Slap experts...

[skaismyhero]

Alright...To start let me say I've been playing bass for about 5 years. I am mainly self taught and everything I know about slap I've learned for watching and listening to other people. So my main question lies in ghost notes. I seem to get caught playing the same ghost note pattern and cant get creative enough with them when making lines. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve my ghost note skills. My ghost notes seem to always alternate between the string I hit and then the string I pop. I use that in different combos to get ghost notes. I'm starting to feel like this method is too simple If you feel me...So what should I do?

[santucci218]

learn drum rudiments.

[skaismyhero]

Originally Posted by santucci218

learn drum rudiments.

I dont understand lol. Do you mean like get a drum book and work on exercises from it?

[santucci218]

yeah thats what i mean.

just find a drum rudiment dictionary book.

[Dogbertday]

yeah just instead of "right" use thumb... and pop on "left"... you can also add slapping the strings with your left hand (not as loud usually but can help in getting things moving faster or triplet feels

[santucci218]

Originally Posted by Dogbertday

yeah just instead of "right" use thumb... and pop on "left"... you can also add slapping the strings with your left hand (not as loud usually but can help in getting things moving faster or triplet feels

exactly

[BuffaloBass]

Actually, the open hand Slap is , for me, one of the hardest. Between a ghost thump. pluck, and slap, they all should be about the same volume. My slap's are weakest.

[JKT]

Originally Posted by santucci218

yeah thats what i mean.

just find a drum rudiment dictionary book.

Real good idea. Ed Friedland touches on that in the Slapbass DVD. He has a good perididdle (sp) exercise in there.

JKT

[Captain_Arrrg]

I'm also self taught and have picked up some of my technique the same way, and I too struggle with overusing patterns. Whenever I hear myself playing one, I switch it up and start playing something completely different. Then when I see myself trying to go for them again I'm more conscious and can try to steer away for it.

Originally Posted by santucci218

learn drum rudiments.

I never thought of that, I'll have to see it my brother has any of his beginning books.

Another thing to try. Drum along to songs with your hands, and try to keep the beat. From there add another note to your right (slap/pick) hand using your thumb for one and you M and I fingers for the other, then lay into it. Not only does it help with patterns and rhythm, it's fun too!

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Actually, the open hand Slap is , for me, one of the hardest.

I'm just now getting to where it's acceptable. It's another one of those thing that just starts to happen if you try it enough.

I guess overall that is my advice- betterment takes a conscious effort. You're on your way, it might just take a while.

[DavidRavenMoon]

I've never been very good with the ghost note thing... not the way I see other players do it, so I just find other things to play that sound good. I think I can slap my butt off.. but I do it my own way.

There's a hand full of techniques for slap bass, but I don't feel you should consider these as "formal" technique.

I eventually made up my own slap style, and that's never a bad thing! I might not be able to play such-and-such, but really, who cares?

For every song you can't play like them, think about this... what would you do if you met your favorite player?

I was a huge Stanley Clarke fan, and learned every lick he played. Then I though about it.. what if I got to meet him? I'd say, "hey Stan, I love your playing... I play bass too!" He'd say "Oh yeah, play me something" And hand me his bass.. and I'd proceed to do a bad imitation of him! Well maybe even a good imitation, but an imitation none the less.

You don't want to be an imitator. Just find your own notes to play, and make them sound good. If you decide you can't slap, so be it. You don't need to be good at everything. Just be good at being you.