Intermediate Guides Intermediate Bass Jake Skudder March 4, 2025 0 Comments

Introduction to Bass Harmonics: Add Sparkle to Your Sound

Harmonics are a secret weapon for bassists, adding a bell-like, ethereal tone to your playing. Used in jazz, rock, and ambient music, harmonics create unique textures that make your basslines stand out. In this guide, you’ll learn what harmonics are, how to play them, and how to use them musically!

1. What Are Harmonics on Bass?

Harmonics are produced by lightly touching the string at specific points (nodes) instead of fully pressing it down. This creates a chime-like tone instead of a normal fretted note.

Types of Harmonics:

✅ Natural Harmonics – Played at specific fret positions (like the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets).
✅ Artificial Harmonics – Played by using both hands to create a harmonic anywhere on the neck.
✅ Tapped & Pinch Harmonics – Advanced techniques used in rock and metal.

2. How to Play Natural Harmonics

Step 1: Lightly touch (but don’t press down) the string directly above the fret wire.
Step 2: Pluck the string with your right hand while keeping your left hand in place.
Step 3: Immediately lift your left-hand finger after plucking to let the harmonic ring out.

📌 Best Places to Play Natural Harmonics:

✔ 12th fret – The clearest and loudest harmonics (same note as the open string).
✔ 7th fret – Produces a bright harmonic one octave above the fretted note.
✔ 5th fret – Higher-pitched harmonics with a bell-like quality.

🎯 Beginner Exercise

Play harmonics on the 12th fret of each string.
Move to the 7th fret and then the 5th fret to hear the difference.

3. How to Use Harmonics in Your Playing

🎵 Add Texture to Basslines – Use harmonics to create atmospheric sounds in intros or outros.
🎵 Create Melodic Passages – Some bassists, like Jaco Pastorius, use harmonics for full melodies.
🎵 Enhance Chords & Solos – Combine harmonics with fretted notes for a unique sound.

🎸 Songs That Use Bass Harmonics

🔥 “Portrait of Tracy” – Jaco Pastorius (iconic harmonic-based composition)
🔥 “Roundabout” – Yes (harmonic intro by Chris Squire)
🔥 “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)” – Metallica (harmonics in the intro)

4. Next Steps: Mastering Harmonics

🚀 Practice with a metronome – Keep harmonics clean and rhythmic.
🎼 Experiment with Artificial Harmonics – Try “pinch” or “tapped” harmonics for more advanced tones.