The Slap Bass Welcome Center

[Andy089]

Hey guys =)
I started with an EUB about half a year ago and got a supposedly good offer for an bass guitar, so I got one and a beginners book for funk.

I just have one problem:
When slapping - when I hit the string with my thumb, it is nowhere as loud as when I pull the higher string - is this normal? To me it seems like I am not hitting it right and watching over a dozen videos didn't help me on that matter either, as they usually say "you just hit it with the boney part of your thumb", but it doesn't really seem to work for me =(
Is there anything "obvious" I might be doing wrong?

thanks for your help in advance!

[BrotherMoose]

Originally Posted by Andy089

I just have one problem:
When slapping - when I hit the string with my thumb, it is nowhere as loud as when I pull the higher string - is this normal?

It could be that you're not slapping properly (are you keeping your thumb against the string for too long? Bouncing my thumb off almost as soon as it hits the string seems to work okay for me) or that you're popping too powerfully.

It could also be due to the strings you're using: The thinner and newer the strings, the better, brighter and louder the thumb slapping sound produced. I use rotosound SM66N for finger-picking and rotosound FM66's for slappin' and a' poppin'.

If all else fails, get a compressor pedal, which evens out the volume. It's worth investing in a good one though, since the cheap ones tend to deaden the tone somewhat in my experience. Although since getting my Hartke A100 with a built in compressor-type thing, I don't use compressor pedals anymore.

[phillybass101]

Hey guys, if there is anyone in the Philly/Delaware area that wants to learn how to slap, I'm willing to show you the way.

[Warmuth]

I'm currently trying to learn some slap, my band wants to cover RHCP so it's time to get down to it. I've watched the vids and such but I'll end up taking a few lessons just to get some up close experience with it.

I understand the basics of the technique, though I still struggle with it but I'm curious if it would be a good idea to have a dedicated slap bass. Right now I'm using an Ibanez SR1400 with pretty beefy strings,DR lowriders 110 E. I can get a good open string slap but fretted notes are just super weak. Even hitting very slowly and deliberately I just can't get much ooomph from them. I'm sure most of the experienced slappers could get good slap tone from anything but I do see some reccomendations for light strings. Would I be better off super low action and light strings on another bass? I play with fairly high action and those big strings and just can't seem to get it working properly. Not to mention getting a good pop hurts like hell although I imagine my fingers will adjust accordingly.

[phillybass101]

Please note this is what I use and is not Gospel. I use round wound SS strings, light gauge. At the present moment when I can afford it as I have several basses I use DR Hi Beams. When I'm broke however I use EB Super Slinky's (they may be nickel over SS). I'm interested in trying out the SIT SS strings. My Luthier of Choice uses them and they are inexpensive as bass strings go. My action on all my basses is extemely low. There is no reason in the world for me to fight my bass when I slap it. It might be worth it to get a few lesons from a real slapper. I'm talking about a guy who is really into that style, not someone who can slap but doesn't really respect the technigue.

[jamminology101]

What a great thread....just thought id lay that out there guys. Keep up the good work

[jamminology101]

Originally Posted by Warmuth

I'm currently trying to learn some slap, my band wants to cover RHCP so it's time to get down to it. I've watched the vids and such but I'll end up taking a few lessons just to get some up close experience with it.

I understand the basics of the technique, though I still struggle with it but I'm curious if it would be a good idea to have a dedicated slap bass. Right now I'm using an Ibanez SR1400 with pretty beefy strings,DR lowriders 110 E. I can get a good open string slap but fretted notes are just super weak. Even hitting very slowly and deliberately I just can't get much ooomph from them. I'm sure most of the experienced slappers could get good slap tone from anything but I do see some reccomendations for light strings. Would I be better off super low action and light strings on another bass? I play with fairly high action and those big strings and just can't seem to get it working properly. Not to mention getting a good pop hurts like hell although I imagine my fingers will adjust accordingly.

I've covered some chili peppers and definitely get the action as low as u can and even lower!! Keep your E and A string to where it lightly buzzes on the last fret and that second slap on fleas patented slap-slap-pop triplets ala "higher ground" will ring sharp and clear which is hard to have sound good , especially with high action, on the second and often "weaker" slap of the quick dual slaps of the triplet. U will have that sounding like a machine gun in no time. I keep a few basses setup this way just for slap and save the thicker and more tensioned strings for digging in for fast solo style fingerstyle. The lighter gauge strings lend themselves better to slap if u like to bend the strings a lot which the technique often calls for. Happy slapping.

[TheWumbo]

Originally Posted by Warmuth

I'm currently trying to learn some slap, my band wants to cover RHCP so it's time to get down to it. I've watched the vids and such but I'll end up taking a few lessons just to get some up close experience with it.

