SLAP.. through the string or bounce back????

cire113 · #1 10-21-2009, 06:23 PM

I am still confused..

Do you bounce back with no angle or slap through the string?

Id perfer to do it bounced back but i cant get a good sound its always mutey and clicky....

Or do you slap at an angle and go through resting on next string below???

arrgghhh

cire113 · #2 10-21-2009, 06:23 PM

it seems also really hard to slap fast if your slapping through and resting on string

funkout5 · #3 10-21-2009, 06:24 PM

i bounce back off the string.

when i try and go through it i dont get that slap sound at all

chicago_mike · #4 10-21-2009, 06:30 PM

I hit harder if i go thru the string, other wise I just bounce off of it. what part of your thumb is hitting the string?

cire113 · #5 10-21-2009, 06:58 PM

right below the knuckle joint..

i just cant get good sound..... it sounds clicky and muted..

mizmor · #6 10-21-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

right below the knuckle joint..

i just cant get good sound..... it sounds clicky and muted..

I had that problem. I found if I hit it with my knuckle joint and quickly bounce my thumb off of the string, it'll sound. Also, keep your hand very loose and relaxed. If you keep it real stiff and let it just sit over the string, it'll get that clanky muted sound.....

BB75 · #7 10-21-2009, 08:02 PM

Both... depending on application. Regular slapping I bounce off but if I'm doing something with a double thumb, ya gotta go through so you're in position to bring it back up. Make sense? Also, there's more to it than just banging the string. Your left hand (assuming you're a righty) plays a part as does the palm on your right hand. Hope that helps ! Good luck !

jpfbass · #8 10-21-2009, 08:07 PM

I usually play with my thumb going straight through, and I get a pretty nice tone.

narud · #9 10-21-2009, 10:14 PM

straight through, without the bounce. i also have my students go watch marcus miller and larry graham videos instead of flea.

cire113 · #10 10-22-2009, 06:18 PM

^^^ marcus miller bounces off im pretty sure graham goes through

narud · #11 10-22-2009, 10:19 PM

the position he keeps his hand though allows to go both ways since he does occasionally double thump. you look at guys that slap like flea at that angle and a double thump aint going to happen.

jtrow · #12 10-22-2009, 11:23 PM

Why not learn both ways?

I normally bounce off the string with my thumb, but I've also learned how to go through it in case I really have to pull out the double thump.

RAM · #13 10-23-2009, 12:41 AM

If you slap through the string you're not bringing your hand back to the "ready" position as quickly, thus it's not very efficient. Your thumb should slap the strings against the fretboard in a way that the recoil of your hand is seemingly faster than the attack.

Just keep practicing over and over until you find a way to pull your thumb back quick enough to allow the string to vibrate.

phatbass · #14 10-23-2009, 12:44 AM

I'm a bouncy guy...

phat daddy · #15 10-23-2009, 12:46 AM

+1 on all who said both. I bounce off if I'm playing fast slap patterns and plucking a lot, but I love the feel of following through and coming to rest on the next string as well. Also very good points about following through to set yourself up for the double thump, which isn't nearly as hard as many people seem to think. Just keep an open mind-- there's almost always more than one way to perform a technique.

cire113 · #16 10-23-2009, 08:49 PM

thanks guys you answered all i wanted to know!!!

seems i gotta recoil faster to allow string to ring...

JPaulGeddy · #17 10-24-2009, 07:23 PM

One of my favorite demonstrative videos, from Marcus himself -

Double-thumbing

But yeah, both would be the proper answer.

bassybeenz · #18 10-24-2009, 07:27 PM

the trick is to learn both, in slow, heavy runs, slap thrugh, in quick syncopated rhythms learn to bounce, learning to slap through is better cause your already halfway to learning to double thump