Sliding Harmonic in "Evenflow" by Pearl Jam

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by lo-end, Sep 22, 2001.

  1. lo-end

    lo-end Guest

    Jun 15, 2001
    PA
    I am wondering how the sliding harmonics are played in evenflow. I think they are pinch harmonics or something like that, but I have no idea. Does anyone know how to play these?
     
  2. neptoon

    neptoon

    Jul 25, 2000
    Kings Bay, GA
    nah, they're just natural harmonics...and to be able to slide harmonics, of course, you would need a fretless
     
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  3. JMX

    JMX Vorsprung durch Technik

    Sep 4, 2000
    Cologne, Germany
    It can be done on a fretted bass, but it's pretty hard to do, and it only works in a very limited way.
     
  4. melvin

    melvin Guest

    Apr 28, 2001
    I saw the video for that this morning, it looked like a fretless. So yaknow
     
  5. To play sliding harmonics, there are two ways.

    You hit a natural harmonic (7th fret for example) and immediately hammer down with your left hand. The harmonic should ring OK, then you slide it around as you like with your left hand.

    You hit an artificial harmonic (fret at the 5th, pluck string with your middle finger with your index straight over the 17th fret), and slide as you wish with the left hand.

    They sound really nice, but be tasteful.
     
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  6. Stephen Pretti

    Stephen Pretti

    Nov 12, 2018
    Stanley always pulled it off just fine on fretted Alembic bass.
     
  7. Les Fret

    Les Fret

    Sep 9, 2009
    Do you have an example? never heard him doing that.
     
  8. I've seen Victor Wooten do similar moves in songs like Amazing Grace, where he'll grab a natural harmonic and quickly slide it around. But the effect sounds almost nothing like the fretless harmonic slide in Evenflow.

    To the OP, yes it's just a standard harmonic on a fretless. I can't remember if he was playing a 4 string or 8 string on that one. Sliding harmonics is easy on a fretless bass, once you try it you'll see how simple it is. :)
     
  9. Les Fret

    Les Fret

    Sep 9, 2009
    yes I sometimes do sliding harmonics on fretted bass too, But never saw Stanley Clarke doing that. What he is doing is different, he is bending natural harmonics behind the nut sometimes, not sliding harmonics.

    Here is a video of me doing sliding harmonics on my fretless Wal bass two years ago:

     
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  10. Bob_Ross

    Bob_Ross Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 29, 2012
    I would bet what you're thinking is a "sliding" harmonic is actually just a harmonic that's being bent sharp by Stanley pushing down on the string behind the nut. He does that a lot. E.g., that opening harmonic in the solo to "School Days"
    (clip should start at 3:08)
     
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  11. Stephen Pretti

    Stephen Pretti

    Nov 12, 2018
    I’ve learned now that Stanley did this, but because I thought he was sliding it like a fretless I learned to do it that way with some success. It had me buying lots more new strings than was healthy at the time, for that bright zing that made it easier. Stu Hamm has a video where he slides harmonics in both directions on a fretted bass.
     
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