• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Reading harmonics.

A

Arlof

Sep 20, 2006
15
0
#1
In George Vance- Progressive Repertoire Vol. 1 on the first page with musical notes, It says to play an open D and the A harmonic with first finger as a chord(all of this is in third position).
How is this possible? The harmonic is on the same string as the open note, so how can they both resonate at once?

Any help would appreciated.
 
#2
The notation is telling you both the stop of the note (in this case it's the open D) and the harmonic node (which is A at the heel). It's not a double stop. Similarly, if this was an artificial harmonic the notation would reflect this with the bottom solid note being the stopped position and the harmonic indicating the node: eg. C on the D string you'd stop C (the one before the octave D, probably with your thumb) and then touch the harmonic node a fourth above to sound C (an octave above middle C, concert pitch).

I hope that helps :)
 
#4
Arlof said:
In George Vance- Progressive Repertoire Vol. 1 on the first page with musical notes, It says to play an open D and the A harmonic with first finger as a chord(all of this is in third position).
How is this possible? The harmonic is on the same string as the open note, so how can they both resonate at once?

Any help would appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have learned from that same book. Not all of the notations in it are completely explained, but Jeff has cleared that up quite well. When you get up to the 5th position exercises, it seems to be taken for granted that a teacher is guiding the exercises because the notation explanations become even more sparce. It is very good to have a teacher along with the book.
 
#5
drurb said:
Can we move this to a "Technique" forum?
Click to expand...
That's certainly where it should be.. :)

Silversorcerer said:
...it seems to be taken for granted that a teacher is guiding the exercises because the notation explanations become even more sparce. It is very good to have a teacher along with the book.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't that be a given with any book? Even the most thorough treatment in a book is not going to come close to what can be learned from a teacher. The exercises are just supplementary - something to play so that the teacher can instruct, it really doesn't matter what the etude or repertoire is if the teacher is good.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back