Really Fast Slap?

[Buddha117]

Hey i recently got a new bass, but have been playing for abut 2 years, can slap okay. But it seems to trouble me as soon as it gets to that tempo that is required for the type of songs i like to play?

eg. Prisoner of society-The Living End, (during the chorus)

Any tips on how my Right hand technique should be so it doesnt get cramped so quickly?

Or should i just harden up and build some muscle on my arms? lol

any help wpuld be appreciated!!

[Bass]

I'm no expert on this, I've only been playing for 2 years as well. But I think most people who slap at lighting speed have 2 things, action set low & slap motion is mostly from wrist. ie elbow is stationary.

There is lots of info on this at www.rockabillybass.com

[KeepEmThumpin]

What kind of strings are you using? When I was using guts, I stumbled across a technique that sped me up a LOT. It's like you keep your hand almost as if you were going to make fist, but your fingers are still hanging loose. The first part of your slap is a bounce off that thumb muscle, then you bouch it off of there again, finally plucking the string with the index/middle finger. I'll try and get it down pat with steel strings so I can show you if what I'm typing makes no sense whatsoever.

[Buddha117]

Originally Posted by KeepEmThumpin

What kind of strings are you using? When I was using guts, I stumbled across a technique that sped me up a LOT. It's like you keep your hand almost as if you were going to make fist, but your fingers are still hanging loose. The first part of your slap is a bounce off that thumb muscle, then you bouch it off of there again, finally plucking the string with the index/middle finger. I'll try and get it down pat with steel strings so I can show you if what I'm typing makes no sense whatsoever.

Hey, um im using steel strings, cause i don't play just slap, i like the sound that steel strings provide when playing an ordinary song (without slap). Blisters arnt a problem anymore lol my hands are bassically 2 big calluses haha. But yeah whenever i try to do that tempo, chuga-chuga but rly fast lol ( i hope thats hwat it soudns like haha) yeah my arm just goes dead, and i was wiondering if it qwas because i was using my arm to much?
i will try that fist thing, for sure. But if you ever put a video up demonstrating this, be sure to link it. ill check it out straigjht away haha.
thanks for the help.

[txstatebass]

This is where getting some Milt Hinton chops comes in real handy. It's a different way of doing things than the Kevin Smith school (although Kevin gets much respect from me!). Check out the old recording "Slap Happy" that he did with Cab Calloway.

[salcott]

Milt could slap all night without getting tired or tense. It's not about muscle. Nothing about playing the double bass should about muscle except carrying it.

[txstatebass]

Originally Posted by salcott

Milt could slap all night without getting tired or tense. It's not about muscle. Nothing about playing the double bass should about muscle except carrying it.

Word!

[Buddha117]

Originally Posted by salcott

Milt could slap all night without getting tired or tense. It's not about muscle. Nothing about playing the double bass should about muscle except carrying it.

How long has Milt been playing for though? i dunno, i will just keep practicing

[salcott]

Not sure what the first emoticon means, so will just pass info. Milt stopped playing when he was 86 years old. He died at 90.

[Buddha117]

Originally Posted by salcott

Not sure what the first emoticon means, so will just pass info. Milt stopped playing when he was 86 years old. He died at 90.

Oh okay. I meant no offence or anything. I was just saying like he has prob been p;laying all his life, and his arms have gotten stronger and more used to the slapping.

[salcott]

The point I was trying to make, and the point Milt emphasized when he demonstrated his technique, is that it most definitely is NOT about muscle and strength, but about relaxation and letting the weight of your hand and arm do the work. It's the same with proper pizz technique. If you do it right, you can do it all night.

[lucas vigor]

Yep. As soon as I start tensing my arm, it becomes difficult. Mostly, I use my fingers (which may or may not be correct) but the most important thing for me is using gravity itself.

[aluminumbassguy]

Relaxing is the biggest part. All that energy is coming from your back, thru the shoulder down to your hand. Use the weight of your arm. Don't fight it. It's like trying to use a hammer without moving your arm. It's so inefficient.Also make sure that your arm is perpendicular to your fingerboard. Having your elbow at a right angle can help you from not twisting it(elbow). That can really help out. These are things that helped me out alot. Good luck and don't forget not to burn out your shoulder too!

[piperwarrior197]

If you're just moving you're wrist and keeping your elbow stationary you're going to hurt yourself very fast...I agree with the above.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by piperwarrior197

If you're just moving you're wrist and keeping your elbow stationary you're going to hurt yourself very fast....

WRONG Bzzzt. Well yeah, the elbow is going to move a little bit. BUT the majority of slap motion will come from the wrist, rather than moving the whole arm.

Read this.

[Gearhead43]

I have to agree with Bass here. The OP asked about playing REALLY FAST punk / psychobilly type slap bass.

Then a whole bunch of "experts" who don't play anything close to came in, giving advise about a subject and music they don't play.

It is a fact that alot of punk / Psycho slap bass players slap use "mostly" a flick of the wrist instead of the whole arm. These players *usually have their bass set up with very, very low action.

Some guys that use a bit higher action just have to put more arm into it, but the arm / elbow is still kept at a 45 degree angle instead of 90 degrees.

Here's an example of the 45 degree / elbow mostly stationary technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66yZ6Oek2Fs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmyffQpabU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXv3j9tqNxk

There is no one right way to play slap bass, that's the beauty of it.

[WarsD4]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Here's an example of the 45 degree / elbow mostly stationary technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66yZ6Oek2Fs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmyffQpabU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXv3j9tqNxk

There is no one right way to play slap bass, that's the beauty of it.

That guy is incredible!

[jharvey356]

How does one play a really fast slap? The same way you get to Carnegie Hall - practice, practice, practice. You just set your metronome at a speed that you can play with and then turn it up a notch. Keep repeating that untill you get to your fastest tempo. Do it again tomorrow.