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Unintentional harmonics

O

Oded Ben-Ami

Oct 6, 2008
32
0
NY - capital region
#1
Friends,

I play an Ibanez SR-500 modified to fretless/epoxy by HG Thor. I play mostly solo classical pieces. The strings I use are DR Sunbeams 45 65 80 100. I play only finger style. I pluck and mute the notes using my right hand only.

My question;
Is there a single position for the plucking hand to be in, so that I can avoid unintentional harmonics when I mute the string?

If there isn't, is there a way of knowing (before playing) where to pluck/mute so that no harmonics will result when muted ?

~ Oded
 
#2
Keep 2 fingers on your left hand, on the string , behind the fretted note , as you play it ,this should eliminate the harmonics .Works on a fretted ,dont know about fretless tho .G,Luck
 
#4
Clef_de_fa said:
A floating thumb or a movable anchoring thumb is what you need !
Click to expand...

Yes. And that's what I do. This however doesn't always prevent unintended harmonics from occurring. Once that happens, I need to move the thumb along the string either forward or backward, but at that point the harmonic is already sounding.

Spino; Your suggestion would solve the problem but when I play fast passages, I don't have those extra fingers on my left hand to double each playing note.

I'm still hoping for ideas.

~ Oded
 
#5
I do a lot of (by now mostly unconscious) left hand muting when I play, in addition to some right hand muting. I don't have an easy answer for you, but I am curious to see what others come up with.

Meanwhile, a few questions for you:

1) The bass is a four-string fretless, correct?

2) Are the unintended harmonics occurring on open strings, fingered notes, or both?

3) Can you describe what you're doing to mute the string?

My only thought at the moment is that, even without using "extra" fingers on the left hand, a lot can be done with how and when you lift your fingers. I'm by no means an expert on this, and my own technique still needs refining, but that's my two cents.
 
#6
If your bass - string combination is harmonic happy, you should avoid some places with your right hand. If you lay your thumb over the strings at places which divide the stings like 1/2 to 1/2, or 3/4 to 1/4, or 7/8 to 1/8 and many more like that, harmonics will sound. Just experiment to find a comfortable an quiet place for your thumb. Some extra muting with the left hand certainly contributes to clean playing. If your left finger stays in contact with the string after releasing it from the finger board, it will mute the string involved very effectively. Check the following: Play an open string at a quarter length (fret position 24) and touch it lightly at the 12th fret position afterwards. This will sound the second harmonic. Now play the same string halfway (fret position 12) and touch it lightly at this position (f 12) afterwards. It will be muted completely. So play around with it, finding optimum positions to mute. When I learned playing the bass, I actually learned muting the bass. In severe cases a piece of foam can be placed underneath the strings at the bridge.
 
#7
Mute with your left hand? Works a treat for me, other than that I'm not really sure what else sorry, maybe try adjusting the action of the strings or truss rod in the neck as well. You might be creating some sort of pinch harmonic, especially as you're using a floating thumb technique, there's a Wooten video on harmonics with his right hand as well.

Victor Wooten

It's mainly slap orientated but he does demonstrate a situation where it works with fingerstyle as well, I hope I helped somehow haha.
 
#8
Oded Ben-Ami said:
Yes. And that's what I do. This however doesn't always prevent unintended harmonics from occurring. Once that happens, I need to move the thumb along the string either forward or backward, but at that point the harmonic is already sounding.

Spino; Your suggestion would solve the problem but when I play fast passages, I don't have those extra fingers on my left hand to double each playing note.

I'm still hoping for ideas.

~ Oded
Click to expand...

is it possible that you don't touch the string enough with your thumb or that you sometime pluck the same string your thumb touch ?
 
#11
Thank you all for your replies.

kr0n - Trying what you suggested on a 34" scale bass, the largest gap is 1/5 to 1/4 which translates (roughly) into 6.8 inches to 8.5 inches from the bridge. This is a bit narrow (1.7 inches) and so the hand must be moved around. It's gives me a good overall idea though of a good location for the hand, as long as I stop open strings.

MarkA - I have been trying your recommendation on the timing and fashion in which to lift my left hand fingers. I'm trying to combine this with what kr0n and Jay2U recommended and I still haven't gotten there yet, but I need to practice more before I can reach a conclusion.

I appreciate everybody's good information.

~ Oded
 

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