LOUD harmonics

[Dennis098]

When I play my 08 American Jazz i can barely get the harmonics audible (ernie ball hybrid slinkies)

I recently played a yamaha fretless bass with new-looking flatwounds and a Badass II and i could get the harmonics to ring REALLY loud and clear.

any suggestions for getting that with roundwounds on my fender? or technique change?

[fretlessman71]

A few short ones:

Bridge pickup.
Play closer to the bridge.
Make sure your strings are fresh.
Make sure your fretting hand is accurate with the node point.

That's all I got, and it ain't much, but maybe some of it will help.

[BadB]

How's your pick up height? Never had a problem with harmonics on a jazz.

[Slax]

On my P-bass I set my pick ups pretty low and found the harmonics to be lacking also.... well compared to my Ric where they scream.

I found when I put it through my Boss multi-effects pedal. (mostly the compressor/limiter portion) it seems the harmonics were extremely clear.

[mvw356]

imo harmonics are audible to varying degres for two reasons: quality of the bass and pickup location (more pickups is better)

[quale213]

I turn up the treble, turn down the neck pu, play right over the bridge pu, and strike the harmonic. Make sure u r plucking hard enough, and turn up ur gain...

[Dennis098]

ok playing near the bridge helps a lot. thx
and these are old strings too.

does anyone have any idea how to get screaming loud harmonics like Jaco's Birdland intro?

[cmewhinney]

Those are artificial harmonics. He used his thumb as the node, placed it an octave higher than the note he was fretting, and attacked the string with his index finger. Try using your nail. It doesn't give the best tone, but the harmonics are very loud and clear. Also check out Steve Bailey.

[BrennP90]

Also some questions while were on the topic..
How does low/high action affect harmonics?

I've been working on Portrait of Tracy this week. The final chord is an artificial harmonic were you fret at the 9th fret and play the harmonic on the 13th, across the A, D, G strings.

Now on my 08 American Jazz (with medium action) I can get harmonics ringing pretty loudly, even on that chord. But on my MIM Fretless, with pretty low action, that chord is completely inaudible. Does it sound like the action is an issue here?

[mvw356]

harmonics are a wave on the string, if the pickup is located where the 'wave' intersects the string you won't hear it. it's most likely a pickup location issue.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by mvw356

harmonics are a wave on the string, if the pickup is located where the 'wave' intersects the string you won't hear it. it's most likely a pickup location issue.

Both basses are jazz basses. Did we rule out a bad/dead set of strings yet? Another possibility is that the intonation is out of whack, so the harmonics aren't quite where they're expected to be.

[Eminor3rd]

Make sure your bass is intonated correctly.

[fretlessman71]

Originally Posted by BrennP90

Also some questions while were on the topic..
How does low/high action affect harmonics?

I've been working on Portrait of Tracy this week. The final chord is an artificial harmonic were you fret at the 9th fret and play the harmonic on the 13th, across the A, D, G strings.

Now on my 08 American Jazz (with medium action) I can get harmonics ringing pretty loudly, even on that chord. But on my MIM Fretless, with pretty low action, that chord is completely inaudible. Does it sound like the action is an issue here?

Keep in mind that you're going to have lots more to contend with playing false harmonics on a fretless. When you barre across the strings, THEN stretch your pinky out to find the harmonics at the 13th fret (or to be precise, just INSIDE the 13th fret), it's very possible that your index finger isn't quite where you left it.

The harmonics you're looking for should be about 4 1/16" past the notes created by your index finger if it's on the 9th fretmarker, no matter how accurate your intonation is each time. I bet if you can memorize it as a "muscle memory" position (meaning your left hand's spread for said harmonic on a fretless bass), you'll be much more consistent.

[mvw356]

Originally Posted by lemur821

Both basses are jazz basses. Did we rule out a bad/dead set of strings yet? Another possibility is that the intonation is out of whack, so the harmonics aren't quite where they're expected to be.

sorry i was responding to the post above mine about a jazz and a p bass. of course proper intonation is necessary.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by mvw356

sorry i was responding to the post above mine about a jazz and a p bass. of course proper intonation is necessary.

I thought the guy in the post above yours had two jazz basses. Looking again, maybe not.

[TOOL460002]

been a while since i played eb strings- but dr high beams are noticeably better for harmonics than any strings ive played- which- admittedly- is not a whole lot.

also- use a bit of nail- contacting the string as little as possible. a boost pedal might help too- if you still cant get them as loud as youd like.

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

When you barre across the strings, THEN stretch your pinky out to find the harmonics at the 13th fret (or to be precise, just INSIDE the 13th fret), it's very possible that your index finger isn't quite where you left it.

for some harmonics it may be easier to fret left hand- use your index at the harmonic point- and pluck with your thumb. i use that a lot more than the pinky method- a lot more.

[Kael]

Even with the greatest technique, fresh rounds, and the bridge p/up solo'd, you need to make sure that you have an amp/cab that can reproduce those harmonics effortlessly. The first time I played an EA cxl-112, I remember being astonished at how the harmonics jumped out of that cab. If you can hear the harmonics acoustically, but not through the amp, then take a look at your rig. EQ in extra upper mids. Parametric EQ helps to nail the sweetspot if you got it.

All that aside, if you don't hear the harmoncis acoustically, then it isn't happening.