Tony Franklin • Are Jaco's 'Artificial' Harmonics a Useful Technique?

[@zwastiunburzy3688]

Amazing bassist talking about another amazing bassist. Great stuff, Tony, I always learn something new when watching your channel. Thanks.👍

[@FretlessMonster]

That means a lot. Thank you 🙌🏻🤩

[@humblegeorge]

I always find I have been smiling the whole video through you are such a cool person.Humble as they come and just as tallented.

[@FretlessMonster]

That means so much. Thank you. 😊 I do have fun doing these.

[@gregjones861]

Wow, this was fun, interesting and inspiring to me - and I'm a drummer! Thank you for continuing to strap a jet pack onto your artistic explorations. It gives me ideas!

[@FretlessMonster]

What a great comment. And I love that non-bassists enjoy these posts too! Cheers!

[@old_Taki]

Harmonics artificial or naturals are always an enrichment whether bass or guitar are concerned. ❤🎸

[@FretlessMonster]

Agreed!! I love them.

[@davidrobinson4012]

@@FretlessMonster Beautiful! I'm a guitar player thinking of getting a ftetless bass.

[@rommelrivera1186]

All my fretless basses are beloved Franklins. Folks, THIS is the reason why. If you're going to ride on someone's coat tails, pick a genius. Awesome, Tony!

[@FretlessMonster]

Wow. Nice. Thanks so much!!! Play on.

[@133sean]

I had to buy a Tony Franklin, too. LOVE IT!!!

[@glen4326]

Jaco was indeed one of the finest..There comes a point where music becomes musical and not just sounds. That is the master craft. It's one thing to think like a child - before I knew anything about guitar/bass, I wish I could just hear things outside the "guitar ears". How does a non-musician view these things? Beautiful sounds.

[@FretlessMonster]

Great comment. Totally agree with you. Jaco was a composer as well as a gifted bassist. He could have played his works on any instrument, but chose to use the bass. 🙌🏻🤩

[@thomasfioriglio]

Interesting discussion. I had never heard of an artificial harmonic before. Not something I would probably ever use, but a cool technique. And I just love your insight. Thanks for sharing Tony.

[@FretlessMonster]

Truly appreciate that. Yes it’s not a widely discussed technique. I haven’t even used it myself!

[@davidestrada6171]

Very cool.

[@baitswrldwide]

I got Stank face around 5:30 when you hit those sliding harmonics!! Holy moly dude I’ve been watching all your videos and what a treasure it is to get to know yourself and your playing. Truly one of the greatest to ever do it, and I’m so happy you are sharing with us through KZbin!

[@FretlessMonster]

That means so much. Thank you. I love sharing these things. Thanks for watching!

[@axeslinger61]

For 'pinch' harmonics, I find that plucking with the ring finger and striking the harmonic with my thumb works well. Thanks for the video! Informative and fun.

[@FretlessMonster]

Very cool. Thanks for that. There are certainly different ways to achieve the same results.

[@Smokeslikelightningband]

@@FretlessMonsterhe does the theme of bird land in his instructional tape this way for source! :) you are quite incredible, what clarity !

[@АлександрСтафиевских-с5д]

Tony Franklin super. thanks so much. благодарю за увлекательный рассказ и отличное исполнение.

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you as always

[@barackmycat9448]

Awesome, as always. Thx for that one.

[@FretlessMonster]

Much appreciated as always!! 🙌🏻🤩

[@sirloifior]

Great vid tony. Percy Jones is also using a variety of harmonics . For example : pluck any harmonic you wish and press down the finger onto the fretboard ,the result are 2 sounds in one and you can also slide them

[@FretlessMonster]

Nice! Percy Jones is great. 👏🏻😊

[@bluecrueful]

@@FretlessMonster Percy would make some really avante garde sounds-- for example, he might pull the G string completely off the neck with his left hand and then pluck it: it would create a strange ,almost Oud like sound. I had the pleasure of taking a lesson with him back in 87, and he has a completely unique concept that involves his plucking hand...

