Playing a note on a stringed instrument below the frequency of the lowest open string

[JollyGreen]

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~mk4/subharmonics.html

Subharmonics.
Some quite impressive stuff, there are a few recordings on there, apparently she can manage notes a full octave below the frequency of the lowest note played normally!

 

[Akira]

And there was me thinking GD couldn't go any lower.

 

[Doohickey]

She is able to play not only an octave below, but also many intervals below the fundamental notes using carefully controlled bowing technique.

 

[Fraggr]

LOL

 

[alexthecheese]

They said it sounded like a quirky joke from many years ago, still sounds like it to me!

 

[marc_howarth]

Sweet, i knew you could get notes higher than what's usually possible using harmonics but didn't know you could do that

 

[james.miller]

that's pretty cool stuff. some creepy music samples though lol

And there was me thinking GD couldn't go any lower.

did i miss something while i was away?

 

[Jonny69]

open G string ... precise control of ... pressure ... repeatedly on demand ... "revolutionary technique"

(edited)

 

[matthew_o50]

That's quite impressive. Harmonics are difficult enough on the violin, i'll have to give this a go later.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

<Quote:
And there was me thinking GD couldn't go any lower. >

did i miss something while i was away?

Yes, the joke

 

[marc_howarth]

That's quite impressive. Harmonics are difficult enough on the violin, i'll have to give this a go later.

I always presumed going for the higher harmonics would just be exactly the same as on a guitar

 

[matthew_o50]

I always presumed going for the higher harmonics would just be exactly the same as on a guitar

On the violin the finger position for the higher harmonics is slightly different and then you have to place the bow closer to the bridge than usual. I'm not sure how harmonics work on a guitar but I find them quite difficult, maybe it's just me.

I tried getting sub-harmonics earlier on the violin and the best I could get was just below the logest string (G). It is very difficult to get and to also sustain so this seems even more impressive to me now.

 

[marc_howarth]

I'm not much of a guitar player but to get the higher harmonics, at basics, you can place your finger on 5th or 7th fret. Instead of pushing down onto the fret just rest your finger on the string and start strumming

You may need to adjust your fingers slightly however you should hear the 12th note from the 7th fret and hear 2 octaves above the open string from the 5th fret