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| Online Bass Instruction with Rusty Springfield |
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You may have heard the term "false harmonic." A false harmonic is one that is created by the player on a non-open string. There are several ways to do this.
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False Harmonic Technique #1
Finger the desired note with the left hand while simultaneously placing the right index finger on the string exactly an octave higher. The right thumb then plucks downward, producing the "chime" effect.
Click here to zoom in.
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Example #1. Place the first finger of your left hand on the second fret (B). Now place your pinky over the sixth fret (Eb) and play a harmonic. This produces an Eb harmonic an octave above the Eb normally played on the sixth fret. The theory behind this method is simple. The harmonic produced on the third fret of the A string is C#. (See chart.) When you place your first finger on the second fret, a whole step higher, it essentially becomes a capo. The third fret harmonic is then moved up a whole step as well and it's corresponding note becomes Eb (or D#). This same principle can be applied to any string on any fret.
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False Harmonic Technique #2
Same as Technique #1, except that the right finger and thumb switch places. You may use whichever technique is more comfortable.
Click here to zoom in. |
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Example #2. It is very easy to produce harmonic which is one octave above just about any fretted note. A simple, user friendly example would be to play a G on the twelfth fret of the G string with the first finger of your left hand. Now take your right hand thumb and just barely touch the G string about 8 3/4" higher up (at the spot where the 24th fret would be if you had a two octave neck). With the first finger of your right hand, firmly play the G string just behind your thumb. The resulting, harmonic you now hear is a G, which sounds one octave higher than the note you are fingering with your left hand. This harmonic can also be produced by reversing the thumb and first finger of your right hand, so that your first finger is placed over the harmonic point, while the thumb plucks the string. Either method works just fine. Experiment with this technique on other strings and other notes. Just remember to play the harmonic point exactly one octave higher than the note you play with your left hand.
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