[@PulverizerA]

Greatly appreciate a monster discussing another legendary monster. Great insight provided.

[@FretlessMonster]

Ha. Nice. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻😊

[@martinheath5947]

Blew my mind when I saw Weather Report at the Finsbury Park Rainbow Theatre, to hear the line from Birdland played by Jaco on the bass, I had always assumed it was Joe Zawinul on a keyboard. You are correct about using his thumb as you describe to create the mobile harmonics. First thing I did as soon as I got home, picked up my bass and got to practising. It's still a useful trick to create a phasing effect on a single note by moving the right hand back and forth between bridge and fingerboard.

[@FretlessMonster]

Nice! How amazing you got to see Jaco do that in person. He was on fire at that time. 👏🏻🤩🔥

[@martinheath5947]

@@FretlessMonster He was!

[@ronnieciago]

Excellent Tony 👏💥🎶

[@titequirozbassfan]

Master Tony I follow your pages and I had never found any opinion about the great jaco, you do it with great respect, admiration and humility. You are also a fretless legend, for your humility and musicality.

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate that. Yes I have the utmost respect and love for Jaco. He’s the reason I play Fretless bass. He changed my life. I was lucky to meet him in 1985. Thanks again 🙏🏻😊

[@titequirozbassfan]

@@FretlessMonster Please make a video of the day you met Jaco!! What they talked about, how it was, etc. The bassist community will surely thank you.

[@MrDanilop45]

Absolutely, I used them a lot, with a good distortion you gain two octave of extension in your bass

[@FretlessMonster]

That’s great to hear. The distortion will definitely help pull out those harmonics. I think I’ll have to incorporate them more!

[@khaz606]

I do find it interesting what different influences people take from the same artist and how we use them. Jaco's influence on me is his 16th note finger runs. I do bend my harmonics behind the nut (from Mark King;). I think it was him practing one day, and then he had the melody/note in his head and tried to figure it out.. It wouldn't have been much of a strech for him to do :).

[@FretlessMonster]

Very good point. I can relate to that - with certain choices of notes, techniques etc. And it can be very random, not even related to a bassist. 70’s British TV ads are a fun source of inspiration for me!! 😂🤷‍♂️

[@khaz606]

@@FretlessMonster Interesting! 70’s TV themes and library music are inspiration for me. Harmonics wise, it was a song by Linx called That’s Love that I 1st heard it on. Clearly the bassist heard Jaco, but I sure didn’t back then :). kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3jJpnSod7WqmZY

[@davelock3166]

Great video. Very entertaining. I would not know where to begin!

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you! Start somewhere and go somewhere else. 🤷‍♂️😂

[@andrzejkrogulski8690]

thank you for sharing all this knowledge and ideas.

[@FretlessMonster]

Great. Thanks for watching 👍🏻🤩

[@RobertTalbert]

I'd always heard of "artificial harmonics" but never knew exactly what they were until now. I pulled out a bass and tried it and... yeah, it's going to take some practice before I'm any good at that. But it gives me something to work on! Thanks as always

[@FretlessMonster]

Yes it’s not discussed too much as far as I know. It definitely takes practice. I certainly have t mastered it.

[@andyhbassman]

Your analysis is bang on - and fun 😎

[@FretlessMonster]

Great!! Thanks so much. I like to have fun 🤩

[@Frisbieinstein]

I figured out thumb harmonics in 1972. After some years I could improvise solos this way. It tends to have a big thump that gets on your nerves after a while. A fuzztone smooths that out. Classical guitarists have been doing this for a century at least. They use their index finger instead of the thumb. Jaco and I both had/have "hitchhiker thumbs" which bend backwards. I guess if you don't have that then the thumb doesn't work.

