Right I play a fair bit oh harmonics when I play and I just can't them them loud enough to be heard when Im playing. Is there anything like a effect that increases the volume of the harmonic? I was thinking about a volume pedal but I just want to be able to boost the vol and not have to revert it back to the same position. I hope some one can help, Dan.
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Help me with harmonics!
- Thread starter DanEly
- Start date
Do you use a pick to strike the harmonic? How's your regular treble settings?
If you play fingerstyle, your harmonic may not ring out as brightly as with a pick.
If you mostly play fingerstyle, try a thumbpick, so you'll have it at the ready for the the harmonic strike. Or boost your treb on your amp, and full up on the instrument.
What type strings are you using? Some are brighter than others.
What type bass do you use? Pick-ups can make a diff.. like say a P bass vs a Jazz bass. Just my.02
If you play fingerstyle, your harmonic may not ring out as brightly as with a pick.
If you mostly play fingerstyle, try a thumbpick, so you'll have it at the ready for the the harmonic strike. Or boost your treb on your amp, and full up on the instrument.
What type strings are you using? Some are brighter than others.
What type bass do you use? Pick-ups can make a diff.. like say a P bass vs a Jazz bass. Just my.02
I play them finger style and with a pick, norm finger. My treble is normally quite high within my sound and boosting it any more would really sound well, a bit pants. I tried using a compressor but I don't like the way it does not let me dig in. cheers for your help though. 
+1
Also, with the right settings and a good compressor you can get some really good harmonics in without altering you sound much at all.
Boost hi mids, if that's not enough use a compressor. No need to play harder to get harmonics out.
EQ and compressor as mentioned. Also, a little light overdrive (like a Tube Screamer on low gain) can work wonders for bringing out harmonics.
Make sure your bass is setup properly too. If the intonation is out you're gonna struggle with harmonics.
But I agree with Hi-Mids too. I find my Tech 21 VT pedal with the mids boosted and character at noon or lower can bring my harmonics out nicely.
But I agree with Hi-Mids too. I find my Tech 21 VT pedal with the mids boosted and character at noon or lower can bring my harmonics out nicely.
There is one thing that makes harmonics ring out :
ACCURACY!!
So the harmonics don't correspond to frets - they are all about exactly subdividing the working string length.
Left hand precision is the key!
+1 I use them a lot. I want to add that a distortion like the VT Bass has made them stand out even more for me, but this is basically accomplishing harmonic overtones and further compression.
+1, I use a CEB-3 with the low pass filter all the way to the left so it doesn't apply a chorus to all of my effect, but just the harmonics. A fairly medium rate and depth get me nice shimmering harmonics.
Also, +1 to whoever made the comment about harmonics being in the high mids, NOT the treble.
As I was saying - it is all about accuracy of your left hand - and it is not about looking at frets, but rather subdividing working string length. If you do this - then harmonics chime and stand out.
If you are inaccurate - then harmonics "choke" and sound quieter.
