Slap (Thumb or Wrist)

[Afrokid]

When you slap am i going to be using my wrist to do the movement and use its momementum to slap my thumb against the string or do i use my thumb for the entire slapping process while limiting wrist movement?

[josephag]

I don't know if its personal preference or if everybody else does it, but i tend to keep my thumb pretty stiff and completely use my wrist for the slap action.
Do whatever feels comfortable and gets results really, everybody has their own way.

[bearshimmy]

it feels more natural to lock the thumb and use the wrist, when you get into double thumbing you can use thumb motion in combination with wrist motion.

[Absentia]

or... the forearm
heck or slap with all of your fingers.
personally I'm under the impression that each one gives a different type of sound at different angles, I say throw all of them at the wall and see what sticks.

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by Afrokid

When you slap am i going to be using my wrist to do the movement and use its momementum to slap my thumb against the string or do i use my thumb for the entire slapping process while limiting wrist movement?

lock the wrist- and envision the arm from wrist to elbow as a cylinder and rotate around the axis. i was taught to keep the thumb loose- and with other techniques (even double thumbing)- i find looser to be more consistent and natural.

[dmusic148]

What tool said. Your wrist can't actually rotate-it's your whole forearm, all the way to your elbow. Lock the wrist(no bending), yes, but don't tighten up.

[TOOL460002]

oh- and another thing to consider for the future- whenever you are learning something new thats physically demanding- play around and see which position uses the largest muscle groups- itll help. i also see tons of bass players playing fingerstyle with the forearm resting on the bass- wrist bent- all that. i know we all have our own style- but it just seems like a bent wrist would result in more ligament/nerve strain- and possibly lead you towards carpal tunnel. breaking multi-year habits is difficult- trust me- so start off right (which is why you posted posted in the first place i guess- so- nothing you dont know).