bass harmonics stuff: confused about ratios and fundamentals

ubermoose · Kitten Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 145 Location: Michigan

I have a book that came with my bass called Dean Peer's Bass Harmonics, which has me uber-confused. With a 2:1 ratio (at the 12th fret, 2:1 because it is one-half of the way up the string), of course I get one octave from the note the string is tuned to, so on the G-string, if I put my finger right at the 12th fret, I get a G one octave from what I'd get if I didn't have any paws on the fretboard. Cool. This still makes sense to moi.
So, with a 3:1 ratio, at the 7th fret, I get a D.
4:1 ratio, at the 5th fret, G.
5:1, 4th fret B.
6:1, 3rd fret, D.
7:1, half-way between 2nd and 3rd fret, F.
8:1, just between the aforementioned note and the 2nd fret, G.
9:1, 2nd fret, A.
10:1, just a smidge up from the second fret, B.
11:1, half-way between 2nd at first fret, C#.

This bass harmonics lesson is making little sense to me, because I always play just behind the frets anyway, and, I mean, if put a left finger on the 5th fret, and give the string a good thump with a right finger, it sounds like I get a B, not another G. Is this chart more relevent when playing hammer-ons? The book talks of playing stopped notes versus playing harmonics. When should I keep this stuff in mind? I just don't get it, and I'd appreciate it if someone could give me a hint, for I am, as I said before, quite confused.
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Rufio · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:34 am Post subject:

fatboy · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure if I am reading your question correctly and do not know the book htat you are reading and I am still pretty know to the bass
But, when I played 'cello adn when I've fiddled with acoustic guitars, a harmonic was when you just place your finger on the string in certain places (don't press down) and then got different (usually higher) tones than if you actually fingered in those places.

F'rinstance on a 'cello if you place your finger in on the A string such that if you pressed it to the fingerboard you would get an A one octave above the open string, the played the string with you finger in that position buut the string not pressed down you would still get an A but it would be even higher (Hey Confused Queen check me on this!!)

This would explain your ocnfusion because you normally play just behind the frets. This is becasue with a fretted instrument you make the tone by pressing the string against a fret (which you can do without actually being on the fret) and with an unfretted instrument (like violins and other orchestra strings) its your finger that actually stops the string so it must be located at the exact point where the note is.

Anyway, I could be totally confused but try what is written in the book without depressing the strings all the way and see if it makes more sense.
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Rufio · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:34 am Post subject:

Oh, I think I understand what happened now. Okay, so you weren't actually playing harmonics, you were just playing regular notes. Fatboy said it pretty much, but I'm going to explain it again. You want to put your finger above the frets, but don't actually depress the strings.
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ubermoose · Kitten Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 145 Location: Michigan

Got it. Read the intro (that always helps), and I suppose harmonics are achieved by placing (but not pressing) the finger at the "node" and plucking at th "antinode." The nodes are based on ratios of the string length. It's making more sense now, just difficult to remember what notes exactly are at which nodes.
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Mind you, moose bites can be pretty nasty...
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