Double Bass Double bass playing melodies using only the harmonics?

[Driftwood123]

I briefly saw a YouTube video of a person using a lot of harmonics, later I actually tried locating some harmonic regions myself and wow! I've been trying to find that video again...anyone familiar with harmonics uses in your playing?

 

[ole Jason]

 

[MCS4]

Aside from Jaco (above), you might want to search around for videos by Michael Manring, Zander Zon, Steve Bailey, and Victor Wooten, to name just a handful.

 

[blastoff99]

Given the title, I'm assuming this was meant to be on the DB side. Moving

 

[Mikich]

There are several instances of Double Bass solos using harmonics. A good example can be found in the first movement of the Dragonetti concerto. The Gavotte by Lorenziti is a good study also. When you add “false” harmonics, the sky’s the limit!

 

[fdeck]

"Imagine" by John Lennon in G major is do-able. I have yet to make it actually sound musical.

 

[Opus_Pocus]

 

[Wasnex]

Years ago I saw a touring group in Europe that consisted of close to 20 double basses. They played quite a few orchestral transcriptions, and I was surprised by the amount of high frequency energy they were projecting.

I believe the players who were covering the 1st violin parts were using both natural and artificial harmonics. Artificial harmonics involves using your thumb to stop the strong and then you can produce a various harmonics by touching the string lightly at the minor 3rd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, and perfect 5th.

Here is a video that explains how the play the artificial harmonics.


Giesseppe Ettore discusses a third type, "semi-artificial" harmonics in this video.

I believe true masters can seamlessly mix different types of harmonics. You may find examples with bassist like Stefano Scodanibbio (RIP) and Danniele Roccato. This type of player tends to use a lot of advanced techniques


I believe Stefano Sodanibbio started a double bass orchestra called Ludus Gravis. Danniele Roccato is also associated with this group.

Here is a Ludus Gravis piece that features harmonics


Hope this at least points you in the desired direction .

 

[Opus_Pocus]

Here is a video that explains how the play the artificial harmonics.

This guy, Chris West, has an ebook that explains in very fine detail everything about harmonics on the bass. It's free if you have Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Double-Bass-Harmonics-ebook/dp/B007GYOM3E

 

[damonsmith]

It is sad there is little video of Scodanibbio:

He really pushed paying with harmonics on the bass:

Mark Dresser really mapped them out, though.

 

[jj.833]

In a jazz/plucking context:

 

[jj.833]

And my beloved from this amazing guy. I think he's playing fiver, EADGC.

 

[gogogergie1]

These plucked harmonics by Nicholas Walker always blow my mind

 

[Driftwood123]

I found the artist I saw on YouTube, Jiri Slavik, the above video links seem to have similar technique. Thanks for the feedback. This is my second attempt at responding to your comments and links, so I'll try again. I am a real novice double bass player. I have owned my bass for just over a year. I am familiar with bowing, I have had several cellos and I play the fiddle. Recently I took my bass to a jam for the first time, there were two guitar players, a harmonica player, and another bass player, using a 5 string guitar bass, and me with the double bass. I used my bow 90% of the time which turned out to be the right move, I could play some really easy but effective slow and simple bowings which added some really interesting fills. Lots of tunes in minor keys, this was a great learning experience for me too! Just by accident the next day I came across the video of Jiri Slavik but only saw enough of the video to get the idea that the bass has lots of harmonic possibilities, I've been experimenting these few days locating some harmonics. Been having fun, hope to join the jam again soon. The power of the bow is impressive, I just ordered a quiver to make the move between plucking and bowing smother. Thanks again.

 

[JBarz]

Awesome thread!

 

[lurk]

I saw a duo with Chick Corea and Eddie Gomez where Eddie played the melody of But Beautiful entirely with what I learned as "false harmonics" - stopping the string with the thumb and finding the harmonic with the 3rd finger. It was astounding and in tune. As a bassist, I was so flipped out by the virtuosity that I don't know if it was good music or not. Anyone know if there's a recording of this?

 

[mtto]

The Hindemith bass sonata has a nice moment in the 1st movement that is all natural harmonics.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

In my humble and uninformed subjective opinion, the double bass is the finest instrument for harmonics. I think it has something to do with the length of the strings giving more opportunities for nodes to vibrate together. But I like double bass harmonics better than bass guitar harmonics, and bass guitar harmonics better than cello harmonics, and cello harmonics better than guitar harmonics, all the way down to violins.

I salute each and every double bassist exploring harmonics. You make my heart want to sing along!

(Edit: I also think there may be something in there about intonation systems and many harmonics sounding sweet relative to equal temperament notes, but now I am way over my head.)

 

[JBarz]

Loving these harmonics, wanted to take the new internet challenge sensation that’s sweeping the nation : “Name that tune!” in bass harmonics. I had to cheat a little with a couple notes, but it’s a fun exploration of this new uncharted (for me) territory! Sorry for the noise, my phone super sucks.
https://youtube.com/shorts/RSl87cb-p_E?feature=share

 

[MonetBass]

My double bass teacher in college wrote an exercise for me of a melody using only harmonics. A lot of fun and very educational!