harmonics notes positions, learn by heart?

[raal]

Harmonics map posted on this forum is quite useful when looking for chord tones while still playing the bass on the roots. Same idea as chord melody for guitarists except playing roots/passing tones instead of melody.

Have you guys learned / internalized the note positions - essentially the map to pull it off in improv situations?

 

[JTE]

Just understanding what interval from the open string you get.

 

[raal]

Yeah never thought of it that way. Good point.

 

[Papageno]

Sure, knowing your harmonics is an essential part of fingerboard knowledge.

I use them all the time: on fretless they are all the more important as they allow to "anchor" the intonation, by providing an absolute reference, which the ear and fingers use to check and correct pitch.

 

[raal]

Anchor the intonation is key point. Using them extensively as per this example is new to me but i noticed it helps stay better in tune.

 

[Papageno]

And just in case, here are the main harmonics: (4, 5, or 6 strings)

high C string: 12=C (octave), 7=19=G (octave+5th), 5=24=C (2 octaves), 4=9=16=E (2 octaves+ major 3rd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
G string: 12=G (octave), 7=19=D (octave+5th), 5=24=G (2 octaves), 4=9=16=21=B (2 octaves+major 3rd)
D string: 12=D (octave), 7=19=A (octave+5th), 5=24=D (2 octaves), 4=9=16=21=F# (2 octaves+major 3rd)
A string: 12=A (octave), 7=19=E (octave+5th), 5=24=A (2 octaves), 4=9=16=21=C# (2 octaves+major 3rd)
E string: 12=E (octave), 7=19=B (octave+5th), 5=24=E (2 octaves), 4=9=16=21=G# (2 octaves+major 3rd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
low B string: 12=B (octave), 7=19=F# (octave+5th), 5=24=B (2 octaves), 4=9=16=D# (2 octaves+ major 3rd)

 

[JRA]

knowing your harmonics is an essential part of fingerboard knowledge

 

[raal]

Merci. There are good sounding ones on either side of position 3, on position 6, either side of position 10 ... Let me see if i can dig the map.

 

[Papageno]

Merci. There are good sounding ones on either side of position 3, on position 6, either side of position 10 ... Let me see if i can dig the map.

No, don't dig a map. Think and listen!

The harmonics I gave you above are the most prominent ones (harmonics 2, 3, 4, 5).

Position 3 is a 1/6 of the string length (check it), so its 2 octaves and a 5th above open string.
Position 6 is approximately 2/7 of the string length, so it sounds the 7th harmonic, which is 2 octaves and a minor seventh (flat with respect to equal temperament, but very sweet sounding and much used in barbershop singing).

I'll let you locate by yourself the next ones:
- harmonic 8 sounds 3 octaves above open string
- harmonic 9 is 3 octaves and a major 2nd above open string
- harmonic 10 is 3 octaves and a major 3rd above open string
- harmonic 11 is 3 octaves + a (flat) triton above open string
- etc.

Those may be hard to get on BG. On a double bass with a bow, one can sound them very clearly.

 

[Lagado]

Start with the 4th fret on the G string, the note is B. Between the 3rd and 5th frets is a B natural minor scale, the fingering shape is like playing a b5, work the scale out across the rest of the strings.

That's one that you can recognize and name.

 

[Killing Floor]

+1 this is essential knowledge for fretless

 

[Lagado]

Start with the 4th fret on the G string, the note is B. Between the 3rd and 5th frets is a B natural minor scale, the fingering shape is like playing a b5, work the scale out across the rest of the strings.

That's one that you can recognize and name.

Mid finger 4th fret G string
Index 3rd fret D string
Pinky 5th fret G string
Mid 4th fret D string
Index 3rd fret A string
Pinky 5th fret D string
Mid 4th fret A string
Index 3rd fret E string.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Definitely good to know what actual note every attainable harmonic is. Jaco knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote "Portrait of Tracy". Those notes are not random- try playing the main melody as actual notes (not harmonics) and you realize the genius of it.

 

[drumvsbass]

I've always found it handy to know (on a four string) there's a B Aeolian scale along the 3rd 4th and 5th frets in a nice ascending pattern.

 

[raal]

Mid finger 4th fret G string
Index 3rd fret D string
Pinky 5th fret G string
Mid 4th fret D string
Index 3rd fret A string
Pinky 5th fret D string
Mid 4th fret A string
Index 3rd fret E string.

6th and 7th string length nodes are on either side of fret 3.

There have been many threads/charts about this, some a little overbearing on content when not confusing. I found this one to be palatable to my limited cognitive abilities.

 

[Lagado]

6th and 7th string length nodes are on either side of fret 3.

There have been many threads/charts about this, some a little overbearing on content when not confusing. I found this one to be palatable to my limited cognitive abilities.

I use the harmonics just in front of the fret, towards you. I find them far more stable and stronger.

 

[raal]

Definitely good to know what actual note every attainable harmonic is. Jaco knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote "Portrait of Tracy". Those notes are not random- try playing the main melody as actual notes (not harmonics) and you realize the genius of it.

POT is seminal bass harmonics tutorial tune. I find the musicality he's pulling it off with in a semi improv / pop context of Shadows and Light perhaps even more impressive, where bass dominates harmony on top of Pat Metheny and Jony Mitchell's guitars. Whatever mood/high he was on that day worked out for good.

 

[raal]

I use the harmonics just in front of the fret, towards you. I find them far more stable and stronger.

I guess it depends, some like the 1/6 and 2/5 nodes are a bit in front of the fret. But in the case of the 3rd position you can vary between 1/6 and 1/7 node on either side of the fret marker. Gives you either the 5th or flat 7th of the open string.

 

[JW56789]

ANOTHER way to 'map' the harmonics: I've got a pretty good ear, but somehow the jump of several octaves tends to throw me off, so, hit your harmonics while plugged into your electronic / strobe tuner. It will read them right out. If you want to be real flashy with them, of course this works as the subdivisions work as well from the 12th fret all the way back to the bridge, as they do between the 12th and the nut.

 

[raal]

ANOTHER way to 'map' the harmonics: I've got a pretty good ear, but somehow the jump of several octaves tends to throw me off, so, hit your harmonics while plugged into your electronic / strobe tuner. It will read them right out. If you want to be real flashy with them, of course this works as the subdivisions work as well from the 12th fret all the way back to the bridge, as they do between the 12th and the nut.

The idea makes sense as natural vs harmonic pitches blend nicely in higher natural register. But maybe it's just me (beginner), I find some of them more difficult to hit properly - perhaps to finger contact surface being too "fat" when they're so tightly packed in the high register. In that regard, UB players have an edge with their 41" scale. Are you winging it on electrical?