Harmonic in Bill Withers' Use Me

[bigthemat]

Learning this song and wondering what's the best way to play the harmonic A in the 3rd bar of the groove. I can play it on the 5th fret A string, or 7th fret D string. Both sound about the same, but on the A string it's a bit fuller but a little harder to play since I have to shift like a half fret to get the harmonic to ring, whereas on the D string the shift feels more natural.

Just curious for those that play this, how y'all do it.

 

[Les Fret]

Learning this song and wondering what's the best way to play the harmonic A in the 3rd bar of the groove. I can play it on the 5th fret A string, or 7th fret D string. Both sound about the same, but on the A string it's a bit fuller but a little harder to play since I have to shift like a half fret to get the harmonic to ring, whereas on the D string the shift feels more natural.

Just curious for those that play this, how y'all do it.

It doesn't really matter, both sound the same and you won't hear the difference when the rest of the band plays along. The advantage of playing it on the A string is that you automatically damp the E string which is good.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Thread Drift: Despite being alive and an avid music listener when this tune first hit the airwaves (1972) I never noticed there was a harmonic in the bass line! That's what the crappy AM radio speaker in a Volkswagen Beetle will do to all your meticulously recorded & mixed productions

So I just put on some good headphones and listened to the original studio track of "Use Me" ...and yes, there sure is a harmonic there.

But even more revealing, and of interest to me: During all those breakdowns when it's just Bill singing over the drummer...you can hear the rest of the band continuing to play the groove/changes, albeit very faintly, leaking into either the drum overheads or the vocal mic! Those breakdowns were created during the mix, just by muting all the bass and guitar and keyboard channels.

 

[Koog]

I play it on the D string at the 7th position. I'm pretty sure this is the way it was recorded.

But.....whatever works for you if you get the sound you want.

Hope this is helpful.

Koog

 

[mdogs]

Funny story, years ago I joined a band, 3 piece, they had been doing this song with an apparently bad bass player. So, I learned the part and first time rehearsing it with the other 2, they looked at me like I was from Mars. Later on the guitarist took me aside and told me to play a dumbed down version because I was screwing up the drummer. I lasted only about a month.

 

[brianrost]

7th fret D string.

 

[MrLenny1]

I never heard the harmonic. Thanks for pointing it out.
Use to play it in a trio.
Signature lick to me is the keys playing that lick but
guitar player was not doing it so I played it instead of
the bass line. Got called on it for playing the wrong part.
I'm such a renegade.

 

[Goatrope]

I also do it occasionally in a trio, so I try to cover as much of the keys and bass parts as possible. Usually alternating beyween the two, especially at the end of the phrase.

I've always played both the A and D string harmonic on the 7th fret. Sounds fine. I'm sure you could improvise a little tag of some sort to make it more interesting.

 

[JMacBass65]

But even more revealing, and of interest to me: During all those breakdowns when it's just Bill singing over the drummer...you can hear the rest of the band continuing to play the groove/changes, albeit very faintly, leaking into either the drum overheads or the vocal mic! Those breakdowns were created during the mix, just by muting all the bass and guitar and keyboard channels.

I practice with headphones and this tune is in rotation on my iPod and yes, it was an eye opener for me to hear that originally the band played through those breaks. Great decision on somebody's part to hit the mutes.