I understand the basics of the technique, though I still struggle with it but I'm curious if it would be a good idea to have a dedicated slap bass. Right now I'm using an Ibanez SR1400 with pretty beefy strings,DR lowriders 110 E. I can get a good open string slap but fretted notes are just super weak. Even hitting very slowly and deliberately I just can't get much ooomph from them. I'm sure most of the experienced slappers could get good slap tone from anything but I do see some reccomendations for light strings. Would I be better off super low action and light strings on another bass? I play with fairly high action and those big strings and just can't seem to get it working properly. Not to mention getting a good pop hurts like hell although I imagine my fingers will adjust accordingly.

Hey not for nothin' but if you want a quick and dirty, cheap, well built slap bass, check this out:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...fied-jazz-bass

It's a Fender, from Japan, ESSENTIALLY. I have one. Have for a year, and it sounds just as good as any run of the mill fender you'll get. It's Passive, single coil (Duncan Designed, nice) and big clover tuners. Good hardware and they actually managed to cut mine out of a good piece of wood. Like I said, its a rebadged fender sold for 500 dollars less. I love RHCP too, and I play Aeroplane all the time: Brighten the passive tone and crank the neck pickup and you can fudge the flea tone. Check it out. Easy to reach truss rod to get nice low action for metallic pops and plucks.

[phillybass101]

Guys and Gals. Yours truly will be giving a Slap Bass Clinic for the Virginia Bass Forum on Sunday June 2nd 2013 at 2PM in Frederickburg, VA. The clinic is targeted for beginners and experienced players who want to learn how to slap but have not had someone walk them through the process. Experienced slappers are welcome as well but this is not a Master Class so no sharp shooters please. This clininc will provide the basics and skills to slap in most common instances where slap is feasible. This will be very much FUNK oriented.

[GrooveNeoApps]

Check out this slap exercise

http://youtu.be/B8suo_GXRTs



Watch more bass covers and exercise in http://grooven.neoapps.co

[grass132456]

Quick question about slap: I am quite a newbie at bass and slap, but when you are slapping with your right hand, does the bottom of your palm touching the strings or is the whole hand floating? Like when I try to slap the E string, my right palm would touch the other 2-3 strings except for the E string that I'm slapping. The thing is that when I do that, if I were to continue onto harder techniques, it seems harder for me to double thumb or something.

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by grass132456

Quick question about slap: I am quite a newbie at bass and slap, but when you are slapping with your right hand, does the bottom of your palm touching the strings or is the whole hand floating? Like when I try to slap the E string, my right palm would touch the other 2-3 strings except for the E string that I'm slapping. The thing is that when I do that, if I were to continue onto harder techniques, it seems harder for me to double thumb or something.

IMO people are focusing so much on double thumping before they even learn how to just slap on a regular basis and can't even keep a groove. If you want to double thump keep practicing it and eventually you'll get it. You will have to emulate a Victor Wooten approach and thump through the string vs thumping on it and then hit it on your way back up. Keep practicing thumping through- hit back up. IMO in the end you'll just sound like Victor Wooten. I saw the Marcus Miller version of what is hip and he was double thumping and whatever and I thought to myself, damn, I don't want to work that hard. If I need a percussive sound while I'm playing16th notes I'll just use a pic.

When I slap, my right hand palm is doing all kinds of things. some muting, some floating, some pinching. etc. It's easier for a teacher to show you then splain it :-)

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

I saw the Marcus Miller version of what is hip and he was double thumping and whatever and I thought to myself, damn, I don't want to work that hard. If I need a percussive sound while I'm playing16th notes I'll just use a pic.

Marcus might not really be working that hard when he's utilizing that technique.

[Saxn]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Marcus might not really be working that hard when he's utilizing that technique.

Yeah if I saw the same vid as you, I was struck by how easy he was making it look!

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Saxn

Yeah if I saw the same vid as you, I was struck by how easy he was making it look!

I didn't see the vid but I have never seen Marcus look as if he was working to hard with a given technique.

[phillybass101]

I wasn't looking through rose colored glasses. It just occurred to me why go back and forth with my thumb so fast and so much as it was emulating a pic IMO. I wasn't bashing Marcus. I was thinking in terms of effect and how (I) could pull it off with more ease. Still it looked to me like the brother was concentrating hard and alot. Please don't shoot me. LOL!!!! I repeat I am not bashing Marcus Miller (now I got to watch my back :-)

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

I wasn't looking through rose colored glasses. It just occurred to me why go back and forth with my thumb so fast and so much as it was emulating a pic IMO. I wasn't bashing Marcus. I was thinking in terms of effect and how (I) could pull it off with more ease. Still it looked to me like the brother was concentrating hard and alot. Please don't shoot me. LOL!!!! I repeat I am not bashing Marcus Miller (now I got to watch my back :-)

For the record I know you weren't bashing Marcus.

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

For the record I know you weren't bashing Marcus.

Cool because I am a Marcus Fan from way back. Remember the song Loving You? Is such an easy thing to do LOL!!!! Man playing with my thumb that fast used to give me fits.

[Saxn]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

For the record I know you weren't bashing Marcus.

Yeah, Philly, I wasn't getting that vibe either.

[Groove Master]

Here is my contribution to slap technique lessons.