how do you do harmonics slide?

[AmazingGracePlayer]

I don't know if anyone has seen Victor Wooten's Amazing Grace on Youtube, but during the song, he does a harmonics slide. It's similar to a regular slide, but it's harmonics.... I tried just playing a harmonics note and sliding to another fret, and that didn't work. Does anyone know how to do it?

Here's a link to the Amazing Grace video:

 

[ChenNuts44]

Pluck the harmonic, then "fret" the harmonic, then slide.

 

[AmazingGracePlayer]

So I would pluck an open G, then "hammer-on" a harmonics B (3rd fret) and then slide to a harmonics G (5th) ? That didn't work...

 

[Mark Perry]

Could he have been playing false harmonics? (A fretted note becomes the open string, use your thumb at a point 2 or 3 octaves above the note - like a regular harmonic, and pluck behind it)

 

[AmazingGracePlayer]

But a false harmonics harmonics slide is same as a normal harmonics harmonics slide...

 

[Mark Wilson]

Could he have been playing false harmonics? (A fretted note becomes the open string, use your thumb at a point 2 or 3 octaves above the note - like a regular harmonic, and pluck behind it)

No. There are videos where he actually does the harmonic slide.

What you do is play the harmonic, press down and slide. It's HARD on a fretted bass, which makes Vic so good at what he does.

It's a lot easier on a fretless.

 

[Jeff Moote]

It's not really that hard on fretted if you've got a good setup (read: low action). Just gotta practice the right touch. You don't really fret it down, but just press a little. Not something you can really describe with words, since the pressure has to be just right.

 

[Angus Malloch]

On a fretted you have to sortov imagine a diagonal line from the harmonic to your sliding target between the string and the neck.

 

[Mmm...brAins]

Sliding harmonics can be a little tricky; it's usually easier with fretless basses because there's no impetus to your finger as it moves up the board. However, it can be done on a fretted bass - you just need to practice to get it sounding good.
Here's what you do: play any sort of natural harmonic, and keep your finger on the string. Press in slightly - try to barely fret the note. If you did this part correctly, you should still hear the harmonic ringing. Once you can do this, try sliding the note up (or down) the neck while keeping the string slightly pressed in. This actually works best on basses with very high action, as there's less danger of accidentally fretting the note when you slide.
Anyway, hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[Baryonyx]

A good example of a clear sliding harmonic on a record is right in the intro of "Rice With the Angels" from the Jonas Hellborg album Abstract logic, Jonas lays down some awesomely clear sliding harmonics. They sound so brilliant!

 

[EADG mx]

A good example of a clear sliding harmonic on a record is right in the intro of "Rice With the Angels" from the Jonas Hellborg album Abstract logic, Jonas lays down some awesomely clear sliding harmonics. They sound so brilliant!

And this helps TS do them... how?

 

[Baryonyx]

And this helps TS do them... how?

Come on now boy.

We've already had a very clear description of how to do them. What can I do but reiterate that?

I was merely giving an example of where to hear some very clear, bell-like sliding harmonics.

 

[davefarrell]

i like to think of it as a diagnol also, hit the harmonic and pretend like your crash landing to the fret you want.