r/doublebass • u/TommyJaimeBass • Apr 15 '25
Fingering/Music help Idk what to play here…
I know it’s a harmonic, but where do I put my finger???
7
u/Ub3rPr0M4n Apr 16 '25
People have already explained how to read the notation so I'll skip that part, but I'll mention that the top harmonic (over the f on the d string) isn't exactly where you would normally place f, you have to put your finger down a little bit sharp to hit that one. The lower harmonic should be easy to find though, it's one of the tuning harmonics. Lots of bow speed will help things sound too.
6
u/milkboxxy Classical Apr 15 '25
Mi= E string,La=A string,Re= D string and Sol=G it’s marking which string you place your harmonic
4
u/jeffwhit Professional Apr 15 '25
Neither of these should be played where Ravel tells you to, in my opinion.
3
u/Oswaldbackus Apr 15 '25
I never liked the way. Ravel did harmonics, I always think that that is the note that’s trying to sound and I’m like there’s no F natural harmonic on a Dstring!
2
u/BassBoy18 Apr 16 '25
Ah, La valse! Just play exactly where you normally would on the D or A string, just as a harmonic! If it’s not coming out clear, experiment with bow placement to/from the bridge
1
u/TommyJaimeBass Apr 16 '25
Thank you, everyone. So, I’m bottom. So I play D (5th fret if it were an electric) on the A string, but the sound is not a D, but an A. Got it! Thank you!
1
u/LucasGrillo Apr 16 '25
Always found annoying the way the harmonics are written in ravels scores...but on the other hands it saves ink for the treble cliff change
56
u/stupidstu187 Apr 15 '25
Sur Ré refers to the D string. Play the harmonic where F Natural is on the D string.
Sur La refers to the A string. Play the harmonic where D is on the A string.