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05-17-2008, 07:34 PM
| | | | Slap and Pop problem!!
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well I have followed several tutorials but I can't seem to get that jazzy sound that the people in videos get when they slap, or things like that. Were should I be slapping the string on the fret board or off the fret board? I know im hitting with the side knuckle of my thumb.... So whats wrong?!?!?!?! |
05-17-2008, 07:43 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | | Need more info...what kind of bass, pup placement, what's your EQ look like, is it active or passive bass, how is your attack on the string- do you hit it on top of the string, on the leading edge of the string, does your thumb bounce off and come to rest in the space next to the string? A lot of Q's, I know, but it would help to have more info... |
05-17-2008, 07:48 PM
| | | | sorry for the lack of info, I am using a regular 4 string bass, I am hitting on the side of the string, sorry i dont know what an EQ is, dont know if its active or passive, I am not hitting it too hard, the string ends up hitting the fret board when I hit it too hard. hope this si enough if you want more info please feel free to ask |
05-17-2008, 07:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | | If you have two pickups, like a Jazz, you should have them mixed together, possibly slightly favoring the bridge pup. Your EQ on your amp should have a touch of bass, cut the mids slightly, treble flat or slightly boosted- that should get you close, tonally. The rest is in your hands. Your thumb should strike almost through the string, bouncing off the string and coming to rest in the space between the string you hit, and the next one up- i.e., slap the E, it should bounce you into the space just before the A string. If your bass is passive, tone up all the way, if it's active, a touch of bass and a touch of treble will do, if you have mids, cut them back slightly. Hope that helps! |
05-17-2008, 07:50 PM
| | | | how do I know if its active or passive? |
05-17-2008, 07:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | | Is it a P bass?
If so, you'll never sound like the jazzy sound you describe, it's just not set up that way. You can get a good old-skool tone when you slap a P, but the modern slap tone requires the bridge pup mixed in. |
05-17-2008, 07:52 PM
| | | | DOH! whats a P [now im feeling stupid] |
05-17-2008, 07:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by imintheband  how do I know if its active or passive? | If it's passive, you'll have a volume (or two) and a tone. If it's active, it has a battery, and scads more knobs...  |
05-17-2008, 07:54 PM
| | | | alright so my bass is passive
does that mean tis a P? |
05-17-2008, 07:56 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by imintheband DOH! whats a P [now im feeling stupid] | P stands for Precision, which is a benchmark rock bass. It has a single split pup midway between the bridge and the neck, and two knobs on the pickguard. A Jazz has two bar-type pups, one by the bridge, the other closer to the neck. Usually, they are set up with two volume pots and a tone pot (3 knobs), and the knobs are usually on a metal plate separate from, but touching, the pickguard. |
05-17-2008, 07:57 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | | Google "P-bass" and "Jazz bass", there's pics to show the difference. |
05-17-2008, 07:57 PM
| | | | ok so mine is a jazz, but were am i supposed to be slapping the string? on the fret board or off it? |
05-17-2008, 07:59 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sunbury, Ohio | | You may want to have your bass set up with lower action. That's a big place to begin getting a better slap tone.
Another thing, what kind of strings do you use? I use stainless steel round wound strings and they have a lot more high end and mid range punch than say a set of nickel flat wounds.
I usually hit the string against the very last 2 frets on the fretboard. I hover my thumb right over that area. The actual slap and pop tone is coming from that string hitting the fret, thus making a percussive sound. I also keep my right hand, or plucking hand, very close to the strings. That allows me to also mute strings that I don't want ringing out and also lets me play faster since my hand doesn't have to travel as far as when I have my hand further from the strings.
There's plenty of good info here on TB in the technique section. Check out the Slap Bass Welcome Center thread: The Slap Bass Welcome Center
__________________ Me Bridge Construction Soul Atoma Quote:
Originally Posted by john turner | Quote:
Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya Personally, I'll never be satisfied until they make a computer that prints bacon. That's exactly what I want. |
Last edited by capnsandwich : 05-17-2008 at 08:02 PM.
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05-17-2008, 07:59 PM
| | | | hmm wait it might be a P it has three knobs though but there not as close as they are int he pic |
05-17-2008, 08:01 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by capnsandwich Another thing, what kind of strings do you use? I use stainless steel round wound strings and they have a lot more high end and mid range punch than say a set of nickel flat wounds.
I usually hit the string against the very last 2 frets on the fretboard. I hover my thumb right over that area. The actual slap and pop tone is coming from that string hitting the fret, thus making a percussive sound. I also keep my right hand, or plucking hand, very close to the strings. That allows me to also mute strings that I don't want ringing out and also lets me play faster since my hand doesn't have to travel as far as when I have my hand further from the strings.
There are plenty of tutorials here on TB in the technique section. Check out the Slap Bass Welcome Center thread: The Slap Bass Welcome Center | oh so i am supposed to be hitting the string against the fret, i guesss I gotta playa round with the equalizers a bit to get the tone I want |
05-17-2008, 08:04 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas, USSA | | | What kind of bass is it? What brand? |
05-17-2008, 08:05 PM
| | | | Silvertone, its pretty cheap I couldn't afford anything too great |
05-17-2008, 08:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sunbury, Ohio | | Quote:
Originally Posted by imintheband oh so i am supposed to be hitting the string against the fret, i guesss I gotta playa round with the equalizers a bit to get the tone I want | Yes, just take your thumb and hit the string against the fretboard. Then take your index finger and pluck up the string and let it slap against the fret. Practice that until you get some rhythm going. It's a long, hard process getting that technique down but once you start learning the basics everything gets a little easier to learn and comes much faster.
__________________ Me Bridge Construction Soul Atoma Quote:
Originally Posted by john turner | Quote:
Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya Personally, I'll never be satisfied until they make a computer that prints bacon. That's exactly what I want. | |
05-17-2008, 09:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 97465 | | Quote:
Originally Posted by imintheband Silvertone, its pretty cheap I couldn't afford anything too great | Wow!! An old Silvertone? That's part of your problem. They are not great tone machines. Although a lot of tone is in your thumb.
Good news is you could probably sell it to a collector for a pretty good amount of money if it's vintage and in good condition. Or trade for a very decent modern bass. Get your moneys worth though!
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05-17-2008, 10:02 PM
| | | nahh the problem is its not an old one, its just a starter bass, came with amp etc.... ive been saving up for a better one though  ill try and get a new one ASAP | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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