Slapping and poping help!!!

liljawn · #1 10-17-2008, 05:11 PM

Im still really new to bass playing and i have a stu hamm urge II. I cant seem to get the slap sound im looking for i know i need more technique. but i think it might be that my action is to low or that im slapping in the wrong area i just cant get the sound to slap and ring. poping isnt a problem.

like i slap my A string with it fretted at the 3rd fret and i just cant get the sound to ring it just sounds really muffled and im removing my thumb instantly after slapping any tips.

im think i might need to adjust my action or something i dont know...?

liljawn · #2 10-17-2008, 05:13 PM

i cant get the thump

StarscreamG1 · #3 10-17-2008, 05:17 PM

My level of skill with slap pop is.... I can slap the E string, pop the other strings and thats IT... LOL I suck so bad at slap pop....I try to slap the other strings and I end up hitting all of them no matter what I do.... I need some serious one on one instructions with the slap pop (can pop but no slap

) ....I also am not sure this is the right board for this thread. I think it should be in technique?

_christian_ · #4 10-17-2008, 05:20 PM

The Slap Bass Welcome Center here on TB in the Technique forum is a great place to start.

Good luck!

Christian

liljawn · #5 10-17-2008, 05:21 PM

ohh dang your right

Kramsey · #6 10-17-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liljawn

like i slap my A string with it fretted at the 3rd fret and i just cant get the sound to ring it just sounds really muffled and im removing my thumb instantly after slapping any tips.

Try going down with your thumb when you slap in kind of a hard strum if that makes any since...its almost like half of a double thump. That way when you take your thumb off the string will snap back up and still ring instead of picking it strait up and muting the string.

...hope this helps

StarscreamG1 · #7 10-17-2008, 05:38 PM

OOhhhh ok I know you meant that for the OP but that helps me as well.

Baryonyx · #8 10-17-2008, 05:42 PM

With a good amp, a good setup and good technique, you should be KILLING with that Urge bass!

Willy2911 · #9 10-17-2008, 05:49 PM

Make sure you are slapping Just behind the neck, and check your wrist - its all in the wrist and the side of your thumb on the knuckle. When I slap, I flick my wrist down so my thumb brushes the string, but follows through - and actually looks like I am slapping the next higher string. - That might be confusing, but just think of a Golf swing with a nice follow through. This gives your slaping a better sound - more like a plucking sound than a muffled pop.

TOOL460002 · #10 10-17-2008, 06:26 PM

keep your thumb loose- and hit with the knuckle. its like clapping with one hand- sort of. keep your wrist tight and clap your fingers against your palm. you need to keep some parts of your hand loose- and some tight.

also- try plucking with your index finger- then your middle finger. the middle for me was easier when starting out. some people slap with their thumb parallel to the string- some come from below (inferior method imho).

just play a ton of octaves until youre more accurate.

liljawn · #11 10-31-2008, 03:05 PM

thanks for all the tips im really coming along. feel like i made a break through all of a sudden

llacnayr · #12 11-04-2008, 08:42 PM

Smack the neck with the knuckle of your thumb almost diagonally. Keep trying this until you get the fat THUMP that satasfies you.

Rando McNally · #13 11-10-2008, 02:08 PM

It strikes me that your amplification is not set up correctly.

If you have your rig set up so that you are reaching your desired playing volume when you really dig into the strings, you won't be able to pull off any of the subtler playing styles well.

A lot of players do this instinctively, especially at first. It protects them from making horrible noises loudly. As most experienced players know, whenever your gear takes a jump up in quality, you find a bunch of artifacts in your playing style that your old gear just didn't project.

It's the same idea. If you get a little bit brave and set your gear up to be more sensitive, and risk being able to make horrible noises, you might find you have access to a bunch of new desirable noises as well.

get your rig turned up so that VERY light fingerstyle playing is clearly projected, then try the same slapping technique that you are using, but do it very very very lightly. Tap the string with your thumb and let it bounce off (as it sounds you are doing) like a drummer hits a drum. But do it lightly.

If you have less than a great rig you will probably have a lot of hiss and noise, just bear with that to develop the technique with a light touch, then refine it.

If you want to really protect yourself, set up your gear as described, and use a decent compressor (I use an Aphex Expressor, but you can't go wrong with a dbx 160), or even a limiter. This will keep bigger clams quiet, and keep you in a certain dynamic range, and let you develop your muscle memory.