Best Slap Bass Instructional Video?

[LedBelli Bass]

Been playin bass for years but have never learned to slap. I get too discouraged too quickly.

But, I'm ready to go for it serious now.

Any videos that rise above for this subject?

[J-B'ass]

I can't recommend a video I'm afraid, but I'd recommend a teacher, because a teacher can react to you and nip bad habits in the bud.

Also, be aware of the different styles of slap bass around, two very noticeably different styles are the "flea" style; thumb perpendicular to strings, bounce off string with each slap, and the "victor wooten" style; thumb parallel with string, following through with each slap to allow for an upstroke with the thumb.

Not to mention double pops and left hand slapping and all that fun stuff.

"Slap" is a real umbrella term, and you should check out as many avenues as you can. There's a ton of great slap players to be checked out; as well as the two mentioned I'll say Marcus Miller and Larry Graham. A bit of Mark King won't hurt, and Louis Johnson's definitely invited to the party.


The key is persistence. If you want to learn to slap, then stop doing anything but slapping. It'll be frustrating for a while and you'll feel like you can't play, but be patient, slow, and precise. Strive for accuracy; timing, speed, and fluidity will follow.

[kesslari]

Alexis Sklarevski's video, while a bit old, is quite good.

[stantonl]

I've recently started working through Ed Friedland's Slap Bass DVD. So far I have found it helpful, but the info is provided in short/quick segments so you have review it several times. It's cheap enough though, so it may be worth checking out.

[CliftonBonney]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Alexis Sklarevski's video, while a bit old, is quite good.

I've tried plenty, and this one is top notch.

[JeffreyW]

Originally Posted by LedBelli Bass

Been playin bass for years but have never learned to slap. I get too discouraged too quickly.

But, I'm ready to go for it serious now.

Any videos that rise above for this subject?

OK, Book called Slap It! Funk Studies for the Electric Bass by Tony Oppenheim gives you the basics and exercises to develope the chops needed. Keep in mind with any method slapping takes patience and time too perfect. Don't be one of those people that just slaps and pops after they learn a couple of line. With this and any method use a time sorce (Metr, or drum machime) and practice slowly muting all noise except for the desired target strings. Don't get caught up in the short cuts that create bad habits, otherwise you slap technique will be useless as it will just sound like mess and will be difficult to mix and record.
FYI: This book has a CD included for about $20.00.

[BiigM]

Hi.

I'm a teacher and checked out different books on slap, and have done it quite a bit too :-)

I also used to always recommend "Slap it" by Tony Oppenheim too. It's very good.

But then I found "Ultimate Slap Bass" from Bass Line Publishing, and I actually think it's even better. It's better organized and also dives into some of the newer techniques (Victor Wooten stuff for example) too. "Slap It" don't go that far.

Here's a link for it http://www.basslinepublishing.com/ul...slap-bass.html

[JeffreyW]

Originally Posted by BiigM

Hi.

I'm a teacher and checked out different books on slap, and have done it quite a bit too :-)

I also used to always recommend "Slap it" by Tony Oppenheim too. It's very good.

But then I found "Ultimate Slap Bass" from Bass Line Publishing, and I actually think it's even better. It's better organized and also dives into some of the newer techniques (Victor Wooten stuff for example) too. "Slap It" don't go that far.

Here's a link for it http://www.basslinepublishing.com/ul...slap-bass.html

Going to have to get that ultimate slap bass book. cant wait.

[Staccato]

Google is your friend. In no particular video order, these two will teach you plenty about slap:

1. Victor Wooten
2. Thomas Risell

[Lesfunk]

not to be jerk but I can't help it. Chances are you'll be more appreciated if you slap more like Larry Graham than Victor.
Louis Johnsons Star licks video wasn't that great but He plays some serious old school thump on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CslkVhOoE2U

[stuart clayton]

Hey BiigM,

Thanks for mentioning my book Ultimate Slap Bass! It's something I'm really proud of, and has been really popular over the last few years.

