Fretless bass lesson 2: Sliding harmonics

[zomgoodnessih8u]

Hey man if you play doubl bass, does it have like the same notes at the same positons?

[tonymcg4]

@zomgoodnessih8u no, the scale of a double bass neck is larger than a bass guitar; this varies whether you play 3/4 double bass (jazz size) or 4/4 double bass (concert size) double bass mainly uses the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers - a tone interval requires a whole hand to reach it!

[zerthor]

What kind of bass is this?

[tonymcg4]

@zerthor it's a richwood fretless (basically a fender jazz copy) has a very slim neck and i love it!

[mcblahflooper94]

@zerthor its a fretless kind of bass (;

[SkaberdeeDude]

dude, can you do a bass cover or a how to play "seed - rapture"?

[TauKotoni]

Could you send me the TABs please?

[tonymcg4]

@TauKotoni TABs don't really apply to fretless, it is more about positions. Check out my other fretless videos, for info about fretless.

[TauKotoni]

@tonymcg4

Hahah, i know dude. I was just trying to be funy! didnt work this tiem i guess :)

[albicelestelomas]

Hey man, nice vid! How do you figure this will work on an upright? ain't got one of my own to try on yet...

Cheers

[tonymcg4]

@albicelestelomas upright is a completely different approach - in a sense, they are more like cousins from the same immediate family - finger spacing/stretch is longer, pizzicato technique is different (you rake across the string rather than pluck) so i'd say the ideas of intonation and finger placement will be transferable - but it's a bit like saying "i know how to play piano" and then trying to play the pipe organ!

[ZappaFan101]

Very nice. I'm assuming this cant really be done on a fretted, because the frets interfere with the harmonic slides correct?

[JF0urnier]

@ZappaFan101 they can be done on a fretted, although it won't sound nearly as nice and are a bit harder to achieve.

[jamesoywe]

@ZappaFan101 you must have figured this out by now, but you actually can! =] cheers

[AdyNem]

Great lesson! A quick question...do you know if sliding and artificial harmonics are possible on an acoustic electric bass (like the Godin A4)? Or does one need an active bridge pickup to get these to ring out very well?

Thanks!

[corderorolando32]

Hello, Sir. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of bass is that?

[tonymcg4]

@corderorolando32 it's a richwood fretless; basically a fender jazz copy with a very thin neck - i love it!

[masmasmas9]

@tonymcg4 how much does it cost



[tonymcg4]

@masmasmas9 my fretless was about £100, it's all down to personal preference remember. mine has a very slim neck. I would say that it's best to get a fretless that is similar to your fretted bass

[masmasmas9]

@tonymcg4 k thank you

[pordoka8aristhras]

are you using flatwound strings?



[sublime88sublime]

@pordoka8aristhras yea he his. i think they are fender roundwound

[tonymcg4]

@sublime88sublime close! i use d'addario flatwounds (40-100) £40/set but worth it!

[k0ekjebakker]

I hope there are dots on the top of the neck so you know where you are.. or have you got absolute pitch hearing?

[tonymcg4]

@k0ekjebakker i have position markers at the side of the neck, but to be honest, if you play fretless, you should only need them for reference. a great way to practice is in the dark or with your eyes closed

[bernardmmarx]

do you have to have certain strings to do this?

[tonymcg4]

@bernardmmarx No - although have recently changed to flatwounds as my pressurewounds were eating away at the fingerboard! (avoid! unless you have an ebony fingerboard)

Anyway back to your question - any type of bass strings or bass you can use this technique but it sounds much more natural/smoother on a fretless

[bernardmmarx]

@tonymcg4 weird, i can do the harmonics on my fretless my when i slide the harmonic goes dead.

[tonymcg4]

@bernardmmarx ok, what you need to do is really press down and slide at the same time, once the play the harmonic - this creates the mixture of tones, resulting in the sliding harmonic - you have to be quick as well

[bernardmmarx]

@tonymcg4 Thanks.



[haste29]

ur bass guitar was so cool ..