[@FretlessMonster]

Great comment! Thanks for that. Cool that you figured it out so early. I have the hitchhiker thumbs too. I simply haven’t put the time into the technique. I seem to have managed okay so far. 🤪😊👏🏻

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

Very helpful lesson Tony, I have the music to "Portrait of Tracy" and I've been going through it the last few days and I came to the conclusion, how the hell does Jaco do those stretches? And then I realized he has hands the size of catcher's mitts, which I'm sure totally assisted him in the false harmonics.

[@FretlessMonster]

Yes his massive hands definitely helped!! It’s a huge stretch. It hurt!! 😩😂

[@KyleS.1987]

I simply can't do that 2-to-6 stretch - at least not on a full-scale bass. God bless Victor Wooten for showing the rest of us the way: fret the second fret, and find the artificial harmonic past the fretboard. Takes some coordination and hunting (the spot is around where the neck pickup is on a Jazz bass), but it sounds good and it works.

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

​@@KyleS.1987I saw your reply 2 days ago, I gave myself some time to try it out and man that's cool, thank God for Victor Wooten. It does take some coordination you are right but, I can see it's going to work just fine.

[@KyleS.1987]

@@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4 That's awesome! I pass that tip along pretty much any time "Portrait" comes up, because there's always someone out there struggling with that damn stretch, haha.

[@Zahybek]

Great video! Just watched the SBL interview and that was really inspiring! To slide the false harmonic, one needs to slide “the nut” instead 😉 who knows, how practical that could be.

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you. Yes I thought about that after I’d posted it. It is definitely much easier to slide “the nut”. Always learning 🤩👏🏻

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

Hello Tony.. sounding great.. Love me some Jaco..

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you. Yeah Jaco is still amazing. A force of nature.

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

@@FretlessMonster Portrait of Tracy will stand the test of time as one of the greatest composition/performances ever.. Those solo albums with the whole big band with Jaco as a absolute beast on piano and his arranging chops are second to none.. I particularly like him in Weather Report and with that tour with Joni Mitchell of Shadows and Light, that was a smokin band and my favorite Joni era.. Duan juans reckless daughter was a epic album....Again monster piano chops and amazing arranging by Joni, So they both have that in common.

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Thank You !

[@FretlessMonster]

👍🏻👍🏻🤩🤩

[@RichieLee-dn3fd]

For Birdland, Jaco did pinch harmonics w index finger/ thumb, like guitarists do w a pick/ skin of fingers pinching the string for the 'bite'.

[@FretlessMonster]

👍🏻👍🏻🤩🤩

[@MEGAMIGA]

Neat! Hearing such a great player as yourself explaining how Jaco was one-of-a-kind really puts things into perspective! But what about pinching the string with the right hand, as guitarists do, to play artificial harmonics? Billy Gibbons comes to mind, obviously! But I suppose you wouldn't get the same sound quality as with the fretting (well...) hand stretched?

[@FretlessMonster]

Thank you. I’m still inspired and in awe of Jaco’s talent. Amazing. I’ve never had success with the guitar type pinched harmonics. They seemed random and didn’t “speak” very clearly.

[@MEGAMIGA]

@@FretlessMonster I see. Moreover, they tend to pop out better with drive, which may not be and option

[@refisherdesktop]

I was thinking about this while watching the vid, and if I understand the other comment they were probably describing the same idea, but you could use your thumb for the 'nut' and it would increase your reach and make that pull-off easier / more natural going into the slide.

[@FretlessMonster]

It’s definitely possible though it would take a fair bit of pressure to push the string onto the fingerboard with the thumb. The string needs to have full contact with the fingerboard at the nut position.

[@wild291]

Hey Tony, Do yo have some warm ups to do not feel pain after all these years? Or,what kind or warm ups do you suggest for a beginner bass player to do not feel pain in the left hand ? I practised guitar for years but bass his painfull for my left hand because i have small hands. Any tips? Thanks.

