Regarding Harmonics

[cyberfrenzy]

Could someone please explain harmonics? What do people mean by 13rd fret harmonics or 8th fret harmonics etc... And how to implement it in the bass guitar?

[DudeistMonk]

Here ya go, click on the tab that says "Harm" and then click show all!

http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord...-note-printer/

Thats where they are located, they are made by dividing the string in half over and over again which produces the same tone hence there is one at the 12th fret (its the strongest) then you divide again and one at the 6th fret that is less strong ext.

You also divide the string into other equal parts like 3rds which produces other tones. This also means that many harmonics don't fall on fret positions.

To play them you place your finger lightly on the string without depressing it (just kinda touch it like its the stargate and you don't know if your going to die).

To your right hand its the same as any other note.

You may have to move your left finger around a little bit to find the exact position of the harmonic.

Also once you sound the harmonic you can remove your finger and it will continue to sound...which makes them awesome for tuning.

[Just J]

Look up Jaco's Portrait of Tracy.

[DocBop]

The main harmonics to learn are the ones at the 5th and 7th frets and the one at the 12th fret. The ones at 5th and 7th are used for tuning your bass with itself and also sometime easier to hear when tuning since the harmonics are a octave higher. The 12th fret is important for intonateing your bass and also tuning an octave higher easier to hear.

Then from a musical standpoint they are notes with a nice chime like sound. Jaco's Portrait of Tracy really make people aware of what can be done with harmonics on a bass. Then for a newer piece Victor Wooten's arrangement of Amazing Grace. Harmonics get used quite a bit these days in solos or to add a note that stands out to a line. Many will hit a harmonic double-stop to imply a chord and then drop down and continue the low line below the ringing harmonics. On fretless bass you can get a cool effect with harmonics. You can hit a harmonic then immediately finger the note and slide it up the fretboard for a high pitched glissando.

There are also false harmonics where instead of harmonic on open strings you fret a note and then pinch a harmonic with right hand.

Learn your basic harmonic on open strings at 5th, 7th, and 12th fret for tuning and etc. They are the easiest to learn and once you have the "touch" then explore doing more with harmonics.

[MarkTAW]

Look up Overtone Series on Wikipedia, there's a great article there with a fretboard showing most of the important harmonic locations.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Click here. Hope that helps.