For those that might be interested, I intend to shoot a DVD version of the book next year.

But in the meantime, I have to mention Alexis Sklarevski's video and also the first Stuart Hamm video - they were great for me when I was getting started.

Best,
Stu

Originally Posted by BiigM

Hi.

I'm a teacher and checked out different books on slap, and have done it quite a bit too :-)

I also used to always recommend "Slap it" by Tony Oppenheim too. It's very good.

But then I found "Ultimate Slap Bass" from Bass Line Publishing, and I actually think it's even better. It's better organized and also dives into some of the newer techniques (Victor Wooten stuff for example) too. "Slap It" don't go that far.

Here's a link for it http://www.basslinepublishing.com/ul...slap-bass.html

[Supertanker]

Try Marlow DK's "Play Bass Now" on YouTube and his website.

I actually learned to slap from his videos.

I've been trying to learn for years, his was the first videos to break it down into pieces I could follow...

[psylocke24]

Pretty interesting, I think I want to learn the slap thing, it produce a good sound and the guitar playing in video is awesome.

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by LedBelli Bass

Been playin bass for years but have never learned to slap. I get too discouraged too quickly.

But, I'm ready to go for it serious now.

Any videos that rise above for this subject?

i'd start with the Ed Friedland by Hal Leonard - it's great and gets right to the good stuff.

Alex Skarevski is very good too ....can't go wrong with either .....i think the Ed Friedland might be the quickest to digest though!

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by Supertanker

Try Marlow DK's "Play Bass Now" on YouTube and his website.

I actually learned to slap from his videos.

I've been trying to learn for years, his was the first videos to break it down into pieces I could follow...

yup! word to yo mama! Marlow has some fantastic stuff there! great player!

[N.F.A.]

Sklarevsky dvd

[puddin tame]

Originally Posted by J-B'ass

I can't recommend a video I'm afraid, but I'd recommend a teacher, because a teacher can react to you and nip bad habits in the bud.

Also, be aware of the different styles of slap bass around, two very noticeably different styles are the "flea" style; thumb perpendicular to strings, bounce off string with each slap, and the "victor wooten" style; thumb parallel with string, following through with each slap to allow for an upstroke with the thumb.

I don't think that victor wooten thing is technically slap. It's usually just called 'double thumbing' or something like that, but if you watch victor you can see when he's doing that and when he's slapping. It's more just a speed thing that lets you play more notes on more strings

Of course if you're learning one style why not learn the other

[LilloEsquilo]

I saw the preview for the Sklarevsky DVD, seems like a good instructor, but I just couldn't get past his rapist glasses.....

[LilloEsquilo]

On this subject, I just got the Friedland video. He's a great bassist and I own many books and other videos written by him, and in general they are top notch and excellent quality, but in this one particular case, I actually feel kind of shorted by this video. Why? When he goes into explanations on the slap technique and the pop technique, I'd say it's absolutely no more than 3 minutes (tops) of explanation for each. He spends more time talking about the history of funk than going over what I really wanted to learn in depth - slapping and popping. The history is good stuff, but that's just not what I bought the video for.

So, based on seeing a "preview" of the Sklarevsky DVD, and seeing the Friedland DVD, I'd have to say it looks like Sklarevsky offers a lot more info for results oriented people like me. I'm planning to get that next, then I can directly compare the two.

To be honest, I kind of am disappointed by this one. Again, most Friedland stuff is truly great, but in my view, this one is kind of "eh". I really wanted the sort of in depth stuff I saw in the preview of Sklarevsky and just assumed based on having Friedland stuff already that his was the same. I assumed wrong.

Just my 2 cents to hopefully help out whoever is looking for one of these. I guess those rapist glasses Sklarevsky wears don't bother me THAT much.....

[fleabee]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Alexis Sklarevski's video, while a bit old, is quite good.

+1