Keys to good harmonics?

[TredH20]

Hi everyone -

In the process of trying to learn Portrait of Tracy...and was wondering what some of the keys to getting nice sounding harmonics are? I am having trouble with a few of the harmonics ringing properly. I have tried multiple locations in/and around the harmonic spot to see if I could get it to ring nicely but some of them just won't do it (for instance the harmonic at the 3rd fret on the A string sounds very dull- and also the dreaded fretted 2nd fret to 6th fret harmonic stretch on the A string sounds like a "clunk"). I've got my pickups panned all the way to the bridge and my treble and high mids turned way up, which improves the sound a bit - but still no dice with these particular harmonics.

My strings are definitely old...and I need to replace them - I think that might help a bit in improving the sound. Technique-wise - is there anything else I should be doing? Too much pressure with my fingers maybe? Are there any other adjustments I should make? Lowering string height? Raising pickup height, etc?

Thanks TBers!

[BZadlo]

Try experimenting with the touch of your left hand. I've found that a light touch followed by a quick removal of your left hand fingers helps the notes to ring out. You shouldn't have to dig in too hard with your left hand. The harmonic is either there or its not.
Also, some instruments just can't produce some harmonics. It's something that I always look for when choosing an instrument.

[wdinc01]

A boost may also be what you need. I've got a BBE Sonic Stomp and it definitely helps with my harmonics.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Many people think that fresh (or not so old strings) ar crucial for getting harmonics to ring loud and clear since there's the conception that harmonics are based on high frequencies, and that's a big mistake. You don't need your tone to bright and zingy to get good harmonics from your bass. IT'S ALL IN THE MIDDLE FREQUENCIES. Basically, the most important thing is: If your amp has a button labeled like "contour", "mid contour", "mid scoop" or something similar, TURN IT OFF. What that button does is giving the amp's basic tone a "smiley" or "V" curve (think of a graphic equalizer) that emphasizes lows and highs while burying the mids. That's harmonics' #1 enemy. Don't be stingy with your mids when adjusting your amp's tone (you can even roll off highs if you like. They aren't needed for harmonics to ring loud and clear -in spite of the muffled tone- if you have a decent amount of mids in your sound).

Also, if you have a two-pickup bass, favoring the bridge pickup (or cancelling the neck pickup if you like) is a big help, as well as plucking the strings near the bridge.

[varunkapahi]

it does depend on your bass a lot. body, wood, construction, pickups etc matter all the way while turning up the mids can only help by boosting those frequencies but first your bass needs to produce them! if you have a jazz bass, wiring your pickups in series or installing a S1 type switch might help. i recently did that and i have way too many mids now!

new strings would help too

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by TredH20

I've got my pickups panned all the way to the bridge and my treble and high mids turned way up, which improves the sound a bit - but still no dice with these particular harmonics.

Didn't read that part. Anyway, check your amp's "contour" button if it has it. Having a very low action doesn't help either since the string most likely will graze the frets and the harmonic will be killed very soon.

[TredH20]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

Many people think that fresh (or not so old strings) ar crucial for getting harmonics to ring loud and clear since there's the conception that harmonics are based on high frequencies, and that's a big mistake. You don't need your tone to bright and zingy to get good harmonics from your bass. IT'S ALL IN THE MIDDLE FREQUENCIES. Basically, the most important thing is: If your amp has a button labeled like "contour", "mid contour", "mid scoop" or something similar, TURN IT OFF. What that button does is giving the amp's basic tone a "smiley" or "V" curve (think of a graphic equalizer) that emphasizes lows and highs while burying the mids. That's harmonics' #1 enemy. Don't be stingy with your mids when adjusting your amp's tone (you can even roll off highs if you like. They aren't needed for harmonics to ring loud and clear -in spite of the muffled tone- if you have a decent amount of mids in your sound).

Also, if you have a two-pickup bass, favoring the bridge pickup (or cancelling the neck pickup if you like) is a big help, as well as plucking the strings near the bridge.

I am playing through aGK MB210 - and sure enough...the contour button is depressed!!! I didn't realize that about harmonics - once I get back home I'll be shutting that off and see how it responds.

[TredH20]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

it does depend on your bass a lot. body, wood, construction, pickups etc matter all the way while turning up the mids can only help by boosting those frequencies but first your bass needs to produce them! if you have a jazz bass, wiring your pickups in series or installing a S1 type switch might help. i recently did that and i have way too many mids now!

new strings would help too

I am playing through an old Ibanez SR1200 neck thru with maple and mahogany body and stock pickups. I am hoping the instrument inofitself isn't the rate limiting factor here...she's been a great bass. But then again...it might help strengthen my case to my wife for going and buying something else

[Bruce Lindfield]

What hasn't been mentioned yet is the most important factor :

ACCURACY!!

So - harmonics will ring out loud and clear if you are playing them at exactly the right point on the string.

