What are some fairly easy harmonics based jazz pieces?

[was_so_beautiful]

For my audition, I am looking to play a jazzy piece that demonstrates my articulation, dynamics and sensitivity...preferably with harmonics.
Naturally, I looked at Jaco Pastorius, but I am finding it really hard.

Do you know of any pieces I can look into with those qualities, but easier than Jaco Pastorius?

And do not say that Portrait of Tracy "isn't that hard".

[Thonk]

After practice, PoT "isn't that hard". I used to be the same way, "I wont be able to play that.." but I decided to give it a shot. And now 2 and a half weeks later(i'm a slacker:p) I almost have the whole song nailed. Besides if you aren't willing to take a challenge, how are you going to progress?

Just my 0.02.

[ieatSouls]

I hate to say it, but Portrait of Tracy is the only harmonics based, bass-centered song I've ever really heard. And I also hate to say that it really isn't that hard, you just have to listen to it and get the tabs and figure out how to play it, and then practice, practice, practice....if it's for an audition though, it can get boring quickly so I would start with the most beautiful piece of the song - the main part at the beginning after the descending harmonic run - and then go into another song to further demonstrate your skills. That way, you show off not only a wider range of your talent but a good feel for transitions, so long as you nail the transition just right. :thumb:

[bottlerocket]

Well, the first few notes of PoT isn't too tough to learn...it's just a descending pattern. Try that really slowly.

"Toes Across the Floor" by Blind Melon has some harmonics in the intro.

:thumb:

-Gav

[HaVIC5]

Victor Wooten - Amazing Grace isn't exactly easy, but I consider it to be a lot more straight forward than Portrait of Tracy. You should look there.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Portrait Of Tracy isn't hard. The only real problems I ever had with it were the placement of a few of the harmonics, but that's only because the tabs that I saw on the internet were wrong. When I got "The Essential Jaco Pastorius" tab book, though I had learned the song differently before, the correct way is much easier.

[Jamie]

I think Amazing Grace is easier than PoT personally :)

Try them both out :thumb:

[shacklecrow]

"Toes Across the Floor" by Blind Melon has some harmonics in the intro.
-Gav

i second the intro riff, nice and easy to flow into something else

[was_so_beautiful]

i'm just finding it hard to make some of the harmonics come out as clear and loud as the "easier" harmonics at frets 5 and 7. That is, so it can be heard while sustaining the bass notes. how do i make harmonics clear and loud?

[was_so_beautiful]

do you reckon "continuum" is easier than "portrait of tracy"?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Turn up the treble, pluck near the bridge, solo the bridge pickup, make sure your finger is in the correct spot for the harmonic.

[BassPlayingPineapple]

I think Amazing Grace is easier than PoT personally :)

Try them both out :thumb:

I second Amazing Grace, great song to play

[Chris K]

I was going to say Apolgies by Stuart Hamm but thats quite a doozy since it's really his take on a PoT style song.

and no, thats not Powers of Ten by Shawn Lane!

[was_so_beautiful]

Turn up the treble, pluck near the bridge, solo the bridge pickup, make sure your finger is in the correct spot for the harmonic.

but what about the bass notes? they won't sound good with those tone levels.

[Fong249]

if you're auditioning for a jazz band, know your major jazz scales, jazz progressions. they wont care if u can play the POT melody like pastorius.

learn leads, and transcribe them into bass. thats a good way to steal teh audition

[was_so_beautiful]

I was going to say Apolgies by Stuart Hamm but thats quite a doozy since it's really his take on a PoT style song.

and no, thats not Powers of Ten by Shawn Lane!

ooh..."apologies", you say? that could be good, actually. i can't find it on the net... so, do you reckon you can 'you send it' here?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Well, set up the mids and bass levels how you want from that point, having the mids up tends to help too for having the harmonics ring out clearly.
And the fretted notes will sound fine, just try it.

[Chris K]

ooh..."apologies", you say? that could be good, actually. i can't find it on the net... so, do you reckon you can 'you send it' here?

I can't, it's on his second video, which made into a dvd, but I don't have it on my comp...sorry.

[gaslight]

What are you auditioning for exactly?

If you need a solo bass piece with harmonics and don't what to do Portrait Of Tracy , do Continuum by Jaco. It is easier.

If you're auditioning for a jazz band though, don't play a bass solo piece. Play something that demonstrates your ability to play as part of a band, a knowledge of jazz progressions, things like that. Birdland features a good mix of harmonic techniques and finger playing, to that end.

[AlmightyPancake]

What are you auditioning for exactly?

If you need a solo bass piece with harmonics and don't what to do Portrait Of Tracy , do Continuum by Jaco. It is easier.

If you're auditioning for a jazz band though, don't play a bass solo piece. Play something that demonstrates your ability to play as part of a band, a knowledge of jazz progressions, things like that. Birdland features a good mix of harmonic techniques and finger playing, to that end.
123.

[HaVIC5]

456

Work on your sight reading especially. Good sight reading to most band directors is more impressive and far more imporant than playing Portrait of Tracy.

[punkjazz]

another good song which is entirely based upon a melody played using bass harmonics is Iambic 9 Poetry by Squarepusher... it isn't hard and sounds beautiful. I tabbed the melody out (left the bass notes for later and never really wrote them down) and submitted it to mxtabs if you wanna check it out.