Saturday, February 1, 2025
BassBass Lessons

How to play harmonics on bass (8 must know shapes)


I was totally floored when I first heard Jaco’s Portrait of Tracy (try playing that final chord!).

I remember watching Modern Electric Bass on VHS back in the ’80s. Jerry Jemmott asked Jaco about his use of harmonics and Jaco said that it was thanks to tuning his bass, and that “it sounded like music to me”.

With harmonics we’re moving beyond the standard list of bass guitar techniques, and you probably don’t need to be able to play them all to become a pro bassist. BUT if you can get to grips with the fundamentals then you’ll open up a whole new world of ideas.

In this lesson you’re going to learn:
– The 8 shapes that every bassist needs to know.
– How to combine harmonics with an open E string.
– My favourite harmonics licks and tricks.
– THAT Jaco chord!
– And much, much more

As always, see you in the shed…
Scott 🙂

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Originally posted by UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV1dT-lCr5o

29 thoughts on “How to play harmonics on bass (8 must know shapes)

  • Harmonics have been such a mystery to me for years playing bass. Glad to have found this video, it explains them so well!!!

    Reply
  • 5th fret of the G string is a C. Its harmonic is a G (i.e. C’s 5th, , one octave higher).

    9th fret of the G string is an E. Its harmonic is a B (i.e., G’s 5th, one octave higher).

    So I would expect the harmonic of the 7th fret of the G string (a D) to behave similarly, and be D’s 5th (an A, one octave higher). But it’s not… its harmonic is a D.

    Mind blown. What gives? why wouldn’t the 7th fret follow the same logic as the 5th and 9th fret?

    Reply
  • Slow down and get a better angle so I can see what your weird gloved hand is doing. Also it's hard to understand everything your saying at 100 mph without studying music theory for 10 years

    Reply
  • Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!.. Sorry, I had too. I am sure I am not the only one. If you do not know the line, it is from an American Western, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart. Scott, love all the Bass info. I just got my first Bass Guitar a week ago. I am still working on the basics, fingers, scales etc. But I have more time to watch all of this good theory as I practice my basic skills. Thanks so much to you and your team. Your fret hand and finger fluidity is remarkable. You, just warming up your fingers, is music to our ears. Good music.

    Reply
  • It's ironic that I came to this video to learn how to play exactly what was in the first clip

    Reply
  • for me its all the groupings around 4-5 frets up from an open note and thus 16-17 an octave up (or pinch style past the fingerboard ????), and knowing what note it creates… It's a great spot(s) for noodly improv to incorporate them into a lick!

    Reply
  • Can u do a lesson on stuff that can be heard amongst the shrill noise of your band playing. I like harmonics but I might as well be playing nothing sometimes. I can't even heat that shit from right in front of my amp. Advice?

    Reply
  • as jaco said…don't follow the shapes. learn what and where the notes are, you'll be able to do so much more with harmonics!

    Reply
  • Never seen anyone play with a glove like that. I'm assuming it serves a purpose right? Perhaps less slide noise and consistent dry fingers?

    Reply
  • With active electronics, you can basically pull out harmonics anywhere on the fretboard bc of the output boost

    Reply
  • Just subscribed been playing bass since I was sixteen. I’m now 31 with a one year old baby girl, who keeps trying to rip myself bass off me and I’m trying to learn more so i can let her get much better than me and your videos are good for me to get more out of my bass. Cheers

    Reply
  • Also Tapped Harmonics are awesome. Billy Sheehan does that a lot. And also if you are stuck in a rut, try using a capo on your bass. And a capo is grate for transforming some slap lines and some chordal playing as well.

    Reply

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