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  #1  
Old 04-28-2009, 08:32 AM
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Slap (Thumb or Wrist)

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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?
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  #2  
Old 04-28-2009, 09:38 AM
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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.
  #3  
Old 04-28-2009, 10:28 AM
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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.
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Old 04-28-2009, 12:04 PM
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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.
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Old 04-28-2009, 03:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Afrokid View Post
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.
  #6  
Old 04-28-2009, 03:18 PM
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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.
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  #7  
Old 04-28-2009, 03:26 PM
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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).
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