Best Slap Bass DVD For Novice Slapper?

john nam · #1 06-12-2009, 01:46 AM

I've been playing for a long time, but I'm not much of a slapper. I really want to get serious about slapping, so what is the best DVD out there for a novice slapper like me?

I have a bunch of instructional videos that go over slap from Alexis, Victor Wooten, Nathan East, John Pattituci, Abraham Laboriel, but the problem is that they're all videos and I no longer have a video player! And maybe I'm crazy (or just lazy), but they didn't help me much to be a better slapper; all I learned were a couple neat riffs that couldn't really be applied to any of the church songs that I played. My favorite was the slap video by Alexis, should I get that again, but on DVD? Are there any other better DVDs?

ghoulbug · #2 06-12-2009, 02:23 AM

I, too, have been in the same position as you.
I ended up buying a dvd by Ed Friedland (the youtube guy!) called "Slap Bass."

It starts with all the basics, including what sort of EQ, strings, speaker cabs, etc. you should have.

It's good to hear you have at least some of the basics of slapping down. I'm assuming you're not struggling with finding a suitable wrist angle (2 o'clock), slap location (last fret), or stuff like hand (making a half-fist by flexing your proximal interphalangeal joints).
Ed says his slapping was influenced a lot by Marcus Miller, whom he went to high school with, so be prepared to a slapping tone and style similar to his.

Anyways, with the bare basics down, Ed quickly goes on to some great slap riffs, introducing a couple tricky techniques as the lessons progress.

The great thing about the dvd was how the lessons had some very musical and funky slap lines. A lot of other slap resources (like the famous "Slap It" book) are more exercise-based, and probably won't influence your playing style at all.

Mike Shevlin · #3 06-12-2009, 02:35 AM

also go to www.playbassnow.com ~ a lot of it is more advanced, but it will help you.

gerryjazzman · #4 06-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghoulbug

I, too, have been in the same position as you.
I ended up buying a dvd by Ed Friedland (the youtube guy!) called "Slap Bass."

It starts with all the basics, including what sort of EQ, strings, speaker cabs, etc. you should have.

It's good to hear you have at least some of the basics of slapping down. I'm assuming you're not struggling with finding a suitable wrist angle (2 o'clock), slap location (last fret), or stuff like hand (making a half-fist by flexing your proximal interphalangeal joints).
Ed says his slapping was influenced a lot by Marcus Miller, whom he went to high school with, so be prepared to a slapping tone and style similar to his.

Anyways, with the bare basics down, Ed quickly goes on to some great slap riffs, introducing a couple tricky techniques as the lessons progress.

The great thing about the dvd was how the lessons had some very musical and funky slap lines. A lot of other slap resources (like the famous "Slap It" book) are more exercise-based, and probably won't influence your playing style at all.

+1 for Ed Friedland's DVD. I have this and started to go through a few lessons but I haven't had the time to go through it all. Got to get back to it. I did watch the whole thing though. He does start slowly with the basics and gradually progresses to some fancier cool techniques, so it's definitely good for a newbie to slap (like me). Well worth it IMO. I've watched some "instructional" videos of some of the other guys but sometimes it seems more like "look at this cool s*** that I can do, maybe you can aspire to it as well" rather than really trying to properly teach the technique.

john nam · #5 06-12-2009, 09:05 AM

Does anyone prefer The Slap Bass Program by Alexis over Ed Friedland's DVD?

Corey_Bass · #6 06-12-2009, 11:06 AM

If you're looking for some intermediate stuff, I'd check the lessons available in http://www.easymusiclessons.com/bass...ss-guitar.html they have a great slap learning method, from beginner to advanced. You can have a preview and also get a free scales e-book.

JustinCase · #7 06-12-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey_Bass

If you're looking for some intermediate stuff, I'd check the lessons available in http://www.easymusiclessons.com/bass...ss-guitar.html they have a great slap learning method, from beginner to advanced. You can have a preview and also get a free scales e-book.

Hey, Newbie here. I've just reading all the threads and saw the slapping exercises, I'm thinking of getting those DVDs, had anyone purchase them?

Lesfunk · #8 06-12-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john nam

Does anyone prefer The Slap Bass Program by Alexis over Ed Friedland's DVD?

I haven't seen Ed's video but Alexis' is pretty darn good. he's a good teacher and presents the material very well.

john nam · #9 06-12-2009, 03:30 PM

Thanks everyone. I just ordered The Slap Bass Program by Alexis on DVD.

JimmyM · #10 06-12-2009, 11:27 PM

I would also suggest going to Youtube and searching for Larry Graham's instructional video. His isn't what you'd call advanced, and you totally have to ignore his left hand technique, but he invented slap, and other people may do it faster than he does, but nobody does it better!

Mike Shevlin · #11 06-12-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I would also suggest going to Youtube and searching for Larry Graham's instructional video. His isn't what you'd call advanced, and you totally have to ignore his left hand technique, but he invented slap, and other people may do it faster than he does, but nobody does it better!

yep, & if you do nothing else in your life~ listen to this clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_SreKsg2k