Slapping + muting w/ right hand

[trasser]

here's the deal:
I've been watching tons of slap instructional films, and most of them say, that when you slap a string, you should hit "through" the string and let your thumb rest on the next string. When you do that, you can easily do a double thumb, witch is smart.
However, I just bought Ed Friedlands slap dvd, and he says, that you should be able to mute with your slapping hand, 'cause sometimes the fretting hand will be to busy to mute the open strings. How do I do that if I still wish to hit "through" the strings?

[rockwarnick]

First of all, you should do what you want. Play whatever way is comfortable for you. It will develop and change around and you should reach your goal. But I dont see the problem, I slap through sometimes but I can still mute with my right hand. If you really can't get it, you may want to try soft hair ties or wrist bands on the neck of your bass.

[elpelotero]

i could never figure out how to properly slap through, so i just do the conventional bouncing off. I like the tone a little better (as compared to victor wooten who sometimes gets clanky). It gives a bit more of a bass response.

[trasser]

Well, Elpelotero, thats a question of about taste, and I do like the thumb-through thing, so imma stick with that. I think I figured out a way, I slap, then I turn my thumb towards me and mute with the place on my hand shown on the pic

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by trasser

here's the deal:
I've been watching tons of slap instructional films, and most of them say, that when you slap a string, you should hit "through" the string and let your thumb rest on the next string. When you do that, you can easily do a double thumb, witch is smart.
However, I just bought Ed Friedlands slap dvd, and he says, that you should be able to mute with your slapping hand, 'cause sometimes the fretting hand will be to busy to mute the open strings. How do I do that if I still wish to hit "through" the strings?

There's a million ways to slap out there.

Friedland's DVD covers "traditional" Larry Graham/Mark King slap technique, where your thumb comes down and bounces up and off the string. In that instance, your thumb is still available to come back down on the string and mute it after it's been slapped.

The through-string aka double-thumping technique is something that Victor Wooten and sometimes Marcus Miller do. Obviously, if your thumb comes to rest on the string below, it's harder to bring it back up to mute the string you just hit.

In other words: Learn both techniques, but ignore Friedland's advice if you're double thumping.

[trasser]

Christopher, I like how your answer is so in synch with your...what is it called...signature text

[Chili]

i've been slapping baiscly since i started bass, and just today i've really figured out how i want to slap, instead of just bouncing off the string or going through it, i slap through and back up, exept i dont come back up when doing mutes becouse i dont like the sound of muting when coming back up becouse of the nail, so incases like that i slap though twice then slap back up, and when i wonna mute with my right hand i just go back to boucning off and mix between the two, and you get differant sounds from both.

just take what you like best about a technique and use it and just play what feels right to you

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by trasser

Christopher, I like how your answer is so in synch with your...what is it called...signature text

Thanks. I've found in every aspect of life that it's important not to be dogmatic - that applies double to bass guitar, where players and luthiers are still in a state of rampant experimentation.