Maarten Bauer Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Hello, Currently, I am writing a piece including Double Bass. I want to have the Bassist play a natural harmonic, but I cannot find a correct solution for the notation like in the following passage: (Do not mind the red notes) (The notes sound an octave lower) The result of the harmonic is an A4, but the open string is a D2 and the fingering an F2, with the result of 7 ledger lines... If I write the harmonic in the treble clef the passage is as follows: Although there are less ledger lines (4) I think this looks terrible too and I don't know if a bassist is able to read so many ledger lines below the treble clef. I have thought about using the tenor, alto or soprano clef, but is this allowed? Can bassist read these clefs? Do you have any advice for me? Maarten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarcheon Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 First of all, a bass stretching a 4th is nearly impossible in the lower to middle positions so be careful when you're using this. Secondly, yes, they can read tenor clef. Alto and soprano clef should never be used ever, unless used for those specific eras. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Bauer Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 32 minutes ago, Monarcheon said: First of all, a bass stretching a 4th is nearly impossible in the lower to middle positions so be careful when you're using this. Secondly, yes, they can read tenor clef. Alto and soprano clef should never be used ever, unless used for those specific eras. Thanks! Do you know any easier harmonics to achieve this high A? Or an octave below? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarcheon Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 From: http://www.themoderndoublebass.org.uk/harmonics---charts.html I think no. 6 might be your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Bauer Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 33 minutes ago, Monarcheon said: From: http://www.themoderndoublebass.org.uk/harmonics---charts.html I think no. 6 might be your best bet. I don't understand: The harmonic I shared is exactly the same as No.6, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarcheon Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Sorry, my bad. You're basically finding a point on the D or A strings that will halve or quarter the wavelength of the string without losing cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Bauer Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 2 minutes ago, Monarcheon said: Sorry, my bad. You're basically finding a point on the D or A strings that will halve or quarter the wavelength of the string without losing cents. No problem, but is the harmonic possible or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarcheon Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Yours? I don't think so, or you need extreme piano hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Bauer Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 48 minutes ago, Monarcheon said: Yours? I don't think so, or you need extreme piano hands. To be sure, I asked a professional Bassist. He says it is very easy to achieve the A4, because it is the fourth harmonic. Still, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarcheon Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Right, that's what I meant about the wavelengths. I thought you were talking about the artificial harmonic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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