Playing harmonics where there arent any?

[g&lplayer]

Hey guys....so I have a question about this technique i have heard a few bass players used. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how to do what jeff is doing at 2:11 in this video. It would be a HUUUGE help to at least give me the name of the technique so i can look it up myself.

the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86GgV...eature=related

[LiamPodmore]

Seems like he's doing Pinch Harmonics with his fingernail to me, good trick to have in your arsenal, but hard to do without a pick. If you want to learn just youtube search "Bass Pinch Harmonics" And you should find a video or two.

Liam

[longfinger]

One way to do it: pluck strings with index finger, while simultaneously using the thumb placed on a node to sound the harmonic.

It's done often on guitar with a pick + thumb.


I never thought about doing it on electric bass, but now I think I'll try it out some more.

[LiamPodmore]

Or if using a pick instead of doing a downward stroke. Pick downwards and turn your pick clockwise as you do, thats how i do it. But i might try the method longfinger suggested.

Liam

[crentest]

i use the heel of my hand while i pluck with my fingers.

[NateS]

there are many ways of playing artificial, or pinch harmonics. I'm partial to using a second finger to touch the node while i pluck.

i dunno if it's assuming to much, but in case you don't know, talking about touching nodes, is just that as you shorten a string, the harmonic nodes, or points, shift position, so if you're fretting the 3rd fret, the octave harmonic will be closer to the 15th fret than the 12th fret of an open note. So, when you play a note, you then, at the same time, touch the node of that string at that pitch, and the harmonic plays. Requires being pretty precise in your picking/plucking, especially for higher harmonics of shorter strings - the margin of error gets increasingly smaller as the two factors add on more

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by bassk81976

there are many ways of playing artificial, or pinch harmonics. I'm partial to using a second finger to touch the node while i pluck.

i dunno if it's assuming to much, but in case you don't know, talking about touching nodes, is just that as you shorten a string, the harmonic nodes, or points, shift position, so if you're fretting the 3rd fret, the octave harmonic will be closer to the 15th fret than the 12th fret of an open note. So, when you play a note, you then, at the same time, touch the node of that string at that pitch, and the harmonic plays. Requires being pretty precise in your picking/plucking, especially for higher harmonics of shorter strings - the margin of error gets increasingly smaller as the two factors add on more

This is correct. I do it with my thumb, actually, e.g. fretting the 5th fret, placing my thumb over the 17th fret and plucking behind it with my finger (behind meaning towards the bridge). This gives me a note 1 octave higher than the note that is produced by plucking the string when fretting the 5th fret.

[rick0link]

watch this video for Weather Reports "Birdland" and you'll see Jaco use the pick harmonics with his thumb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by rick0link

watch this video for Weather Reports "Birdland" and you'll see Jaco use the pick harmonics with his thumb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o

Better still, watch the end of this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy6DcFlBmfs

And the start of this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iMVKD8MNc

Where Jaco actually talks about how to play false harmonics.