Dead Notes near a Harmonic

[Nick von Nick]

Hi All,

While I have definitely mastered a few bass elements, playing dead (ghosted) notes is not something I approach too well. While I work to improve my dead note technique, I'd like to get some thoughts on playing dead notes near harmonics (particularly the very strong harmonics on the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets).

Though I am a technique hound, I fear that I'm hitting a roadblock. I always seem to get too much harmonic for my liking!!!

For example, if I am playing a groove in A that requires a dead note high D on the G-string's 7th fret, I can think of a few technical approaches that all seem to have merit.

1. Play precisely over the fret with one finger (this has the drawback of potentially sounding the harmonic)
2. Play precisely over the fret, but deaden the string with two or more fingers
3. Play near the desired fret, but forgoing absolute precision (perhaps playing the note on the 6th fret C# rather than the 7th fret D)
4. Play a "non-fretted" dead note by muting the entire string with one or more fingers

Let me know what you think of these approaches. In your experience, which ones work and which ones fail?

Let me know!
~Nick "Klaus" G.

P.S. For those who like sheet music, I've posted a one-bar groove that follows my example!

 

[Pelao]

If I want a harmonic, I go for the fret. For ghost notes, I forego pitch completely and stick muting the whole string with either hand, generally as rhythm filler or for left hand shift prep.

Though you do get different tones depending on where you mute the note, I only make use of that when tempos are slower, which kinda avoids your question.

tl;dr - fast runs/tempos - aim for rhythm
Slow runs - timbre

 

[Mahcks]

I might be reading this wrong... There are two very important things to consider when playing a harmonic. First, which node are you activating? Let's say it's the 7th fret for simplicity.
Second, where are you striking the string? Depending on how far away you strike from the other nodes of the harmonic you chose, you will alter the tone.
If you strike (unless you use a tapping technique) the string at the 19th fret, however, there will be no sustain whatsoever, just a percussive thud.
So, for a dead high D, you'd mute the G string above 7th fret and pluck at the 19th.

 

[Mushroo]

I'm like Pelao; I use the whole left-hand (not just 1 or 2 fingers) to mute.

Rocco Prestia is a master of this, and has a lot of nice videos up on YouTube where you can watch his hands.

I don't see a lot of funk bassists with "spider fingers"!

 

[Nick von Nick]

Thanks for the insights! I think part of my problem has always been my obsession with "perfect" technique (or what I foolishly perceive to be perfect...). However, after watching a bunch of videos of Mr. Prestia, my mind is legitimately blown.