slapping

lithium · #1 05-09-2003, 08:29 AM

ive been playing bass for about two years and am now just learning how to use the slap technique. does anyone have any tips for this stupid bassist?

Jason Carota · #2 05-09-2003, 05:13 PM

Welcome to TB, lithium.

As far as slapping goes, make sure you take it slow. Starting off too fast will not help to improve your technique. Also, try browsing some of these TB search results. Lots of info to be found there.

Lately I have been working with Tony Oppenheim's book, "Slap It." I highly reccomend it.

Max · #3 05-12-2003, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Carota
Welcome to TB, lithium.

As far as slapping goes, make sure you take it slow. Starting off too fast will not help to improve your technique. Also, try browsing some of these TB search results. Lots of info to be found there.

Lately I have been working with Tony Oppenheim's book, "Slap It." I highly reccomend it.

I have this book now and recommend it as well.

Biggus_Reddus · #4 05-14-2003, 10:44 PM

this may sound stupid but I just feel it, I would suggest you listen to a lot of Marcus Miller and Will Lee

ldiezman · #5 05-19-2003, 03:30 PM

the book is a great idea.. get it

and Don't try and beat the hell out of your bass either.. all you'll end up with is blistered painfull fingers.. the main thing to remember for slap bass is to use a light touch for the most part..

sambass · #6 05-19-2003, 08:20 PM

Slap it gets my stamp of approval

thats actually where i learned how to slap. and it comes with a cd (but i lost mine

Howard K · #7 05-20-2003, 03:33 AM

Quote:

I would suggest you listen to a lot of Marcus Miller and Will Lee

Whoa there! Maybe leave the slap fests till you've go to grips with the basics?!

I bought Alexis Slarveskis Slap Bass Program recently.
Now thing is I've been playing 13 years and can slap fairly convincingly already, I can use machine gun triplets here and there, double plucks, strummed chords, plucked chords, right hand taps etc and I can play with a good consistancy. So I bought the video to really help me focus on my slaping for a bit - I felt my technique just needed work.

This video is VERY good! It starts right at the beginning, from the absolutle basics. Right up to the last few excercises which really are pretty advanced - not impossible, just really good - and all useful.
It may seem expensive, but it is worth it.

Wrong Robot · #8 05-20-2003, 01:35 PM

What's slap bass?

ConU · #9 05-20-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
What's slap bass?

Dislocating your base.

Biggus_Reddus · #10 05-20-2003, 05:45 PM

Actually I was talkikng about Marcus' work on Aretha Franklin and Lenny White albums and Will's work on the Brecker Brothers stuff, their solo work is too extreme for anybody.

Stanley Design · #11 05-26-2003, 07:09 AM

hey guys quick question here, i tought myself to slap about 6 months ago, with the help of this site i am starting to get the hang of it a little bit, but ive realized....do you rotate your wrist to hit the thumb on the string, or do you just move your whole forearm to hit it? it seems to me that you should rotate it to get that quick punchy sound, but the other one to be able to do it faster then once every one and a half seconds

...........help?

Biggus_Reddus · #12 05-26-2003, 10:12 AM

I'm part drummer so I just rotate my wrist. I only use the whole forearm when I want power.

pyrohr · #13 05-26-2003, 07:53 PM

Your forearm has nothing to do with this style, If you are moving it or using it you are wasting energy.
Try holding you hand out in front of you, now shake you hand making your thumb move as if is were a limp noodle. Now rest your forearm on the body of the bass (it should not move off the body!) relax your hand while moving you wrist slightly and hit the string softly in a controlled motion with the boney part of the thumb joint letting the thumb bounce off the string. Try doing this at the bottom of the neck. That slapping as some people call it comes out of people thumpin real hard and is just alot of flash. Learn to do it softly so you will have control of the style, then if you want to flash you can. Otherwise you will need compressors and alway's sound sloppy. Control is important! Don't beat the bass, the bass is your friend!

Biggus_Reddus · #14 05-26-2003, 10:24 PM

But I like to beat my bass

DreamJazz · #15 05-28-2003, 02:59 PM

Personally I find that my slapping is different than most peoples but I don't use my whole forearm or my whole wrist, I have a way of slaping that I find makes it a bit more fluent.

I usually go on the beat with wrist movements ( sometimes on the & aswell if the feeling of the song is achieved this way) but most of my movement is right in my thumb. And when things get a little fast, maybe some tripple thumps or something like that, I notice that my elbow moves a small bit creating a wave going from my elbow to my wrist and propelling my thumb.

I've noticed when watching videos of most bass players that they do this as well, probably helps your sound making it a bit less mechanical, then staying stiff controlling your movements. Although for beginners I would recommend control until you get the hang of slapping...

Anyone else understand what I meant, or do it themselves ???

HooBass · #16 05-30-2003, 10:46 AM

RE Tony Oppenheim's Slap It book. Does it contain tab, or is it solely musical notation?

Have long ago forgotten the tiny bit of music theory I once knew, and while I see great reviews of the book, am afraid I might not get use out of it.

Max · #17 05-30-2003, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HooBass
RE Tony Oppenheim's Slap It book. Does it contain tab, or is it solely musical notation?

Have long ago forgotten the tiny bit of music theory I once knew, and while I see great reviews of the book, am afraid I might not get use out of it.

No tabs

James Hart · #18 05-30-2003, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Max

No tabs

great book, I bought a copy with the little floppy record in it in the late 80's. I've been thinking of picking it up again, I loaned mine to a student in the mid 90's and haven't seen it since.

JMX · #19 05-30-2003, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Todd Stanley
hey guys quick question here, i tought myself to slap about 6 months ago, with the help of this site i am starting to get the hang of it a little bit, but ive realized....do you rotate your wrist to hit the thumb on the string, or do you just move your whole forearm to hit it? it seems to me that you should rotate it to get that quick punchy sound, but the other one to be able to do it faster then once every one and a half seconds ...........help?

I use either the wrist or even move only the thumb, or a combination of both. Moving your whole arm can slow you down IMO, since you have to accelerate more mass and you don't need any strength to slap anyway. It's also more precise since there are less "moving parts" involved, fewer variables - more precision.