I have a little problem when slapping, I can slap perfect on E, but then when it comes to slapping on A or D even. I seem to slap more than one string, has anyone got any help..

Practice. Took me a while to stop hitting the other strings when slapping.

It takes time to learn to slap accurately, if you stick with it you will get it.

How long have you been playing, Minibenit?

How long have you worked on the slap technique?

Good luck :cool:

I have been playing bass for almost a year, and I started slapping about 3 months ago.

You've been working on the technique for 3 months, that's a good start but don't expect perfection from yourself just yet.

It helps to watch other bassists, read, and there are probably some online videos that may help as well. Remember to keep it simple at first. Stay with it, soon your thumb will know right where to go without you thinking about it.

Cheers Ill keep at it.

I have a little problem when slapping, I can slap perfect on E, but then when it comes to slapping on A or D even. I seem to slap more than one string, has anyone got any help..
That is a little problem.

I've been at it for about the same amount of time, and I can sound slightly impressive playing by myself - but have the band start-in, and I suddenly can't play anymore; I'm just all over the place! I give up after a few measures and go back to finger-style every time. They laugh...

Practice, practice... (I'll show them!)

Joe

Yes, practice and time will help. I'd also say to work on economy of motion and left hand muting.

There are 2 approaches I know of...........

1.As others have said, get your technique down solid

2. Get a fine piece of hardware like an ABM bridge that allows you to customize the space between each string.

Also, you can mute the strings that you usually hit. I do this with the thumb of my left (fretting) hand; after a while I did improve with thumb accuracy. Muting works. I had more trouble popping a D string (sounds silly, doesn't it? I couldn't stick my finger in the string accurately, but I could pop the G because I could just shoot my finger out and yank it back without looking. Higher Ground was a good training song to change that.)

Hi.

IMO, the key to get accuracy when slapping is: With a metronome, play whole notes on the open strings slapping them with your thumb. Your goal here should be play all the open strings WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR RIGHT HAND. You don't need to play fast stuff for this. Again: USE A METRONOME and play looong notes on the open strings trying any combination: EADG, GDAE, EDAG, EGAD... If you can play only one string at a time without looking, you've got it.

Hope this helps.

A real eye-opener for me when I was at that stage was just thinking about keeping the thumb parallel to the string I was trying to hit. If your thumb is too angled when you come down, you're going to get more than one string.

Left hand muting is a great lazy way to fix the problem as well.

That's wierd because when I first slapped, I slapped like Flea, with my thumb perpendicular to the string. I had no trouble with hitting more than one string. Now I learned how to slap parallel, so I can play both ways. I think the trick is just finding a way to slap that's comfortable for you.

I think it also has a lot to do with your anatomy. Some people (L.Johnson for example) have a VERY curved thumb, so they can easily slap with thumb perpendicular to the strings without hitting anything else. Some others (like me) have a very straight thumb, so have to go parallel. I wasted a lot of time trying to find the angle that works for me.

Remember to use your fretting hand to mute the strings you don't want to hit. Always be sure to use both hands to keep unwanted strings from sounding.

I think it also has a lot to do with your anatomy. Some people (L.Johnson for example) have a VERY curved thumb, so they can easily slap with thumb perpendicular to the strings without hitting anything else. Some others (like me) have a very straight thumb, so have to go parallel. I wasted a lot of time trying to find the angle that works for me.

Eheheh, I'm a straight-thumbed guy, but I can slap either way, no problem. It just takes time to learn.

Hi.

...Your goal here should be play all the open strings WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR RIGHT HAND....
Hope this helps.
That's a no-brainer for me, considering I can hardly play anything without staring at my LEFT hand! (I think I need to get a headset mic!)

Joe

I think it also has a lot to do with your anatomy. Some people (L.Johnson for example) have a VERY curved thumb, so they can easily slap with thumb perpendicular to the strings without hitting anything else. Some others (like me) have a very straight thumb, so have to go parallel. I wasted a lot of time trying to find the angle that works for me.
My thumb's straight because of a recording studio accident that cut the tendons on the back of my thumb: I got it in the aluminum flange of a rewinding mastering deck. Those things are pretty dangerous, compared to a hard drive!

