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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: HOF on April 26, 2022, 11:17:49 PM

Title: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on April 26, 2022, 11:17:49 PM
This is a random thread I know, but there's always been something about the sound of harmonics that just really resonates with me, and I'm kind of obsessed with them. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the intro to Yes' Roundabout is kind of the classic example, or in DT world the bass intro to Lifting Shadows Off a Dream. Alex Lifeson on the intro to Red Barchetta or towards the beginning of Hemispheres are other examples most people here would know. Eddie Van Halen used them a ton. Was just listening to U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and noticed them there in the section after the guitar solo. Pearl Jam’s Jeremy has some cool bass harmonics on the intro. They're kind of everywhere.

Anyone else really dig when songs have these? Favorite examples?

Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Deadeye21 on April 26, 2022, 11:38:32 PM
Both Blood on the World’s Hands and The Unbeliever from the X Factor album by Iron Maiden use different types of harmonics. They make up a large portion of Steve’s opening bass solo on the former, and there’s a riff consisting of them on the latter.

Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Metallica also uses them in its intro. Makes a really cool sound.
My favourite usage though is in Megadeth’s Tornado of Souls. Just such a heavy sound for harmonics.

Harmonics are great.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 27, 2022, 05:24:22 AM
The intros to

Twist The Knife - Steve Lukather
Li'l Jack Horny - Extreme

are mostly harmonics
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Fritzinger on April 27, 2022, 05:36:34 AM
Immediate thought: Genesis/Steve Hackett - Horizons

Also:
DT - As I Am
David Crosby - Look In Their Eyes

Also, short parts in:
Haken - The Endless Know
DT - Metropolis Pt.1
Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Stadler on April 27, 2022, 06:53:44 AM
I love that sound; I was going to name Eddie Van Halen.  He does it best, IMO.  Panama.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: ReaperKK on April 27, 2022, 07:15:49 AM
I got your harmonics right here: https://youtu.be/7cgsCBpAZQg

Michael Kelsey has a good song that utilizes harmonics: https://youtu.be/0H2OvLj26-E
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on April 27, 2022, 07:26:35 AM
I got your harmonics right here: https://youtu.be/7cgsCBpAZQg


Mesmerizing!
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: romdrums on April 27, 2022, 10:03:09 AM
Yes - The Fish
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on April 27, 2022, 07:42:09 PM
Journey’s Send Her My Love has a bunch of bass harmonics on the verse.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: wolfking on April 27, 2022, 09:43:39 PM
The intro to Savatage's Turns to Me instantly pops to mind.  What a great atmosphere.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on April 27, 2022, 10:17:50 PM
The intro to Savatage's Turns to Me instantly pops to mind.  What a great atmosphere.

Good one!
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: nick_z on April 28, 2022, 07:39:15 PM
The intro to Savatage's Turns to Me instantly pops to mind.  What a great atmosphere.

Agreed! Sets the stage beautifully.

Wake of Magellan is a great album, probably my favorite post-Criss Oliva...
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: TAC on April 28, 2022, 07:40:18 PM
 :corn
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: ReaperKK on April 28, 2022, 07:42:58 PM
Got one more for you from Michael Kelsey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlIjEtHSCKk
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: wolfking on April 28, 2022, 07:46:44 PM
The intro to Savatage's Turns to Me instantly pops to mind.  What a great atmosphere.

Agreed! Sets the stage beautifully.

Wake of Magellan is a great album, probably my favorite post-Criss Oliva...

Yeah, it's a magical album.  Poets and Madmen is my fav post Criss album.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: ReaperKK on April 28, 2022, 07:49:35 PM
A couple more and I'll stop with the acoustic posts:

Spencer Elliott - Torque, some great harmonics sprinkled around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bGd5AqrYgE

And this is a classic that got me into more harmonic and percussive playing:

Erik Mongrain - Airtap!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Stadler on April 29, 2022, 06:29:59 AM
On a rockier note, don't the verses of Iron Maiden's "Killers" use artificial harmonics in that descending riff?
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: ReaperKK on April 29, 2022, 06:48:18 AM
On a rockier note, don't the verses of Iron Maiden's "Killers" use artificial harmonics in that descending riff?

