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  #1  
Old 04-11-2010, 10:00 AM
srdsrd
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The "slap sound"

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Hi!

I have one question. The sound we hear when we slap a string... where does it come from? I mean, i slapped correctly the srting wont touch the end of the fretboard or touch any fret at all. So why does it make such a loud sound even if "barely" touched.

Thank you very much
  #2  
Old 04-11-2010, 11:44 AM
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nyuk nyuk nyuk

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On the contrary, the percussive slap sound comes from the metal string snapping against the metal frets. If the string doesn't hit the fretboard, it won't make that "slap" sound.
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  #3  
Old 04-11-2010, 02:18 PM
srdsrd
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But i watch it very closely and I could sware the string doesn't touch anything...
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Old 04-11-2010, 02:22 PM
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It's all in that initial strike of the string. That's why it sounds different on a fretless than a fretted.
  #5  
Old 04-11-2010, 02:23 PM
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That's because the string moves faster than the eye can actually see. If you see some slow motion of an instrument sting you'll notice that it moves around a lot more than you normally realise.

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

High speed film rocks! (Trujillo and slap bass around the 6:40 mark)

Last edited by TheDarkReaver : 04-11-2010 at 02:42 PM.
  #6  
Old 04-11-2010, 02:49 PM
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nyuk nyuk nyuk

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That's a cool video. It makes the strings look really floppy and loose!
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  #7  
Old 04-11-2010, 04:21 PM
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Watching cymbals on high speed is amazing. You never realise how much they flex until you do.

Last edited by TheDarkReaver : 04-11-2010 at 06:24 PM.
  #8  
Old 04-11-2010, 05:03 PM
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VERY cool; thanks for that!
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