Sliding harmonics?

[Matte89]

okey, I just remebered that on the "Bass day '98"-video with Victor wooten, during the funky part of "Amazing Grace", he's doing a slide on what seems to be a natural harmonic.. Sorry I can't remember the exact time for this little happening, but my internet connection breaks down for some reason when I watch videos :s..

Anyway, I was just wondering how to do this little slide (sounds kinda cool).. I think he does it on the G string, something like G|--5/7\5-

[FU.CKY.OU]

I don't know exactly how he did this, but since a slide up the neck and a bend are the same, you could do the <5> and bend the string behind the nut up to a <7>.I think.

[Deacy]

Is that where you play the harmonic then sort of hammer on and slide at the same time?

[Matte89]

yeah, of course you could do a little bend on it.. there's many different ways of experimenting with a harmonic.. it's just that I dont really understand how it's possible.. Harmonics occur when a string vibrates in a certain way.. and a slide up and down on it, shouldn't that just kill the note?(in theory)

[SubsonicHarmonic]

You know, you'd think so, wouldn't you?

But remember that when you move your finger, you're moving the stationary node - so it doesn't kill the vibration, it just changes the wavelength. It does make sense, if you know the theory behind it.

Harmonic slides are easier and more effective on a fretless, but they can be done on a fretted as well.

[Matte89]

okey.. but the major part of the string is unable to create harmonics? or am I totally wrong here too? is the harmonics on, let's the 6th fret, just unhearable?

[Riouken]

No. The ahrmonic on the 6th fret is very hearable.

And I can slide harmonics, umm it's kidn of hard to explain!

But I'll do it if you'd like.

[Riouken]

Actually I will explain it anyway, I'm jsut being lzy today because I'm tired.

basically, when you play the hamronic, apply a little more pressure, but don't push right down on the fretboard. Then just slide it.

EDIT: I jsut did it and it is kinda touching the fretboard actually.

[Matte89]

okey, guess I'm wrong again then:D.. hehe, yes please explain.. I don't have a bass nearby.. so I couldn't really try if I could hear the 6th fret harmonic:P..

[Wintermute]

I can hear the harmonic over the sixth fret, but it is one of the weaker ones.

HOWEVER

It's not the same harmonic you'd get if you slid the harmonic at the 5th up one fret.

Don't worry about the physics of sliding harmonics versus normal ones - they're quite complicated.

[Riouken]

Wintermute is correct. When I'm sliding harmonics, it's kind of like using a tremelo bar on a harmonic rather than sliding it upto a particular fret tthat I'm hvoering over.

[Skit]

Have you got a clip of this, I'd probably be able to tell you how to do it if I'd actually hear it.

You can rest your finger lightly on the string, Pluck then slide.

Yuo can also get some killer harmonic slides if you use a pick, But seeing as its Vic where talking about I doubt thats the case.

[Wintermute]

Have you got a clip of this, I'd probably be able to tell you how to do it if I'd actually hear it.

Here (http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1HLXIGUHBQMMD3606CIA4GDJMA) you go. Brief, pretty raw clip of a harmonic at the sixth, then a harmonic at the fifth fret, sliding to the sixth. On a fretted - it's much smoother and stronger on a fretless.

[Riouken]

Wintermute, do you keep posting then logging out? Or are you masking that you are online incase a spammer thinks "oo I'll spam cos the mods arne't on!" Cos there is a simple way to find out whether or not you are online, regardless of whether you are posting or not.


I'm not ragging on anyone, just giving advice.

[darrell]

I'm pretty sure it's not really all that great on a fretted bass... I was trying it this morning and it just sounded like a quiet slide. On a fretless though, it sounds AWESOME.

[Naveed Afzal]

Bend you neck, thats the way i doit, its not healthy for your bass, and my teacher calls it cheating...

[Wintermute]

Wintermute, do you keep posting then logging out? Or are you masking that you are online incase a spammer thinks "oo I'll spam cos the mods arne't on!" Cos there is a simple way to find out whether or not you are online, regardless of whether you are posting or not.


I'm not ragging on anyone, just giving advice.

I know. :thumb:

[Riouken]

I know. :thumb:
Aj pl! Sorry. Thought you were gonna go all mod-like on me :p.

I was just like "Why does he keep logging ni and out?" Then I checked.

[Matte89]

okej.. just for the record.. I've found the harmonic on the 6th fret now;) took about 1 sec with the bass. I'm no harmonic champion though...

[ranger_duex]

To do a sliding harmonic on a fretless, all you have to do is sound the harmonic strongly. As soon as you hit it, gently press the string down and slide up.

If you press down too hard or too fast, you will lose the harmonic..

Its really easy, first time I tried I got it on the second try. They sound really cool too.

Good luck!

[Sade]

Yeah, sliding harmonics isn't as hard as it's made out to be, it's exceptionally easy. Sound the harmonic clearly, then press down on the string with a gentle touch and slide up/down whatever.

Pretty simple really. Or you can do it my way (and Manring's, lol!) and slide them with your tuning pegs :thumb:

Also-sliding harmonics is really only applicable to a fretless. It will technically work on a fretted, but it's far to difficult to use conventionally.

[Jude]

Yeah, I can do it on a fretted if I slide one, maybe two frets. Those are pretty fun to do though.