Apoligies for the delay in tutorials.

Here is the 5th installment of my harmonic tutorial series.

This video explains the basics of tapping harmonics with the plucking hand. The advantages of this technique are that only one hand is needed to play the harmonic. It also creates a more “dynamic” timbre.

Hope this tutorial is useful.

Hello again. Apologies for not posting any videos in ages. This is the latest installment in my harmonic tutorial series.

The basic concept is playing a note and an artificial harmonic simulataneously to create a massive interval. The note is plucked with the thumb, and the harmonic is played using the “steve bailey” style (see my video on artifical harmonics for more information).

In fact, this is one of Steve Baileys harmonic techniques. Here is a link to a youtube video of him (and victor wooten) giving an example of the technique in action. Skip to 2.30.

Because the intervals are so big (triple octave), if you’re using a laptop you may need to plug in some external speakers to hear the bass part properly.

This quick tutorial introduces the basic technique of harp harmonics used by guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel. The contrast between the artificial harmonics and the plucked strings on the bass makes this technique particularly effective in creating a mellow and melodic feel.

I have played back the video and it seems a bit quiet, for which I apologise.

Some of the ideas in this video about artificial harmonics and nodes are addressed in greater detail in part 1 and part 2 of my harmonic tutorials.
I may do one or two more vids on harmonics, so stay tuned

Artificial harmonics are created by fretting a note, touching a node and then plucking the string.

They can be used to create harmonics that have pitches which can’t be achieved using natural harmonics.

An application of this is playing a melody using only harmonics, like in the intro to Birdland by Weather Report. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o

People often confuse artificial harmonics with  “pinched” harmonics. However, they are not the same thing. “Pinched” harmonics is a guitar technique where the string is plucked using a plectrum and instantly touched by the thumb. This is done above a node, resulting in a harmonic.

Again, I apologise for using an unmarked fretboard – I am at university and only brought along one bass.

This lesson is all about natural harmonics – What they are and how to play them.

I hope you find it useful. I am planning a three part series on harmonics. Part 2 on artificial harmonics will be coming soon.

I apologise for the un-marked fretboard. I realise that this makes it hard to follow along, but I am currently at university and only brought along one bass.

If you want to know even more, check out this wikipedia page – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonics

This is a technique for playing basic chords using compound intervals. Compound invervals are like standard intervals (eg, 3rd, 4th, 5th) but the notes in question are an octave (or sometimes more) further apart. They are great to use at the end of a passage or phrase, or to simple add a bit more flavour to an otherwise simple bass line.