Help with harmonics?

[Bayonet]

Hi everyone
I've been playing bass for almost an year and i want to be play "A portrait of tracy"(wich is one of my favorite songs) just because

i'm having some trouble with the harmonics i already searched for old threads and i'm watching videos to learn more about it right now but i'm still not quite sure on how to do it.if anyone could point me in the right direction i'd be really happy!

[lowendfriend]

I'm not sure what you are looking for exactly....there are playable harmonics on Frets 5, 7 and 12 as far as I know. Do not fret (or fingerboard plant in the case of fretless) and pluck the string for the harmonic.

[JTE]

A. Understand the physics of a vibrating string. It not only vibrates between the two stopped ends (the nut and bridge for an open string, the fret and the bridge for stopped notes), but also it has overtones from other waves in the string. The first harmonic is the octave because it divides the open string in half. It's at the 12th fret. Touch the string right above the 12th fret to damp the main wave from the nut to the bridge, and that 1st overtone rings out. Cut the string's length in half again by touching the string at the 5th or 24th fret and you get another octave higher.

The 7th and 19th fret harmonics divide the string in thirds and give you the fifth of the open string (e.g. the 7th fret harmonic on the G string is a D note). Just keep subdividing the string to get other notes. And they're often NOT at a precise fret location. That cascade of harmonics at the beginning starts with the 5th fret of the G but the next note is just a little past the 3rd fret on the same string, then the 4th fret of the D string and the 3+ fret of the A string.

B. Clean technique- pluck hard as close to the bridge as possible. Don't push the strings down at all, just damp them at the appropriate places.

C. Favor the bridge PUP, and if needed, goose some mids with the EQ. Nice bright rounds work better ('though flats WILL produce harmonics too). Jaco used Rotosound RS-66, the stainless steel ones.

Specifically for "Portrait of Tracy" is finding the artificial harmonics. The first one is a big stretch because you fret the B (2nd fret A string) with your index finger, then stretch your pinky out to touch the harmonic at about fret 5 1/2.

Ge the DCI video of Jaco's "Modern Electric Bass", it's well worth the investment for solid musical education as well as learning "POT", listening to Jerry Jemmott, one of Jaco's key influences and a hero of Jaco's do the interview, and the jams with John Scofield.

John

[lowendfriend]

Nice job explaining! I love it when you talk physics. Fourier and LaPlace would be fans....

[Bayonet]

Originally Posted by JTE

A. Understand the physics of a vibrating string. It not only vibrates between the two stopped ends (the nut and bridge for an open string, the fret and the bridge for stopped notes), but also it has overtones from other waves in the string. The first harmonic is the octave because it divides the open string in half. It's at the 12th fret. Touch the string right above the 12th fret to damp the main wave from the nut to the bridge, and that 1st overtone rings out. Cut the string's length in half again by touching the string at the 5th or 24th fret and you get another octave higher.

The 7th and 19th fret harmonics divide the string in thirds and give you the fifth of the open string (e.g. the 7th fret harmonic on the G string is a D note). Just keep subdividing the string to get other notes. And they're often NOT at a precise fret location. That cascade of harmonics at the beginning starts with the 5th fret of the G but the next note is just a little past the 3rd fret on the same string, then the 4th fret of the D string and the 3+ fret of the A string.

B. Clean technique- pluck hard as close to the bridge as possible. Don't push the strings down at all, just damp them at the appropriate places.

C. Favor the bridge PUP, and if needed, goose some mids with the EQ. Nice bright rounds work better ('though flats WILL produce harmonics too). Jaco used Rotosound RS-66, the stainless steel ones.

Specifically for "Portrait of Tracy" is finding the artificial harmonics. The first one is a big stretch because you fret the B (2nd fret A string) with your index finger, then stretch your pinky out to touch the harmonic at about fret 5 1/2.

Ge the DCI video of Jaco's "Modern Electric Bass", it's well worth the investment for solid musical education as well as learning "POT", listening to Jerry Jemmott, one of Jaco's key influences and a hero of Jaco's do the interview, and the jams with John Scofield.

John

Thanks a lot!

sadly i'll have to delay my wish to learn portrait of tracy because i have an audition for a rock band soon and i have to learn many songs =/

But i'll surely use this info..soon

[MalcolmAmos]

Good luck.

[champbassist]

If you want to know which harmonic stands for which note, take a look at this (click to enlarge):



I keep posting this on all harmonics threads that come up here, because I think this is probably the most useful harmonics chart on the internet.

[Skitch it!]

You could start with something a little more straight forward just to get used to the touch and working around fretted notes. This Squarepusher track Iambic 9 Poetry is a nice demo, and turns the melody into the whole basis of the track. He's also playing the drum track on this, I love the beat that kicks in at 4.30

Squarepusher - Iambic 9 Poetry - YouTube

This tab is correct apart from the last 5 harmonics on the second staff and this on the E string before them (5--7h) should be just the 7th fretted. If you'd like to try it, I'll correct them for you.

Iambic 9 Poetry bass tab (ver 2) by Squarepusher @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

[pnchad]

has POT and several other great JP tunes with original fingering

it's not impossible but to play it fluidly you need to practice for hours - left hand workout for sure

take it a few bars at a time and then patch them together - great satisfaction when you get it