Bass slap left hand technique? Trying to play Incubus' redefine

[TastyCarcass]

Hi, I'm a guitarist turned bassist, interested in learning funk metal and I'm trying to develop a percussive technique. I can slap, pop and slide on the thick strings quite well (calluses have formed properly now) and I've been going through as many songs as I can trying to develop technique and I've found one I simply can't do at this stage.

It's this;
Incubus - Redefine - YouTube

I've heard somewhere it's left hand slapping, but I can't really find an exact answer or a bass player that knows for sure and that's a technique I feel I really should have.

Can anyone tell me what it is or how to do it? Thanks

[bass_lord_mutha]

Try this: Mute the strings with your left hand, predominantly with your index finger. Then pop, slap with the remaining left-hand fingers over the fretboard (not so hard that you fret, though think of it as a hammer-on motion), then thumb.

pop, LH slap, thumb, pop, LH slap, thumb.

Something like that. Mark King is a good study for that technique. Hope this helps.

[bass_lord_mutha]

Redefine - Ben's solo @ Comcast Center, August 1, 2009 - YouTube

Also there's Ben Kenny doing it.

[TastyCarcass]

sounds like muted pops is the right thing to do, cheers. I just need help with the LH slap, I've never really came across it before. Do you know any video guides or anything?

[bass_lord_mutha]

Yeah, here's Ben Kenney playing that song at the solo part:

Redefine - Ben's solo @ Comcast Center, August 1, 2009 - YouTube

And this is Mark King with the same technique in the middle section and towards the end. This is the vid I watched to get that technique down:

Mark King Slap Solo - YouTube

[b_ryceeeee]

i dont know if this helps but there's a clip of mike in here with him slapping one of there old songs its not redefine but i read something where mike can pretty much nail all the slap lines of incubus Soundcheck Fun In Paris | Incubus - YouTube

[JimK]

Originally Posted by TastyCarcass

I've heard somewhere it's left hand slapping, but I can't really find an exact answer or a bass player that knows for sure and that's a technique I feel I really should have.

Can anyone tell me what it is or how to do it? Thanks

Dave Larue (google Dave Larue Left Hand Slap) used to write excellent Workshop articles for Bass Player mag (mid-'90s?). One article was called "Left Hand Slap".

To start...
LH = Left Hand Slap
Should be a muted sound
T = Right Thumb the muted "E"
P = Right Hand Pop the muted "G"

...with strings MUTED, counting in 4 & in time-
1-Thumb the muted "E"
2-Left Hand SLAP
3-T the muted "E"
4 LH
Repeat...so it's-
lT_LH__ LH_lT_LH_T_LH_letc

In Groups of "3"...counting in 3-
1-T
2-LH
3-T
Repeat...so it's-
lT_LH_T_lT_LH_T_l

or with a Pop-
1-T
2-LH
3-P
lT_LH_P_lT_LH_Pl


...or a combo-
1-T
2-LH
3-T
1-T
2-LH
3-P
lT_LH_T_lT_LH_P_l

Using T, LH, P in 4
1-T
2-LH
3-T
4-P
lT_LH_T_P_lT_LH_T_P_l

You can also tap these on the table, too. Once the basics are in your muscle memory...
...you should be able to mix it up with varying combinations (double thumps, double pops, double slaps, etc)...incorporating rhythms that are in Groups of 5...incorporating rhythms that cross the barline, etc.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by TastyCarcass

Hi, I'm a guitarist turned bassist, interested in learning funk metal and I'm trying to develop a percussive technique.

Funk-Metal guys to check out-
Robert Trujillo (w/ Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies)
Muzz Skillings w/ Living Colour

[beelzelboss]

Also, does anyone know of a site that has something akin to slap groove of the day, or something of the sort. In example, somewhere that has sheet music that's slapping and popping.