This may turn out to be an advantage with the Wooten-style thumbing I'm learning - my thumb actually bends back a little farther than I can actually pull it back under its own power, so there's a little elastic 'give' at the end of it's travel. I think this may help my tone!

Joe

Slow down!! That's the best way to improve your slap tenique. The better you get, gradually speed up to where the tempo is. Trust me, I'm a black man!






:hiding:

... Trust me, I'm a black man!






:hiding: :D

Also, you can mute the strings that you usually hit. I do this with the thumb of my left (fretting) hand; after a while I did improve with thumb accuracy. Muting works. I had more trouble popping a D string (sounds silly, doesn't it? I couldn't stick my finger in the string accurately, but I could pop the G because I could just shoot my finger out and yank it back without looking. Higher Ground was a good training song to change that.)I agree. Practice will get you a long way, but you need to work on muting too.

I practiced for 2 1/2 years, and would still occasionally hit the wrong string.

Then I watched a friend of mine slap. He was muting all of the unused strings with his fingers on his left hand. I always wondered why his slap lines were so clean.

I started working on muting, but not just with the left hand. Now that I play five and six stringers, I use any finger on either hand that is not playing a note to mute the strings that are not being used. I can slap on a six with tight spacing, and the right note always comes out.

i once saw this guy who muted his A D G strings by stickin a pick along the necky position.... talk bout an easy way out....

meh, every time I try to slap I get a dead sound...but then again, i've done a little bit of watching and I've been playin for maybe a month and a half (yes i know thats a short time)

Any suggestions?

try as much as possible to keep your thumb paralell to the strings and work on economy of motion. slapping isnt all about hitting the strings hard its about hitting them in the right way. Just sit there and slap quarter notes on each string, then gradually speed up until you can play on all the strings with the same tone on each. :bassist:

If your going to be playing with a group, i would also tell you to practice standing up as much as you do sitting down. I am having a problem slapping as well standing as i do sitting.

well, then...I don't sit to start with, lol.

I mean i've read tons of stuff on it (not tons but youg et the point) and i've watched my friend who can slap a little bit...but I sitll can't get the hang of it..

O well, i'll just leave it for now because i'd rather be workin on rhythem instead of slapping anyways...

might i put in my 2 cents?

first off ive only been playing for a year and 8 months, ive had no mentors or teachers... everything ive learned was pretty much self taught.. tho went and watched people slap alot at shows. so a few months ago i figured id try it.. first off for those whom are wanting to do it i suggest you try just slapping and popping octaves. for instance...

g---5-------7-----------------
d------------------5--------7-
a-3-------5-------------------
e----------------3--------5---

just do that nice and slow and steady.. you'll find that if you just keep all four fingers somewhat close together.. you can easily mute the strings. now heres the fingering for the excercise... the E and A strings of course would be the thumb slapping on the right hand, and for your left hand you would use your index finger for the fret. then for the pops on the G and D strings i personally use (right hand BTW) my middle finger mainly for just about every pop. but im sure others can back me up about others use their index finger to do most pops. as for the left hand during the pop, this is also an optional thing.. most either use their pinky(I do) or their ring finger. which ever is more comfortable i suppose.

hope this helps :)

Another thing: try to get a good strong sound without using octaves. Octaves are a crutch, IMO.

Another thing: try to get a good strong sound without using octaves. Octaves are a crutch, IMO.

Right on! Especially if you want to get more of a Wooten lead line kind of slapping.

A fantastic bassist buddy of mine was showing me that when he slaps the A or D, he mutes the lower strings with the heel of his slapping hand...I've found it tricky to do, but it sounds awesome. And he was encouraging me to open up my fret hand -- I was always muting with that hand, but freeing it up let me work on its speed and accuracy a bit more.

just sit down and hit open A and D(just them) strings as many time as you can. in beggining ut would be hard to get clean tone(no other strings) and it would be very slow but after a while you'll get clean tone on open strings and by the time you'll be able to play faster and faster.

i've been practicing knockin down sum Seinfeld lines. pretty fun stuff. sweet show too. :D