Where is this guy's thumb?

[speak_onion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQVKo...elated&search=

I love this video, but I'm confused. Please help a noob. When he first does that really fast slapping thing (00:26), does he have his thumb in between the string and the body and then alternate hitting the string with that and his index finger? I can't figure out what exactly is going on there and I can't really see.

I love the harmonics in this video too, but there's a bunch of explanation of how to do that out there already.

I have to practice more. I always have to practice more.

Thanks.

[Deacon_Blues]

Never seen that technique before. Cool, a new way to slap I don't know how it's done, so I would also appreciate any replies on this. In the meantime, I'll try to figure out something myself.

[Alun]

Yeah, his slapping technique is as you thought, it's sort of like pinching the string.

Cheers,
Alun

[tswd]

It's a bit more obvious what he's doing in this video. It almost looks like he's using the fingers on his right hand to help with artificial harmonics. Most people touch the strings with their thumb and pluck with their fingers. He seems to be doing the opposite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agv36-ENn4g

[JimmyM]

It looks to me that Doug's using his thumb behind the string in conjunction with his index finger to do a back and forth motion simulation like using a pick.

[Deacon_Blues]

That's how I play artificial harmonics. I learned about the opposite way of doing it a few months ago in a thread here at TB... I think this way is more accurate, at least to me..

[BellBottomBlues]

I don't think he's slapping with his thumb. Watch closely, his hand doesn't move position. I think he's actually slaping with his fingertips, which is quite weird.

[user101]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I don't think he's slapping with his thumb. Watch closely, his hand doesn't move position. I think he's actually slaping with his fingertips, which is quite weird.

I thought that too. It's looks something like entwistles typewriter thingy. But he looks like he does something with his thumb too. My guess is sort of pulling outwards to get a kind of popping tone.

[MikeBass]

Hmm interesting.
Gotta watcha this some more!

[JimmyM]

It's a combination of using his fingertips and using his thumb and index finger. When he does rapid fire 16th notes on one string, he's doing what I said he was doing.

[chicagodoubler]

OK

He calls it "flamenco slapping." I was harassing him after a Living Colour show and he showed me the basics. The thumb pulls up on the string, and the fingers attack from above, sort of a backwards modality for slapping. You can see him using it in some of the Living Colour videos. He also uses it to pop octaves and other intervals.

Very original technique; I've never seen anyone else using it.

[rockwarnick]

The beginning reminds me of "Iambic 9 Poetry" by Squarepusher.

[rockwarnick]

o and now I have terrible GAS for a spector now.

[TheButler]

I find it funny to merely call Doug Wimbish '' this guy ''

[speak_onion]

Originally Posted by chicagodoubler

OK

He calls it "flamenco slapping." I was harassing him after a Living Colour show and he showed me the basics. The thumb pulls up on the string, and the fingers attack from above, sort of a backwards modality for slapping. You can see him using it in some of the Living Colour videos. He also uses it to pop octaves and other intervals.

Very original technique; I've never seen anyone else using it.

I've been trying this since you posted it, and it's not working too well for me. I didn't exepct to sound like Wimbish after a week, but I've gotten nowhere.

When you say he uses the thumb to pull up on the string, do you mean away from the body of the bass or away from the ground?

And when you say the fingers attack from above, do you mean that he's using the thumb to hold the string up and then two fingers (index and middle?) are alternating attacking from above (away from the bass?) or do you mean that the thumb alternates with a finger to strike the string?

I thought you were saying that the thumb and finger were alternating striking the string (one from between the bass body and the string, and one outside of the string), but I don't have enough room between the bass body and the string to strike the string. Then I thought maybe you meant the thumb holds the string and two fingers are hitting it, but that way the thumb mutes the string too much. Do I need to adjust my action?

Perhaps I've bitten off more than I can chew. . .

[dutchwife]

Hey Speak. Use your fingers as you would use your thumb to get the slap sound, & keep your thumb curved under your palm but kind of pointing parallel to your index finger. When using this technique Doug uses his thumb to pull up on the E string from underneath after 'slapping' it with his index finger. It's not that difficult if you start slowly...Gets a kind of double-thumbed but more percussive sound, also sounds real nice if you put it thru an envelope-filter. Cool technique.
I've known Doug for years now & set up his basses on many occasions so I should tell; new strings & a ridiculously low action are very helpful here!

[speak_onion]

Ok, thanks Dutchwife. I'll try it some more. And thanks also Chicagodoubler, I failed mention that.

[Asa Samuel]

sorry, this title made me laugh

[jewbear]

watching videos of this guy just made me feel like I am one of the worst bass players alive...

WOOHOO! New goals to work towards now lol

[theshadow2001]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0

This is guy has a similar approach, It's also interesting to me being a fellow lefty.

I must say we do find inventive ways of over coming the difficulties of playing righty instruments

(oops just realised its a lefty strung righty )