Newbie question...(Incubus, a certain shade of green, left hand slapping)

[Cippola]

I just started blaying bass/learning music theory about 2 months ago...So This song Is way beyond my playing ability, but I'm still curious.

The verse bass riff has like 4 notes played regularly, than the rest of the bass line is mostly muted notes. On every tab I've seen for it, it calls for 00x0xx on the E string, than the 10th fret on the D string. It's played real fast, and X is supposed to signify a left hand slap...

Can somebody tell me what exactly a left handed slap means? I can properly slap and pop (Not that I can play many songs played that way, but I have the form and technique down) but I've never heard of a left hand slap. I've asked other bassists, and they say you just slap the strings with your fretting hand...Can somebody specify? Is there more to it than this?

I'm sorry if my question isn't to clear. I guess I am just confused on how to play this. Is that the proper way to do a left handed slap? The song sounds like he just mutes it. Is the tab creator confusing this with a mute, or do you literally slap the strings?

Thanks in advance.

[musicmedic]

I could be wrong, but the "left hand slap" might mean to "pat" the strings against the fretboard with your left (fretting) hand. It should make a "thud" without much of a note. See if this sounds like what is on the recording.

If not, then I'm totally wrong and should be slapped mercilessly.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by musicmedic

the "left hand slap" might mean to "pat" the strings against the fretboard with your left (fretting) hand. It should make a "thud" without much of a note.

You're right. Some time ago I recorded a short video trying to show this technique. Hope this helps.