Slapping A string - Page 2

lemur821 · #21 06-06-2005, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoBassMan

Is this common practice? I just bounce directly on the string I'm using. I'll have to give it a try and see how it feels/sounds for me.

Both bouncing and slapping through are common. I recommend slapping through, at least to some degree.

spectorrebop · #22 06-06-2005, 05:21 AM

I will deffinatly try the thumb paralell to the strings. After school I'll try out for an hour +. Nothing like practice.

nasaldischarges · #23 06-17-2005, 04:36 PM

you may also want to consider shortening your strap, as ive noticed you keep it pretty low. this is the bassist not in your band...so no, you are NOT being stalked.

Personally, i keep mine so that the bottom of the body fo my bass is at my waist.

jenderfazz · #24 06-17-2005, 05:46 PM

Personally, I don't find strap height to be as much of a problem. Mine is slung quite low (waist or just below) but I can still use the parallel thumb technique by adjusting my bass. It's comfortable for me. However if it's at your ankles you may have some difficulty.

spectorrebop · #25 06-17-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasaldischarges

as ive noticed you keep it pretty low. this is the bassist not in your band.

Not only did you make me look up to see if you had your location typed, you made me go in your profile. Welcome to talkbass Billy. So this is why you asked for my sreenname on here today. I like how you just toss me in with famous bassists in your profile, I think it adds a nice touch.:-)
well, see you tomorow you stalker.

Techmonkey · #26 06-18-2005, 01:12 PM

I seem to slap in a completely bizzare way, no other bassists I know from where I live do it similarly. I kinda feel like it's sloppy, but it works just fine. My thumb is shaped weirdly, looking at it front on, the joint bit sticks out alot more than it's supposed to... So when I learnt to slap (I learnt from Mr. Coffekiller's website) I learnt to slap however felt comfortable, and learnt how to avoid hitting other strings with my own technique. The way I slap is to keep the thumb entirely floppy (When I keep it straight I don't get the right bounce from the string, it usually ends up at about a 45' angle to the index finger) and flop my wrist at the string. I've been doing this for about 8 months and I haven't had any problems playing RHCP slaplines or anything. I don't get any unwanted ringing either.
Does anyone else slap like this?

nasaldischarges · #27 06-19-2005, 04:25 PM

i think i understand your description and id say that my hand movements are the same. but i used to be unable to slap on strings other than E, and i solved this by adjusting my strap to hold my bass in the same position that it is in when i play sitting down. maybe this will help or maybe it won't...all i can do is put my 2 cents in

fourstringin · #28 06-20-2005, 12:22 PM

Might i suggest looking into some Wooten downloads he usualy has some good instruction on how he does it. Look into the economy of motion, i have a DVD of his with Carter Beauford and in some of the special features he talks about slapping. Even try going on ebay and buying a cd called Funky Chops by Jim Lee. Its got pretty good instruction. http://www.jimleemusic.com Just look for the funky chops or just look over his site. The CD is cheap and well worth it. It will teach you how to slap, adn with the way you slap you will as a side effect be accurate. I know im not 100% in not hitting the E string but i can bet you im 99.9% good at never hitting it. I can't remember that being a problem. If it was then i think i had more problems at the time... like playing in general.

hope that helps.

burntgorilla · #29 06-20-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

Both bouncing and slapping through are common. I recommend slapping through, at least to some degree.

If you're just starting out, I'd recommend through, but I learnt to bounce originally. I suppose it depends on what type of slapping you want to do. If you're interested in slapping as fast as humanly possible, adding in some double thumping or whatever, slapping through is better, but to be honest I really don't see the point of changing now, since I have no interest in slapping that fast, and often dislike that kind of playing. I suppose techincally, slapping through is better, but if you're not restricted by bouncing, I don't see the point in changing.

Jeff Moote · #30 06-20-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Time Divider

But sometimes curling your left thumb over the top as a mute is helpful. Keyword: sometimes.

Nope. Never appropriate. It's just bad form, and any decent teacher (or player) will tell you that.

Chili · #31 06-20-2005, 04:30 PM

I think its hard to really tell in words, u need a video or something to really help you, again i advise watchin louis johnson bass lesson video volume one, i can now slap the E string, A and D string alot better now and feel awsome when u do it, but Flea doesnt usually slap the D string so i really cant say anything differant from what anybody else here has sed apart from try and find a video and take tips from that

nasaldischarges · #32 06-20-2005, 10:22 PM

note that we're not giving advice on how to slap like flea or wooten, we are giving advice on how to slap on one string at a time...

Matt Till · #33 06-21-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

Matt is 100% right.

Man, if I had a dollar for everytime I heard that...

...

...

Man I wish I had that dollar right now... mmm dollar.