[@FretlessMonster]

Hey. Warm ups are very important, especially when we’re new to the instrument. A simple but effective exercise is to play a short chromatic run, all on the same string. Start higher up on the fingerboard- maybe on the D string on the 9th 10th 11th and 12th frets. (The notes would be B C C# D). Use different fingers for each note (1st middle, ring, pinkie), and go back and forth on those 4 notes B C C# D C# C B. Start slowly and move the whole hand if necessary to make it more comfortable with each note. As you get comfortable try the same thing in the same position on the A string. As you get more comfortable, move to the lower frets - 7 8 9 10, then 4 5 6 7. Then try this on the E string. Scales are always a good exercise. And you might want to consider a shorter scale bass. I like the Fender Mustang Bass.

[@wild291]

@@FretlessMonster Thank you very much for the tips.;-)

[@annimax]

I incorporate another use of artificial harmonics. I don't think YT will let me link from your YT channel to mine (at-annimax), but I have a short tutorial where I demonstrate "moving the nut" as you say by fretting with my left hand, and tapping the harmonics Eddie Van Halen style with my right. The song is "~ Day I Pass Away", there's a tutorial and also a music video of the full song with me playing it. I would love to know if you find something like that useful to incorporate in your songs! Your video is terrific, and Jaco was amazing! 😀

[@FretlessMonster]

Thanks. You could post a link to the tune in the comments here.

[@annimax]

@@FretlessMonster Unfortunately as I feared, it looks like YT is blocking my reply with the links in it? 🤷‍♂ Just posted a third Christmas harmonics vid today as well! 🎅

[@Monkeygroover]

Jaco played portrait of Tracy on a fretted bass. so he couldn't slide them. Birdland is also played on a fretted bass btw. There's more brightness and better intonation in false harmonics with frets.

[@FretlessMonster]

Yes you’re absolutely right. Definitely more challenging on a Fretless. Still fun though. Plus I like adding the vibrato.

[@mmartak]

This is the first time I've noticed there is something on the nut at the A string. I'm assuming this is to prevent the rattling that tends to happen with these instruments. I'm curious what it is. I've also experienced rattling on the A string of just about every bass I've owned.

[@FretlessMonster]

I have it on this bass. Not others. Yes, there was a rattle on the A string. But the rest of the strings were perfect. It’s a piece of cloth, a sturdier gauze type material. Works like a treat.

[@mmartak]

@@FretlessMonster Wow, thank you for your reply! Seems to be only my Fenders. I have both a P-J bass and a Tony Franklin fretless. I have flatwounds on both, but seems to happen on the A string regardless of whatever strings I am using. I guess gauze is the proper solution. The internet is not particularly helpful about this problem. Also thank you for this content, I had no idea either Artificial or Slide Harmonics were even a thing. My jaw dropped to hear about its use in 'Birdland.' I've heard that track a million times and always thought it was Zawinul keyboard tricks and had no idea it was Jaco. Thanks for all your inspiration!

[@133sean]

Instead of the stretch, I wonder if I could finger the harmonic with my right hand first finger, while plucking with the third or something...

[@FretlessMonster]

Worth a try. As it’s said, there are many ways to skin a fish 🤷‍♂️🤪😂

[@133sean]

@@FretlessMonster I do NOT have the hands for the stretch. 😂

[@chriswalden9288]

Potential stretch solution: short scale fretless bass?

[@FretlessMonster]

That would work. But personally I’m too stuck in my ways to change. 🤪🤷‍♂️ Plus I love the classic P Bass - P J In my case.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I’ve got a question. Is the term “artificial harmonic” in a d of itself an artificial term? I’ve got little hands myself. I’ve taken a whack at trying to emulate some of Jaco’s pinched harmonics. By design, I probably shouldn’t even be a bass player (without a short scale). When I’ve held a P-bass or J-bass, they each look booger than me.

