HELP WITH BASS HARMONICS PLEASE

[Damien.kal]

Hey I was just wondering if you guys could give me any tips on exactly how to do harmonics on bass. I hear guys like Jaco doing it and I can't figure out how.
Any personal knowledge on the topic or links to something that explains it would be great.

Thanks :P

[PJSShearer]

Lightly touch the string at the 12th fret (don't press down) with your "fretting" hand and then pluck the string with your "picking hand. Just after you pluck the string move your finger away from the 12th fret. The harmonic will sound an octave higher than the open string - or the same as fretting at the 12th fret. Doing the same thing at the 5th fret will give you a sound two octaves higher than the open string.

[Schlyder]

As said above, lightly touch a string right above the fret at the 5th, or 7th,
or 9th, or 12th fret... without pushing the string to the fingerboard.
You touch the exact same time you pluck the string.

There are more harmonics than just those fret positions, but those are the basic ones.
Someone will jump in here with a link to where you can find more info.

[champbassist]

Jaco's lessons on playing harmonics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy6DcFlBmfs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iMVKD8MNc

But this lesson by John Myung is probably the best one I've ever seen regarding harmonics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dk_L..._order&list=UL

But he doesn't talk about false harmonics as Jaco does.

Apart from these, too, are lots of Youtube vids on how to play harmonics.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Another aspect of playing harmonics that I consider extremely important is the bass tone. If you are one of those players who like a "scooped mids" tone, harmonics won't work (I mean, they won't ring as loud and clear). So, if your amp has a button labeled "Contour", "Mid Cut" or something like that, TURN IT OFF. Also, if you have a two-pickup bass, favor the bridge pickup (or even cancel the neck pickup if you like).

BTW, and contrary to what many seem to believe, harmonics aren't based on high frequencies and you don't need fresh strings to make them sound properly. A mid-rich tone is the key for great-sounding harmonics (aside from technique, of course).

[JTE]

Mids are your friend! The "Jaco" sound includes a nice boost around 1K. Clean technique is critical as is knowing where the harmonics are on your bass. While the easy ones are at frets 4, 5, 7, and 12, there're a lot more scattered around between frets too.

John

[Phalex]

PUPs make a big difference too I think. My P-bass with 1/4lb PUP gets harmonics that I didn't even know existed. My Rickenbacker just doesn't seem to pick a lot of those up at all.

[Nev375]

Using a single pickup tends to work a lot better than using two also.

[champbassist]

And pluck close to the bridge, rather than towards the neck (if it wasn't obvious enough already ).

[petersenbass]

I have a chart of the fingerboard with all harmonics and their note names. It comes in handy. Send me a PM...or maybe we could make it a sticky.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by petersenbass

I have a chart of the fingerboard with all harmonics and their note names. It comes in handy. Send me a PM...or maybe we could make it a sticky.

Why so much secrecy?



Click on this: it's a much larger image than what you see.

[petersenbass]

I wasn't trying to be secretive....riiiiiight.

[bottomzone]

Dean Peer wrote a book on harmonics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udz9cKyQAag

http://www.amazon.com/Dean-Peers-Bas.../dp/0769265812

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Beginner Bass]

IMO, you've got to boost the mids, play at the bridge, and boost/solo the bridge p-up to get the most of them. Also, try to remove your finger quickly, as the flesh will reduce the sustain.

[Samsound]

Originally Posted by Beginner Bass

IMO, you've got to boost the mids, play at the bridge, and boost/solo the bridge p-up to get the most of them. Also, try to remove your finger quickly, as the flesh will reduce the sustain.

And wash your hair, too. If you're playing, and your hair hits the string - if it's not clean it will dull it. But if your hair is clean, it will make a harmonic; and it will sing like a bird!

- Nigel Tufnel

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by petersenbass

I wasn't trying to be secretive....riiiiiight.

And I was joking.

BTW, if you do have a chart why ask for someone to PM you? Why not just post it?

[DwaynieAD]

harmonics are also great for tuning your bass to itself

[Rockmusician]

Schlyder has it right. 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th fret.

[Schlyder]

Those are only the basic ones. There are more than that.... and they repeat after the 12th fret.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

Those are only the basic ones. There are more than that.... and they repeat after the 12th fret.

+1 See chart above