How do you bend harmonics?

[Shenron]

I've spent the weekend exploring some heavy metal charts which usually aren't my thing. I stumbled upon a transcription in Songsterr which seems to indicate bending harmonics (on measure 189):

Black Horsemen Bass Tab by King Diamond | Songsterr Tabs with Rhythm

Black Horsemen Bass Tab by King Diamond. Free online tab player. One accurate version. Play along with original audio

www.songsterr.com

Now fans transcriptions aren't to be trusted, but the sounds seems to match... I checked if Timi Hansen played a bass with a whammy bar but it doesn't seem to be the case. But how else can you apply bending on harmonics? How is that even possible?

 

[Silky Johnson]

Bend the string behind the nut after hitting the harmonic

Or you can even bend the neck slightly but the nut method is better imo

 

[SteveCS]

In a fretless instrument you can slide them all around the fingerboard. On a fretted instrument, the usual method is to depress the string between the nut and tuning post:

 

[Wasnex]

Is it a true harmonic or a pinch harmonic? Pinch harmonics are fretted, so no problem bending.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Most times on fretted it’s the aforementioned bending string past the nut or bending the neck.

I’ve done both extensively. The neck bending technique is best on maple necked FSO type basses IMHO. Can feel wrong on a stiff instrument

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Bending the neck too far will cause the note to "fret out" which really kills the mood. Still, I do neck bends on occasion.

BBB

 

[JonathanPDX]

You can grab a harmonic, push down to fret it, and then slide. Victor Wooten often does this during a run in his live Amazing Grace performances.

The 4th fret is a comparatively easy one to slide because the harmonic location is where you'd want to fret it naturally anyway, and it gives the same tone fretted or harmonic so if you push down and slide it will usually come through more clearly.

 

[TeaTime]

Another approach is two handed - fret a note with the left, work a harmonic with the right, then bend with the left.

 

[monsterthompson]

Zakk Wylde has entered the chat

 

[pholli00]

In a fretless instrument you can slide them all around the fingerboard. On a fretted instrument, the usual method is to depress the string between the nut and tuning post:
View attachment 7301925

Not to sound weird, but that's a really pretty head.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Or install a whammy bar bridge like a Kahler.

 

[BigJohnAZ]

... the nut method is better imo

TWSS

 

[poochiecheeks]

You can do a right hand artificial harmonic and bend the fretted note but that's not as reliable to do quickly. Look up Steve Bailey playing literally anything he does this all the time

 

[monsterthompson]

Zakk Wylde has entered the chat

well i’ll be...

 

[monsterthompson]

Fretless with Tony Franklin

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Fretless with Tony Franklin

Very cool!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Billy Sheehan has entered the chat

 

[monsterthompson]

Billy Sheehan has entered the chat

 

[Salem6127]

Not sure what it's called, but I've been messing around with this method:

- fret the G string at say the 2nd, 4th, or 7th fret
- slap the 12th, 19th or 24th fret of the G while keeping the aforementioned note fretted
- bend the now wrung out harmonic to your hearts content, or even slide it up/down.

Can get some real killer squeals with high gain and bright strings.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Here's a video of Vic using the harmonic slide at 3:00