[@FretlessMonster]

Haha. I think it is an artificial term. 🤷‍♂️🤩 I think most things that Jaco did are difficult to emulate. He had to larger than life talent (and hands)! I say the bass chooses us, not the other way round. Even when we have smaller hands! 👍🏻🤩👏🏻

[@RichieLee-dn3fd]

You should call the 'outstretched hand position--'the spider'

[@FretlessMonster]

I like it 🤩👏🏻

[@ErikStone1]

I miss Jaco so much. How amazing it would have been for Jaco to be around during the KZbin years "Jaco - The Fretless God" haha. Hey, sorry for being nosey, but what's going on with your A string nut slot? I just ordered some "nut rescue powder" from Stew Mac, so it had me thinking about all the things that could go wrong at the nut.

[@FretlessMonster]

I hear you about Jaco. Greatly missed. I had a slight rattle on the A string. A small piece of gauze cloth fixed it easily. The rest of the strings were / are perfect.

[@ErikStone1]

@@FretlessMonster Nice trick to fix the rattle. I may borrow that from you some day...haha.

[@1234drums]

Harmonics>Slap ❤❤❤❤

[@SteelTearsJulie]

💯🎸♥️🎩Ty Tony ✌️

[@FretlessMonster]

👍🏻😊

[@michaelblaney4461]

Im between fretlesses right now but my hand is too stubby for trying that stretch ! 😅

[@FretlessMonster]

😩👏🏻👏🏻😂😂

[@SCreativeIndustries]

Birdland was always on fretted bass.

[@FretlessMonster]

Live yes. Not sure about studio.

[@ArchimedesWoo]

❤

[@Marksleftboot1]

What your doing (6.30) is normally called "pinch harmonics", I stole it from Billy Sheehan years ago!

[@FretlessMonster]

Great. Thank you

[@joannalewis5279]

I need a hand transplant

[@FretlessMonster]

😂😂 Haha. Right??

[@Monkeygroover]

Mr Franklin, 8:40 -> You need to slide your 'nut' finger when sliding artificial harmonics.

[@FretlessMonster]

Thanks 😊

[@zambotv8150]

30Tony does Jaco just made my Saturday night

[@FretlessMonster]

Really appreciate that. All the best.

[@zambotv8150]

@@FretlessMonster Fantastic stuff my man, I thoroughly enjoyed that

[@This_Fretless_Guy]

❤️‍🔥

[@FretlessMonster]

😊👍🏻

[@nyobunknown6983]

Fretless player Steve Bailey is a master of bass harmonics.

[@FretlessMonster]

He’s great.

[@joethebar1]

Great stuff TF. We can all agree that Jaco had the worst haircut on that album cover-yikes

[@FretlessMonster]

😂😂😂 When I added that pic I thought, he probably cut his hair himself. Oh I’ve never done that. (Yeah right!)… 😩😂

[@nickpasic683]

Ha....I'm the nut!!! Funny!! I think we are all nuts... us chasing our musical muses!! But its fun!!! Never a dull day.

[@FretlessMonster]

😂😂👏🏻👏🏻 Gotta have fun while chasing the muse 🤩

[@Gregor9043]

You know it's a tough line when TF is having difficulty executing it.

[@FretlessMonster]

Ha. If my hands were just a little bigger!! 😂😩

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

use your thumb to pivot. saw steve harris do it. just roll your thumb to reach more notes. have a good day boss.

[@FretlessMonster]

Thanks so much!! Very cool.

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

@FretlessMonster allows you to cover more fret board. fast.

[@michaelcarey9359]

Of course it's a useful technique... look at how guitarists use them. The mass of the bass string makes it a much more useful technique on bass. Just getting a grasp of how harmonic nodes work in relation to the nut, or fretted note, should at least be listened to, if not learned and applied.

[@FretlessMonster]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@johnhouse3898]

Tony Franklin's playing is as identifiable as B.B. King's was to guitar.

[@FretlessMonster]

That’s really kind of you. Thank you 😊

[@victorparedes4863]

Stupid question !!!

[@FretlessMonster]

😂😂👏🏻👏🏻