Slapping

[embellisher]

Originally Posted by UtBDan

Also, you can mute the strings that you usually hit. I do this with the thumb of my left (fretting) hand; after a while I did improve with thumb accuracy. Muting works. I had more trouble popping a D string (sounds silly, doesn't it? I couldn't stick my finger in the string accurately, but I could pop the G because I could just shoot my finger out and yank it back without looking. Higher Ground was a good training song to change that.)

I agree. Practice will get you a long way, but you need to work on muting too.

I practiced for 2 1/2 years, and would still occasionally hit the wrong string.

Then I watched a friend of mine slap. He was muting all of the unused strings with his fingers on his left hand. I always wondered why his slap lines were so clean.

I started working on muting, but not just with the left hand. Now that I play five and six stringers, I use any finger on either hand that is not playing a note to mute the strings that are not being used. I can slap on a six with tight spacing, and the right note always comes out.

[nailuj1987]

i once saw this guy who muted his A D G strings by stickin a pick along the necky position.... talk bout an easy way out....

[Minger]

meh, every time I try to slap I get a dead sound...but then again, i've done a little bit of watching and I've been playin for maybe a month and a half (yes i know thats a short time)

Any suggestions?

[boogiedown]

try as much as possible to keep your thumb paralell to the strings and work on economy of motion. slapping isnt all about hitting the strings hard its about hitting them in the right way. Just sit there and slap quarter notes on each string, then gradually speed up until you can play on all the strings with the same tone on each.

[matt_chew]

If your going to be playing with a group, i would also tell you to practice standing up as much as you do sitting down. I am having a problem slapping as well standing as i do sitting.

[Minger]

well, then...I don't sit to start with, lol.

I mean i've read tons of stuff on it (not tons but youg et the point) and i've watched my friend who can slap a little bit...but I sitll can't get the hang of it..

O well, i'll just leave it for now because i'd rather be workin on rhythem instead of slapping anyways...

[Boredwithabass]

might i put in my 2 cents?

first off ive only been playing for a year and 8 months, ive had no mentors or teachers... everything ive learned was pretty much self taught.. tho went and watched people slap alot at shows. so a few months ago i figured id try it.. first off for those whom are wanting to do it i suggest you try just slapping and popping octaves. for instance...

g---5-------7-----------------
d------------------5--------7-
a-3-------5-------------------
e----------------3--------5---

just do that nice and slow and steady.. you'll find that if you just keep all four fingers somewhat close together.. you can easily mute the strings. now heres the fingering for the excercise... the E and A strings of course would be the thumb slapping on the right hand, and for your left hand you would use your index finger for the fret. then for the pops on the G and D strings i personally use (right hand BTW) my middle finger mainly for just about every pop. but im sure others can back me up about others use their index finger to do most pops. as for the left hand during the pop, this is also an optional thing.. most either use their pinky(I do) or their ring finger. which ever is more comfortable i suppose.

hope this helps

[Woodchuck]

Another thing: try to get a good strong sound without using octaves. Octaves are a crutch, IMO.

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Another thing: try to get a good strong sound without using octaves. Octaves are a crutch, IMO.

Right on! Especially if you want to get more of a Wooten lead line kind of slapping.

[lethargytartare]

A fantastic bassist buddy of mine was showing me that when he slaps the A or D, he mutes the lower strings with the heel of his slapping hand...I've found it tricky to do, but it sounds awesome. And he was encouraging me to open up my fret hand -- I was always muting with that hand, but freeing it up let me work on its speed and accuracy a bit more.

[ttZop]

just sit down and hit open A and D(just them) strings as many time as you can. in beggining ut would be hard to get clean tone(no other strings) and it would be very slow but after a while you'll get clean tone on open strings and by the time you'll be able to play faster and faster.

[bass element]

i've been practicing knockin down sum Seinfeld lines. pretty fun stuff. sweet show too.