Double Bass How do you read these harmonics?

[Malten]

Hi there.

I often find notation of harmonics tricky. How do you understand the harmonics in this part?

thanks!

 

[dreamadream99]

It is asking you to finger the regularly notated note, then lightly touch the node (diamond notehead) that is located a fourth higher on the same string. When you bow or pluck that string, it will sound a harmonic that is two octaves above the fundamental.

 

[PaulCannon]

It is asking you to finger the regularly notated note, then lightly touch the node (diamond notehead) that is located a fourth higher on the same string. When you bow or pluck that string, it will sound a harmonic that is two octaves above the fundamental.

Exactly, it's a false harmonic.

Since you didn't ask, I'll offer a tip: use an appropriate bow speed and placement for the sounding pitch. The bow will be much faster and lighter than you might expect.

 

[Malten]

Thanks. I think the reason I didn't think that it was a false harmonic at first is that I don't think I have played false harmonics on such low notes before.
Same thing appears later as well, here a bit more tricky I would say.

 

[PaulCannon]

Thanks. I think the reason I didn't think that it was a false harmonic at first is that I don't think I have played false harmonics on such low notes before.
Same thing appears later as well, here a bit more tricky I would say.

I very often change the position when they're written so low, but that's another can of worms.

I think I know what happened in this last example. If you cross out the low note, that harmonic is still a sounding b-natural. However, the natural 5th partial is slightly flat, so playing it as an artificial harmonic would solve that problem. Unfortunately, in this example, that solution is wildly impractical unless the tempo is very, very slow. I'd suggest playing the natural harmonic under the E node.

 

[Malten]

I very often change the position when they're written so low, but that's another can of worms.

I think I know what happened in this last example. If you cross out the low note, that harmonic is still a sounding b-natural. However, the natural 5th partial is slightly flat, so playing it as an artificial harmonic would solve that problem. Unfortunately, in this example, that solution is wildly impractical unless the tempo is very, very slow. I'd suggest playing the natural harmonic under the E node.

You can leave that can of worms ajar if you have any spare time to spend on TalkBass

Yes, when I said "a bit more tricky" I meant something more like "wildly impractical"! Thanks for the tip. Tempo is quarter = 76 bpm.

 

[jj.833]

Can I ask how do we know this is a false harmonic? In example 15, it could also be F# on D string in thumb position, and natural harmonic B on the same position on G string, both played as a double stop, right? How do we tell?

 

[PaulCannon]

Can I ask how do we know this is a false harmonic? In example 15, it could also be F# on D string in thumb position, and natural harmonic B on the same position on G string, both played as a double stop, right? How do we tell?

Because that’s the standard. It’s always a perfect fourth, which also strongly suggests a false harmonic.

The double stop combination is possible, but much less common. Those should also be notated with split stems, or at least some indication about the sounding pitches. While stem-splitting isn’t possible to show on whole notes, all the other examples are notated normally with a joined stem.

 

[Papageno]

It is asking you to finger the regularly notated note, then lightly touch the node (diamond notehead) that is located a fourth higher on the same string. When you bow or pluck that string, it will sound a harmonic that is two octaves above the fundamental.

How do you finger this? The only way I could imagine is to play the fingered note with the thumb, and open widely the hand to play the false harmonic with the ring finger.
I could possibly manage to do this for the high F#. But for the low C?

 

[PaulCannon]

How do you finger this? The only way I could imagine is to play the fingered note with the thumb, and open widely the hand to play the false harmonic with the ring finger.
I could possibly manage to do this for the high F#. But for the low C?

That’s exactly how you do it. If you have smaller hands, you can try on the E string where the distance is a bit shorter.

 

[DuluthBassist]

I’m curious, what piece is this and who wrote it?

 

[Malten]

How do you finger this? The only way I could imagine is to play the fingered note with the thumb, and open widely the hand to play the false harmonic with the ring finger.
I could possibly manage to do this for the high F#. But for the low C?

As Paul suggests as well, the solution I have right now is to finger the C - F harmonic and the B - E harmonic on the E string.

I’m curious, what piece is this and who wrote it?

It's a violin/viola concerto called Absent Illusions by Swedish composer Fredrik Högberg.