Singing Harmonics...

[darrell]

What are some ways to get the best harmonics out of your bass? The obviously things would be to turn up your high end and stuff like that... Is it best to use the bridge pickup... Play near the bridge... etc. I want to learn some Jaco stuff, but I don't want it to sound half assed because I can't get the harmonics to sound right...

[darrell]

Thanks for the help...:rolleyes:

I've got a better sound now that I just experimented with it... Playing close to the bridge helps a lot.

Here's another question for you guys... How do you get the last harmonic in Portrait of Tracy? It sounds so strong on the recording...

[Killer Fridge]

i believe on the recording its multitracked to make it sound fuller

other than that? Jaco was a God and none can play like him

[darrell]

i believe on the recording its multitracked to make it sound fuller

other than that? Jaco was a God and none can play like him

Alright, that makes sense. I will eventually get this song down. I'd love to have something to play live... my guitarist plays eruption (what guitarist doesn't) and I'd like to have something to contrast it. I think Portrait of Tracy is awesome because instead of just wanking away, you're taking the bass to its limits with every possible sound you can get out of it (well, not really... but you know what I mean).

Hopefully I'll get it ...

[LewsTherin]

-Solo bridge pup, tone open
-boost treble
-pluck near bridge
-light touch with fretting hand

[labgnat]

i believe on the recording its multitracked to make it sound fuller

other than that? Jaco was a God and none can play like him


From what Jaco said on his modern electric bass dvd it's not overdubbed or anything. i can't remember his exact quote right off hand tho. but you are gonna need some massive hands to pull this one off. if i remember correctly the last chord looks like this

G-----9-------13
D-----9-------13
A-----9-------13
E

thing is you have to fret the 9th fret with index finger and put pinky over 13th fret and pluck to get an artificial harmonic. wish i could do it

[Moon Flavor]

^I half-*** it and leave out the A string. It's much easier and it still sounds good.

[Killer Fridge]

From what Jaco said on his modern electric bass dvd it's not overdubbed or anything. i can't remember his exact quote right off hand tho. but you are gonna need some massive hands to pull this one off. if i remember correctly the last chord looks like this

G-----9-------13
D-----9-------13
A-----9-------13
E

thing is you have to fret the 9th fret with index finger and put pinky over 13th fret and pluck to get an artificial harmonic. wish i could do it

i stand corrected

and i thought it left out the D string, and was just the G and the A...but ive already been proved wrong once :thumb:

[darrell]

I thought it was just G and D... I'll have to check the transcription. I really haven't gotten that far yet.

[Manticore Guy]

For right now i just tap it and i always thought it was
G-9-12.8--
D-9-12.8
A-9-12.8

But yeah, pretty much the same thing

[katana_manatee]

Don't boost your treble. That will just make the bass more clicky and you'll get more finger noise, plus harmonics "live" in the mids not the treble. If anything boost your mid, have your treble about mid way and same with bass. Solo the bridge pickup.

[nopicks4me]

just grow massive hands. thatll cure all your problems.

[dragoman]

DR Low-Rider stainless steel roundwounds are great for harmonics.

[Thonk]

Throw in some chorus on the last chord. Sounds close enough for me.

Also, that implies that it actually was multitracked..I don't see how he would get it to sound like that if he didn't track over it anyway..