Thumb through the string question

[Professor Jones]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems like Victor Wooten always thumb slap "through" the string, laying his thumb on the inferior string. At first I thought that this was only useful if you were going to double thumb, but it seems like a good idea to always slap that way : you have less risk of hitting the lower string (hitting E wile aiming for A for example), and you're always ready for an upstroke to double thumb.

What is your opinion ?

[XylemBassGuitar]

I only "thumb through" when I'm double-thumbing, other times I just let my thumb bounce off the string. I used to hit other strings sometimes while slapping, but now my accuracy is such that I don't have to worry about hitting other strings while slapping. I also usually don't mute other strings while strumming, I can just rely on accuracy to avoid the other strings. I'm actually glad that I haven't practiced thumbing through and muting un-used string while strumming becuase I don't think my accuracy/precision would be as good as they are today if I had.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Professor Jones

Correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems like Victor Wooten always thumb slap "through" the string, laying his thumb on the inferior string. At first I thought that this was only useful if you were going to double thumb, but it seems like a good idea to always slap that way : you have less risk of hitting the lower string (hitting E wile aiming for A for example), and you're always ready for an upstroke to double thumb.

What is your opinion ?

My opinion is that I really don't care about being in position to double thumb on the semi-rare occasions that I slap, and I think that unless you're double thumbing that it's way harder to build any speed with slapping through the string. I'd much rather bounce my thumb off the string...I think it's more efficient.

[LaklandBass]

Also theres a different tone when you bounce off the string or go through it. both are useful.

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by LaklandBass

Also theres a different tone when you bounce off the string or go through it. both are useful.

+1000
bouce = more aggressive
through = more groovy

I find it easier to keep time going through the string, but a do enjoy beating the hell out of my bass from time to time with the bouncing.