dumb question about artificial harmonics

[tensegrity]

I'm new at trying to play bass. Question about the notation sometimes used for artificial harmonics.

I'm trying to get through Portrait of Tracy, but don't understand some of the notation. For example, one chord is written as follows:

A.H.
2
2
2

G

And, notes above this notation show a B, E and A (regular notes, not diamonds). Question is, what is this notation trying to tell me to do with my bass?

I understand a little about natural harmonics and artificial ones where you are 12 frets (or less) above the fretted notes, but I'm not understanding what I should do given this particular notation.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Mark

[Bruce Lindfield]

The harmonics in PoT do not correspond to frets and Jaco is using chords made up of regular notes and harmonics, as well as artificial harmonics.

Artificial harmonics work on sub-dividing working string length or 'nodes' ...

It's probably easier to explain face-to-face than in writing!!??

Or just look at a video of Jaco and do what he does!!

[tensegrity]

Bruce,

I think I get some of what's going on in PoT (at least, I can see what's required to sound like the recording), but I don't understand the specific notation that I posted. Other tabs I've seen just tell you to play a harmonic between the 2nd and 3rd frets for this chord, which sounds ok, but I'm trying to understand if the above notation is the same as this or if there's some other secret code that it's telling me.

Thanks!

Mark

[champbassist]

I think a link to the tab could help, by pinpointing the location of the chord you are talking about. As Bruce said, artificial harmonics are best explained in person, the next best substitute to which would be a video. In the "Modern Electric Bass" instructional vid by Jaco, he plays a bit of PoT and thoroughly explains artificial harmonics too (as in the intro to Birdland). The vid is available in its entirety on Youtube, albeit in parts.

[JTE]

Simply, natural harmonics are the ones that occur with open strings, artificial harmonics are ones you produce from fretted notes. There's a point in "Portrait of Tracy" where you stop the B on the 3rd string/2nd fret with your index finger, and stretch your pinky up to between the 5th and 6th fret (almost right above the 6th fret) to catch the D# harmonic. That's an extreme example of an artificial harmonic.

You can get simple artificial harmonics by fretting any note, placing your thumb over the node 12 frets higher, and plucking the string with your fingers (like Jaco did for "Birdland"). Another way to get the same sort of artificial harmonic is to put your index finger at the node 12 frets higher, and use your thumb to pluck the string (like Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau did a lot).

Notation for artificial harmonics is pretty haphazard in the general press, and I have no idea what that stuff is trying to tell you. Get a copy of Jaco's "Modern Electric Bass" DVD. It's worth buying because it's got some very good instructional material on basic music on the bass, Jerry Jemmot's interview helps keep Jaco focused (this was not a good time in Pastorius' life), and it's got excellent views of Jaco's hands as he works through "Portrait of Tracy" and as he explains what he's doing.

John

[tensegrity]

The measure comes just after the first theme (it's measure 12 in what I'm looking at, but it's a PTB file, so I'm not sure how to cut from it). The chord is just after two G# are played on the E string.

Also, it's about 0:35 - 0:37 on the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBBG_2tPiOU

Mark

[JTE]

OK, I'm hearing that as the A, D, and G strings with natural harmonics that fall at the 4th fret (the notes are C#, F#, and B- the third of the open strings). Still no idea what the notation in the post means.

John

[champbassist]

The part you are referring to does not have artificial harmonics. These are natural harmonics: this bit has harmonics on the D and G strings, first just below the midpoint between 2nd and 3rd frets (below meaning towards the 2nd fret) and then just above the 2nd fret.

The guy who tabbed this must have incorrectly labelled this part as A.H.

[tensegrity]

Many thanks, JTE and champbassist! -Mark