Forget about frets - this is all about subdividing working string length and if you use frets as a reference you will be wrong, as they don't match exactly and are a compromise! (apart from 12th)

In PoT particularly, the harmonics are between frets, not over them.

So Jaco knew it was all about left hand accuracy - if you find the right point, they will ring out loud and clear - out by a fraction and they will "choke".

I can get them to ring out on old dead strings and even on a Double Bass , with accuracy of left hand placement.

[HogieWan]

pluck with your right hand closer to the bridge

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by HogieWan

pluck with your right hand closer to the bridge

yep i'd say pick over the bridge pickup!

[TredH20]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

What hasn't been mentioned yet is the most important factor :

ACCURACY!!

So - harmonics will ring out loud and clear if you are playing them at exactly the right point on the string.

Forget about frets - this is all about subdividing working string length and if you use frets as a reference you will be wrong, as they don't match exactly and are a compromise! (apart from 12th)

In PoT particularly, the harmonics are between frets, not over them.

So Jaco knew it was all about left hand accuracy - if you find the right point, they will ring out loud and clear - out by a fraction and they will "choke".

I can get them to ring out on old dead strings and even on a Double Bass , with accuracy of left hand placement.

I agree here - I am trying to be as accurate as possible in my hand positions, and I'll continue to work on trying to improve my accuracy. It just seems for certain harmonic points - I am not getting them to ring...even when all I am doing is "searching" for the harmonic in and around the area it "should" be.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by TredH20

I agree here - I am trying to be as accurate as possible in my hand positions, and I'll continue to work on trying to improve my accuracy. It just seems for certain harmonic points - I am not getting them to ring...even when all I am doing is "searching" for the harmonic in and around the area it "should" be.

Well - you have to look at subdividing the working string length and not look at frets - so the crucial notes on PoT are inbetween the frets, but not right in the middle...it just takes practice and if you get it right they leap out at you!

I can guarantee you that you can get it on most decent basses - even when unplugged, so pickups and amps are irrelevant - it's about the natural relationship of harmonics in stringed instruments and you can hear great players like Brian Bromberg getting the same harmonics on recordings, using Double Bass!!

[bigblondeafro87]

Compression can help make them stand out more, but you really have to know where the harmonics are on the strings. The harmonics for the 4th/9th 5th 7th and 12th fret are above the corresponding fret, but in PoT there are harmonics used at ~6, 3.2, 3, 2, and 1.8 not to mention the false harmonics.

For the 2 to 6 stretch I find playing a false harmonic (fretting two and creating a node with your thumb over around the neck pickup) makes life much easier and cleaner sounding.

[TredH20]

Thanks everyone! I am learning a lot. Harmonics were something that I never really incorporated into my bass playing. I am coming back from a few years of "hiatus" and I am trying to challenge myself and work on things that I never had the oppurtunity to really pursue. I really appreciate the advice and feedback.

[guroove]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

What hasn't been mentioned yet is the most important factor :

ACCURACY!!

So - harmonics will ring out loud and clear if you are playing them at exactly the right point on the string.

Forget about frets - this is all about subdividing working string length and if you use frets as a reference you will be wrong, as they don't match exactly and are a compromise! (apart from 12th)

In PoT particularly, the harmonics are between frets, not over them.

So Jaco knew it was all about left hand accuracy - if you find the right point, they will ring out loud and clear - out by a fraction and they will "choke".

I can get them to ring out on old dead strings and even on a Double Bass , with accuracy of left hand placement.

^ This more than anything else.

Also, it was mentioned above. A light touch and quick removal to get it to ring out. Another thing is right hand technique. Pluck hard, close to the bridge, but it's a certain kind of hard. You don't want to plunk the string so that there's a lot of movement. It's more like a lot of force / velocity, and very little of your finger digging into the string.

[Ric5]

Keys to good harmonics?

Part is technique part is a hotter signal. More gain but not more volume.

With my current effects setup Harmonics is a breeze.

[Bassmickeyd]

I think you should be practicing your harmonics without the bass plugged in. That way you'll release how much it is in the hands. As already said here it's accuracy and fine touch that will make those harmonics leap from the fretboard.

[TredH20]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Keys to good harmonics?

Part is technique part is a hotter signal. More gain but not more volume.

With my current effects setup Harmonics is a breeze.

Quick MacGruber! Which wire do you have to cut??!!?? The green one??!!?? Or the black one!!???!! We're running out of time - only 9 seconds left!!!

Only kidding - I don't have much in the way of effects/pedals - I do have a Digitech BP8 that I might be able to toy with...

[christianharger]

Wooten suggests to not only pan the volume to the bridge pick up, but actually to play down there as well (just above the pup). This definitely is unnatural for me, although I know some players who play down there anyways. It absolutely affects the sound of the harmonics though.