anyone find it hard to slap with a 5-string? the B string always gets in the way and makes any slap bass riff i try to play really muddy..

I went from a 4 to a 6er and I've noticed that since the strings are closer together I have to be WAY more accurate and I think that it's improved my slapping. It is harder and you're probably going to have to use a hair tie or something like that behind the nut to keep that b from rattling. :|

When you slapped on a 4 did/could you ever slap on the A string as well as the E string? If so, check this out:

The string spacing on my 5 is the same as my 75 P so slapping the E string on the 5 shouldn't technically be any more difficult than slapping the A string on my P.(poorly worded, may have to read a few times).

What's happening is you are used to having open space above your E string(not a big ol' Bstring!). You need to tighten-up your technique in order make clean thumps your 5's E string. Making changes in slap technique can be more tedious because it is a quick motion using longer, larger muscles.

Sit down with a metronome and just slap quarter notes on your open E string. Start slowly and worry about clean, even, consistent attack. Speed is not important.

Work on learning double thump, It will clean up your technique real fast :)

Luckily for me my thumb is a broadneck.

Work on learning double thump, It will clean up your technique real fast :)

Luckily for me my thumb is a broadneck.

+1

I used to have the same problem when playing my friends 5 or sometimes just playing a 4 and hitting the A string. Doubletumping makes your thumb parallel to the strings and makes your attack more accurate, at least for me anyway.

I'm glad I'm not the only person with this problem

I mainly slap on the B, so I'm cool. In the style of music I play, I dont have to be perfectly clean either.

i actually have a harder time slapping on my 4 string now. i like the closer spacing on my 5 string. double thumping also helps huge. just practice really slow and make sure everything is clean and then eventually it will come faster.

Bought a 4 exactly because of this. Got my chops up on my 4 then slowly started re-applying them to my 5. Just a question of practice/accuracy - eventually it'll come together.

+1 for double thump though because holding your hand parallel as opposed to at an angle makes a BIG difference.

Like the last post said it takes alot of practice, however study how the greats do it. Watch video and take lessons.

I also finding slapping scales helps... I usually warm up with a d major scale up and down the neck... regular slap - double thump - open , double thump - open double thump - pop, open double thumb, pop, pop... then I'm done for the day and I go eat junk food :)

Try a few primus songs... my name is mud will get you use to the b string... and power mad is always fun to play :) or you can always learn the awakening bass solo... so much stuff to play so little time... practice and youll get use to it...

try downloading the classical thump bass tab along with checking out victor wootens double thump how to on youtube. it will help you out ALOT.... have fun :)

If I have the choice (studio for example), I really prefer to slap on a 4 string. It lets me dig in more and there's something special about the E-string sound on a 4 that cannot be obtained on a 5 or 6.

I'll be more technique oriented if I slap on a 5 string. For example, on a 5 I'll be more like Alain Caron (very clean slap) while on a 4 string I'll be more like Flea (without the jumps)...you get the idea?

i actually have a harder time slapping on my 4 string now. i like the closer spacing on my 5 string. double thumping also helps huge. just practice really slow and make sure everything is clean and then eventually it will come faster.

+1
i started on a squier jazz, 19mm string spacing and 4 strings.
now i play a stingray5 = smaller string spacing but i got used to it quite fast, my slapping technique is much better of the stingray - i can't be as sloppy as i can be on the squier - and when i slap a 4 string now it feels wierd - too much spacing.

the only problem is muting the B string, but you get used to it pretty quick and find ways to do it.

it is actually impossible to slap on a five string. sorry.

it is actually impossible to slap on a five string. sorry.

:confused: I've been slapping/thumping a 5er for 15 years and in fact find it harder to do on a four string because I learned on a 5 string.

It's cool to slap that Low B, keep at it.

:confused: I've been slapping/thumping a 5er for 15 years and in fact find it harder to do on a four string because I learned on a 5 string.

I think he was kidding. ;)

Joe

anyone find it hard to slap with a 5-string? the B string always gets in the way and makes any slap bass riff i try to play really muddy..

It could be your technique. It's hard to say. Have you visited The Slap Bass Welcome Center (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298410)?

Joe

It's cool to slap that Low B, keep at it.

Also cool to Slap Low A. Tune that bad boy down.

I quit playing my 5 because that B string got in my way no matter what I was playing. I got to where I didn't hit it accidentally while slapping but it was always bothersome to me. Now I only use it when the music demands it.

That's technique. I learned to keep my knuckles parralel to the fretboard. If you've ever heard anyone say "my hands/fingers were too small for the 5'er", it was a matter of not keeping the plane of their hand parrallel. Not having huge hands, but when my knuckles are parallel to the fretboard, my fingers extend well beyond the low b. Guess I could play a 6 or 7 string comfortably. Hand position is key to the muting you need on a 5.

Anyway, having fingers 1 or 2 draped across the entire width of the fretboard is key on a slappin' 5'er. And that requires parallel knuckles. (Anthony Wellington) Other than that I dont notice much difference between 4 and 5. Dont much slap the low B though, a fretted thump once in a while.

If you think its hard on a 5 string try a 9 string bass :P