Good slap excercises to learn with

[RayO5421]

Hello all, I'm wondering about how you all learned to slap on a 4 string bass. I've made up a few exercises but I can't tell if I'm doing anything right.

These are my exercises
1) I slap out major scales on the open strings with this finger pattern - 0 1 3 shift 1 3 shift 1 3 4
2) I slap and "pop" out fifths ascending on the A and D strings (to get used to slap pop techniques on strings between other strings)
3) I slap open strings and try not to hit any other strings

I've been playing finger style for about 2 years now and just got interested in slapping. I can do easy slap stuff like RHCP's "Higher ground" (which sounds very impressive to people who have no idea what the hell a bass is!) but am looking to do more impressive, funkier stuff with it.

I've got a question for you, do you slap the D and G strings or do you just pop with them? I can't seem to get deffinition like I do from the E and A.

Any advice on learning to slap is appreciated. Tell me what you think of my exercises and suggest new ones if you think they'd be helpful to me.

[mjwhit]

If your into the Chillis, learn "Cant Stop". Neat bassline with a couple of good runs.
I sometimes slap the D String but rarely the G.
Get a couple of lessons from someone who knows their stuff. Not only do they teach you a good technique, they will open your eyes to music you may not have thought of playing before, or even a new genre.

[BullHorn]

Watch some DVDs of the professionals, like Larry Graham, Victor Wooten, Louis Johnson, Flea, etc. Their videos show slapping and popping very closely and explain how they do it. It will be easy to pick up stuff after watching those.

[LL bassist]

Buy this book. It really helps out with developing ideas and technique.

http://www.amazon.com/Slap-Bass-Line...6311696&sr=1-2

[Tony Oppenheim]

There's a thread about Slap Bass that I'm sure you'll find helpful...

The Slap Bass Welcome Center

The thread is chock full of links to lots of great slap bass material.

Full disclosure, my book is included in the thread.

[stuart clayton]

My book Ultimate Slap Bass has a load of great slap stuff in it, catering for all levels. It's drawn praise from Ray Riendeau, Stu Hamm, and several leading bass schools - check it out at www.basslinepublishing.com.

I also recommend Alexis Sklarevski's Slap Bass Program - top stuff.

Cheers
Stu

[CrazyWallaWalla]

Originally Posted by stuart clayton

My book Ultimate Slap Bass has a load of great slap stuff in it, catering for all levels. It's drawn praise from Ray Riendeau, Stu Hamm, and several leading bass schools - check it out at www.basslinepublishing.com.

shameless self promotion... tisk tisk tisk

[caesarbass]

www.slapit.com

[E-hannon]

The RHCP cover of Higher Ground is a really good song to practice slapping on.

[XansNiceSweater]

^^ yup, that's the one I learned on.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm still not very good.

[Spikyone]

Fast triplets can sound really cool when slapping, try this pattern,

Hammer On, Slap, Pop (ghost)

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...oid=2036631613