Just took a listen and yea, it's pretty cool riff!
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Ben_Jamin on April 29, 2022, 10:45:04 AM
Tool: Disposition and Intension

Lindsey Buckingham: Go Insane (Acoustic) (Live: The Dance)

Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Kram on April 29, 2022, 11:32:04 AM
For bass harmonics, Jaco Pastorius A Portrait of Tracy.  JM covered this on the I&W anniversary tour.  I'll never forget this blowing my mind the first time I heard it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqndXUPBjIo 
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on April 29, 2022, 12:24:21 PM
For bass harmonics, Jaco Pastorius A Portrait of Tracy.  JM covered this on the I&W anniversary tour.  I'll never forget this bowing my mind the first time I heard it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqndXUPBjIo

Loved that!
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: wolfking on April 29, 2022, 07:06:52 PM
Joe Satriani - Up in the Sky.  Very cool intro.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: nick_z on April 29, 2022, 07:23:11 PM
Joe Satriani - Up in the Sky.  Very cool intro.

Yep, I wanted to post that one! Speaking of Satch, I guess Summer Song too, also initial riff...
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: wolfking on April 29, 2022, 07:24:27 PM
Joe Satriani - Up in the Sky.  Very cool intro.

Yep, I wanted to post that one! Speaking of Satch, I guess Summer Song too, also initial riff...

Another good one.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: NoseofNicko on April 29, 2022, 09:04:45 PM
Accept’s Head Over Heels intro.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: wolfking on April 29, 2022, 09:09:44 PM
Machine Head - Pretty much every song.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Lowdz on April 30, 2022, 12:14:40 PM
Mainly pinch harmonics but off the top of my head

Pantera’s Cemetary Gates,

Ozzy - No More Tears (and loads more)

Everything by John Sykes

Steve Vai- Juice

Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2022, 06:59:25 AM
Mainly pinch harmonics but off the top of my head

Pantera’s Cemetary Gates,

Ozzy - No More Tears (and loads more)

Everything by John Sykes

Steve Vai- Juice


Haha, you could have said everything by Zakk Wylde.  :) :) :)   (And that's not a dig; I'm a pretty big Zakk Wylde/Ozzy fan.  I basically stopped listening to Ozzy when Zakk stepped aside and let Kevin Churko take over). 
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Deadeye21 on May 02, 2022, 08:09:50 AM
I basically stopped listening to Ozzy when Zakk stepped aside and let Kevin Churko take over).

That’s a shame coz Scream and Ordinary Man are great albums.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: WilliamMunny on May 02, 2022, 08:30:25 AM
I basically stopped listening to Ozzy when Zakk stepped aside and let Kevin Churko take over).

That’s a shame coz Scream and Ordinary Man are great albums.

Really?

I jumped off with Down To Earth, but I LOVE me some Zakk-era Ozzy.

Would you put Scream/Ordinary Man in the same ballpark as No More Tears/Ozzmosis???

Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: millahh on May 02, 2022, 10:17:36 AM
VH - Top Jimmy (the intro)

Smashing Pumpkins -  Zero (in the riff, the guitar has natural harmonics while the bass is hitting the E pedal in the second half of the figure)

Stone Temple Pilots - Sex Type Thing (the figure in the verse has a lot of natural harmonics, in the same style as Zero)

There's this Puddle of Mudd song (that I refuse to look up), where the entire verse is this cool figure of guitar harmonics, sandwiched between an utterly awful nu-metal ballad chorus. But it was one their big songs.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2022, 11:00:26 AM
I basically stopped listening to Ozzy when Zakk stepped aside and let Kevin Churko take over).

That’s a shame coz Scream and Ordinary Man are great albums.

I'm always game for a relisten, but I didn't even bother to buy Ordinary Man (and this is a guy that has ALL the b-sides on CD single, so I'm a completist.)
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on May 02, 2022, 11:34:55 AM
Two other VH songs not yet mentioned:

Pleasure Dome (intro)
Neworld (I love this track)

Oh, and Spanish Fly.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: nick_z on May 02, 2022, 05:27:39 PM

There's this Puddle of Mudd song (that I refuse to look up), where the entire verse is this cool figure of guitar harmonics, sandwiched between an utterly awful nu-metal ballad chorus. But it was one their big songs.

Yep, that would be Blurry. Always a guilty pleasure of mine  ;D Agreed that the guitars in the intro/verse are very cool.
Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: HOF on July 21, 2022, 03:11:11 PM
Ok, here is a technique called "bubble harmonics" invented by a guy named Donn Aaron. I'm not sure what is happening here. The playing in the video, well, it doesn't look like he's actually playing at all! Just looks like he's goofing around. Pretty wild stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TPk33UtSTA&t=74s

Guitar World article on the technique:

https://www.guitarworld.com/news/donn-aaron-bubble-harmonics

Title: Re: Songs that have guitar/bass harmonics
Post by: King Postwhore on July 21, 2022, 03:25:22 PM
https://youtu.be/vh1JcI3lDxE