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Harmonics Effects
- Thread starter minister
- Start date
Everytime you pluck a string on your bass, the harmonics are there. Emphasising these harmonics is a different story. Strings play a big part of this, as does technique. If you were to look to effects to help boost these harmonics, I can't think of anything other than an equaliser to lift the high frequencies. That's the best I can do
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Do you mean that you want to play regular notes, but have them sound all chimey, like you were playing natural harmonics?
If that's what you mean, umm a ring mod maybe? Or an Electric Mistress on filter matrix mode? IDK
If that's what you mean, umm a ring mod maybe? Or an Electric Mistress on filter matrix mode? IDK
... or do you want to play harmonics deliberately? Since harmonics tend to be quieter then other notes, something simple like compression can help to lift them to 'normal' volume.
Also avoid using the kind of EQ curve that puts a big mid scoop in, since harmonic notes have most of their power in the mid range.
Finally, as said above, newish strings and technique play a bigger part than pedals!
Also avoid using the kind of EQ curve that puts a big mid scoop in, since harmonic notes have most of their power in the mid range.
Finally, as said above, newish strings and technique play a bigger part than pedals!
I can get the harmonic sound out of the bass from just doing it naturally, what I wanted was something to bring out the harmonics from the 3rd and 4th fret...
This link is Vic Wooten on YouTube playing "Amazing Grace" with a lot of harmonics...I know he's gotta be using an effects pedal to get 'em that low.
Notice how he's getting the harmonics from the low G and low C notes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEyEu-hS0fA
Notice how he's getting the harmonics from the low G and low C notes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEyEu-hS0fA
bongomania
Commercial User
Yeah, with great emphasis on the technique element. Keep practicing/listening: the one thing you don't want to rely on effects for is your actual ability to play the instrument.
Bridge pickup favored heavily helps quite a bit, that, and as everyone else has said,...technique!!! Practice getting the root, third, fifth, seventh, and octave on your G string. It's all there between the 5th and 3rd frets. Now quit posting and go practice. 
"
I didnt watch the video posted above, but, I play lots of harmonics and discovered them naturally when I first started playing years ago (never heard anyone at that time playing them on bass...just sounded cool to me so I ran with it) IMHO, getting them to jump out has alot to do with the bass. I played a Guild B-301 for a long time and with its massive bridge, the harmonics rang out full volume no matter where I played them on the neck. On my Ric or Jazz, they dont get that loud.
I use a little chorus and sometimes a little compression, but the chorus really helped them jump out IMO.
I use a little chorus and sometimes a little compression, but the chorus really helped them jump out IMO.
I play with lots of harmomonics and chords with fundamental + a couple of harmonics, and the best way to do it i´ve found was bridge pickup + tone at 10 in the bass + eq + a bit of compression
i use the geb-7 and it looks something like this:
+
++
+ +
+
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uhm... nevermind, lows and highs kind of scooped and a big emphasis on lower mids, but experiment to find what works for you, but as it was said: TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE
i use the geb-7 and it looks something like this:
+
++
+ +
+
------------
uhm... nevermind, lows and highs kind of scooped and a big emphasis on lower mids, but experiment to find what works for you, but as it was said: TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE
Where your pickups in your positioned on your particular bass can make a difference too. On my '02 Ric 4003 I found that harmonics played on the neck pickup around the 3-4th fret didn't ring out, but after I had it routed so I could move the neck pickup to be 1/2 inch from the end of the fretboard (as per 60s/early 70s Rics) instead of 1 inch the harmonics are hugely improved.
That wasn't why I moved the pickup, btw, but it was a nice side effect
That wasn't why I moved the pickup, btw, but it was a nice side effect
