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  #1  
Old 06-24-2009, 03:45 PM
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5 string slapping accuracy.

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I've recently started playing slap-bass again, on my 5 stringer cause it's the only bass I CAN slap.

Anyway, I keep on getting the same issue that I CAN'T slap my A-G strings accurately. I've tried various positions with my thumb, different speeds and other things, but I still can't get this right.

Any help before I go insane?
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  #2  
Old 06-29-2009, 02:50 AM
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Practice Practice... Thats really all there is to it. Practice keeping your thumb level, and play lots of scales. You'll get there.
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  #3  
Old 06-29-2009, 04:22 AM
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Hiya!

I made a vid about slap precision some time back. It's aimed at 4 strings, but the ideas and excercise I go through are still relevent.

Hope it may help you a bit.

http://mrlamius.blogspot.com/2008/08...precision.html
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Old 07-07-2009, 10:29 PM
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Try messing around with the bridge if you know what your doing. Are you having trouble doing the slapping or popping?
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Old 07-07-2009, 10:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmanlamius View Post
Hiya!

I made a vid about slap precision some time back. It's aimed at 4 strings, but the ideas and excercise I go through are still relevent.

Hope it may help you a bit.

http://mrlamius.blogspot.com/2008/08...precision.html
this. his videos (the non-slapping too) are all excellent, for all skill levels.
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  #6  
Old 07-08-2009, 02:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht View Post
on my 5 stringer cause it's the only bass I CAN slap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht View Post
Anyway, I keep on getting the same issue that I CAN'T slap my A-G strings accurately.


?
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  #7  
Old 07-10-2009, 06:42 AM
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I'm just beginning to play but I don't either understand how you play slap on your 5 string because it's the only one where you can slap but you cannot slap your A G strings at all
  #8  
Old 07-12-2009, 05:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LMCA View Post
I'm just beginning to play but I don't either understand how you play slap on your 5 string because it's the only one where you can slap but you cannot slap your A G strings at all


My Shergold, due to the set-up and a few other issues, is practically impossible to slap. My 5er I CAN slap, but my accuracy isn't that good.

Also, to the poster of that video, cheers!
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  #9  
Old 07-12-2009, 09:25 PM
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Tons of practice is all it takes. You're trying to master a technical skill here, not really a musical one, so don't worry about making your notes on tempo or even playing anything remotely interesting musically.

I just worked on open As until I could pump them out without making the E string ring. Then D, then G and so on. You're not making music here, so don't worry that it's entirely musically uninteresting.

Then, work on something basic. Major scale all the way up one string and back down. Then work it across the strings. Focus only on cleanly attacking only the note you're wanting to play. Before too long, you'll develop a way of doing it that fits you and the way you play. If you find something in the way you're moving your hand that gets in the way of running notes up and down a single string, or across strings, now is the time to change it.

Congratulations. You've learned the basic mechanics now. It's like learning how to drive a car. The technical end is the boring part. Now see what interesting places you can drive... what interesting music you can make now. Learning the technical part is only good if you can use it in the service of some good music.



One hint for you from my own way of doing this: Despite getting pretty good at not hitting adjacent strings, I found the strings above where I was playing still had a tendency to ring now and again. I adjusted my technique so that the ball of my thumb and/or the side of my palm can help mute those upper strings for me when needed.
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  #10  
Old 07-12-2009, 10:28 PM
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Practice and work at hitting the strings cleanly, but remember, muting is your friend!
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