Slap

[EnigmaTrain]

Hey guys. I've been dabbling in slap recently, and I've really been having trouble getting my thumps up to speed. I'm trying all the stuff I've found on the web, like curling my fingers in, slapping at the neck, etc etc -but I still can only get a tone out of the string about every other thump and even then it's pretty slow. I've been working on RHCP's Can't Stop and Aeroplane and Higher Ground, but honestly I'm nowhere near full speed on any of them. I can play 'em normal finger picking (been playing for about a month) but I really want to figure out the slap stuff.

Any advice? Easier songs? I've seen that Rage Against the Machine song and I'm not really a fan - too much popping, I'm pretty much okay with that for now anyways.

I also have trouble setting up the pop from the thump sometimes.

[beelzelboss]

Pick a style that works best for you, whatever gives you the best result, and practice practice practice.

Also, there are different styles of slap. Personally I use Victor Wootens double thump, where instead of slapping the string with the thumb, you go down through the string and land on the lower one.

Oh, and get a teacher.

edit: and read the slap bass welcome center thread.

The Slap Bass Welcome Center

[EnigmaTrain]

Honestly, I don't have the time for a teacher right now - but it's a suggestion I'll probably be taking come summertime haha

and wow, I feel stupid for missing that thread...thanks

[Johnius]

You say you've only been playing for a month. The key to my own progress has been to not let lack of immediate progress frustrate me. Make a conscious effort not get annoyed or downtrodden by how difficult it is. I find that music has a steep and high learning curve. You gotta keep going. You will get better. Also, dude, RHCP is not easy stuff. It's going to take a while.

[EnigmaTrain]

Originally Posted by Johnius

You say you've only been playing for a month. The key to my own progress has been to not let lack of immediate progress frustrate me. Make a conscious effort not get annoyed or downtrodden by how difficult it is. I find that music has a steep and high learning curve. You gotta keep going. You will get better. Also, dude, RHCP is not easy stuff. It's going to take a while.

Oh, I know... what's frustrating me isn't the speed I'm playing at, it's not understanding the concept.

I think I've made some progress today just by trying different ways to do it. I'm making sounds out of it 3/4 of the time hahaha.

Also, one of my best friends being great at bass and guitar doesn't help... since he's not a very good teacher haha

[puddin tame]

you've only been playing for a month, settle down. maybe get frustrated if you're not starting to understand it after a year or two

[EnigmaTrain]

Originally Posted by puddin tame

you've only been playing for a month, settle down. maybe get frustrated if you're not starting to understand it after a year or two

or we could look at this as me being determined to do something and looking for help to achieve my goals, however ridiculous they are

[Johnius]

Let me add this, then. The way I learned slap is through plain old target practice, without an amp. I would hang my bass around me unplugged and then bonk the string against the fretboard as required. The unamplified sound is a good inidicator of whether I'm striking the string with the right part of my thumb (proper strikes are loud/full and with it unamped you won't annoy the people you live with). For me, I curl my thumb upward and hit the string more toward the top of my thumb knuckle. Once I got the "target practice" point of contact thing down I got a lot faster with my thumb. Find your best sounding contact point, and then do about a zillion timing drills on all 4 strings and you'll be closer to your goal.

[Nev375]

Forget about the left hand. Forget about speed. Just take your thumb and keep slapping until you are getting the right sound out of it every time. Then do the same with popping.

Then alternate the two using different string patterns and rhythms.

Once your right hand knows what to do, then start playing with your left on some simple licks. Ignore speed. Never try to work at speeding up. Speed just comes along all by itself with repetition. So it's very important to focus on good clean technique.

When the speed finally comes, then start playing with the record so you can focus on locking in the groove.

Yes, it's boring to just thump away at repetitive single notes and simple rhythms by yourself, and yes, it takes time, but it takes even longer trying to unlearn and fix bad technique and sloppy playing.

[EnigmaTrain]

Originally Posted by Nev375

Forget about the left hand. Forget about speed. Just take your thumb and keep slapping until you are getting the right sound out of it every time. Then do the same with popping.

Then alternate the two using different string patterns and rhythms.

Once your right hand knows what to do, then start playing with your left on some simple licks. Ignore speed. Never try to work at speeding up. Speed just comes along all by itself with repetition. So it's very important to focus on good clean technique.

When the speed finally comes, then start playing with the record so you can focus on locking in the groove.

Yes, it's boring to just thump away at repetitive single notes and simple rhythms by yourself, and yes, it takes time, but it takes even longer trying to unlearn and fix bad technique and sloppy playing.

I've been doing so - but what's the 'wrong' technique?

[beelzelboss]

Originally Posted by Johnius

Let me add this, then. The way I learned slap is through plain old target practice, without an amp. I would hang my bass around me unplugged and then bonk the string against the fretboard as required. The unamplified sound is a good inidicator of whether I'm striking the string with the right part of my thumb (proper strikes are loud/full and with it unamped you won't annoy the people you live with). For me, I curl my thumb upward and hit the string more toward the top of my thumb knuckle. Once I got the "target practice" point of contact thing down I got a lot faster with my thumb. Find your best sounding contact point, and then do about a zillion timing drills on all 4 strings and you'll be closer to your goal.

That's what I do. If you can make it sound good un-amplified, then you can make it sound even better with an amp.

What is the wrong technique? Upload a youtube video of you playing real slow for us, and make sure we can see exactly what you are doing. That could give us a better idea.

[EnigmaTrain]

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

That's what I do. If you can make it sound good un-amplified, then you can make it sound even better with an amp.

What is the wrong technique? Upload a youtube video of you playing real slow for us, and make sure we can see exactly what you are doing. That could give us a better idea.

Hahaaha, sure. I may not have time to til the weekend though

[Joe Nerve]

Listen to this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb-wk7dhnrc

Go slow.

Be patient.

It takes time for your muscles to memorize what they're doing. Once that happens it all become incredibly easy. Until that happens it's incredibly hard.

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by EnigmaTrain

I've been doing so - but what's the 'wrong' technique?

Wrong technique could be a note that isn't fully fretted, a thumb that doesn't hit the string right to get that slapped sound. It could be fingers hitting the string above the one they intend to pop that make an extra percussive click. (if that's not intended) Les Claypool incorporates this sound into his technique, but then, that's the way he plays and that's fine. But if you don't mean to do it, don't do it.

You say you are getting that sound 3/4ths of the time. That tells me that 1/4th is probably bad technique. Just slow down, clean it up, and do it right all the time. If it's not 100% right, slow down again and get it right.

Just keep at it. It will come and you will be all the more awesome for it by getting it right the first time.

[EnigmaTrain]

Originally Posted by Nev375

Wrong technique could be a note that isn't fully fretted, a thumb that doesn't hit the string right to get that slapped sound. It could be fingers hitting the string above the one they intend to pop that make an extra percussive click. (if that's not intended) Les Claypool incorporates this sound into his technique, but then, that's the way he plays and that's fine. But if you don't mean to do it, don't do it.

You say you are getting that sound 3/4ths of the time. That tells me that 1/4th is probably bad technique. Just slow down, clean it up, and do it right all the time. If it's not 100% right, slow down again and get it right.

Just keep at it. It will come and you will be all the more awesome for it by getting it right the first time.

Haha, yeah, I've experienced all these things. My practice basically consists of slap/popping octaves super slow, trying to do Can't Stop (I have real trouble with string accuracy on the thumps but the pops sound sweet) and doing Higher Ground reeeeeally slowly.

I'm not rushing to play higher tempo, but playing at 1/3 speed all the time isn't too helpful. I'm pushing myself, but not rushing it.