What affects the Slap Sound?

kougan · #1 09-09-2009, 04:47 PM

Ok, so I've got my bass for a year now and I know its not a really great bass. So I've been slapping a lot, but I have one main problem my bass slap sound is not exatcly a good one.
Like it doesnt have a good slap sound where you hear the [piew] sound. And I KNOW i can slap because I have slapped on J and P basses and it sounded perfect but on my bass I dont get a good [piew] sound. is there anything I can do to get the good sound like a P or J bass? Like change the strings or something?

MNAirHead · #2 09-09-2009, 04:47 PM

You forgot to mention your setup.

bass12 · #3 09-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Js and Ps are great slap basses and I don't know of too many basses that can faithfully reproduce those sounds. Bottom line is, if you want a bass that sounds like a Fender then your best bet is to get a Fender.

kougan · #4 09-09-2009, 05:01 PM

well I have an equinox bass realy cheap.
I have P bass pickups(they look like them)
and one J bass pickup(it looks like the J bass pickup)

My problem is I dont have much money

JimK · #5 09-10-2009, 06:10 AM

Back in the day, I used either Flatwound/Groundwound strings.
Changing to Roundwound strings made a huge difference.

PJSShearer · #6 09-15-2009, 09:13 AM

Absolutley got to have roundwounds - and frets!!

Scott01 · #7 09-16-2009, 07:06 AM

I know exactly what you mean... Everyone will tell you its all technique and practice blah blah blah.

My ibanez has the most awful slap tone, and yet with the exact same technique sounds far better on my jazz or musicman basses.

I have noticed though that there are a few things that help get that nice crisp slap tone.

If your strings are old or dead and thumpy sounding, get some new regular gauge or regular-light gauge roundwound strings. New strings, or even just old strings that have not been neglected will get that snappy sound that is most commonly heard in the slap bass sound.

If your fretboard is not a standard 20 fret fender style neck, make sure your thumb is hitting the right position.

You want to be hitting with the side of your thumb on the last fret of the neck, if you are still having trouble getting the 'bounce' off the string, move your thumb towards the bridge just a tad, so that you are hitting just in front of the last fret (i.e. just off the end of the fretboard).

I find this helps me get more 'rebound' off the strings, though if your strings are already have enough 'bounce' in them, it'll probably result in clipping/clanking if you have an aggressive slap style.

If your bass has closer string spacing than the Jazz/Precisions you have tried playing then work on keeping your thumb parallel for a cleaner more percussive sound.

The slap sound comes from the strings bouncing off the metallic frets - this is complemented by slinkier strings (i.e. lighter gauge, round core, round outer windings), and by clean, smooth and proper technique.

Good slap technique is easier to achieve when you let your right hand relax - I see many new bassists try slapping and tense up their whole right arm, then wonder why they can't get that scooped slap sound.

The idea is not to hit the string as hard and powerful as you can, but to get a quick and clean strike from your thumb so that the string slaps onto the frets and then rings out. Your focus should be more so on the rebound of your thumb off the string rather than the attack onto the string. If you tense up your slapping hand, you will most likely not rebound off the strings and therefore end up smothering the string before it sounds off the frets.

If you've noticed Victor play slap lightly, he doesn't smash the crap out of the strings, he can use a very light touch with his thumb and still get a wicked sound - this is because he has exceptional technique, not because he has a powerful thumb.

JimmyM · #8 09-17-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Absolutley got to have roundwounds - and frets!!

Frets help but they aren't mandatory. Ask Les Claypool. And flats are killer for slap because they take out that grindy high end and leave you with a big fat thump.

But I have a feeling the brighter sound is what the guy is looking for, so yeah, roundwounds are the way to get it.

OmegaBass16 · #9 09-17-2009, 07:27 AM

great post scott, I finally can slap open strings and get that scooped slap sound, but my
problem is when I fret & slap at the same time, the tone is just awful. Any suggestions
with my fretting issues ? Do I fret & slap at the same time? Maybe my index finger is not
position correctly..??? Help plzzz !!!

Scott01 · #10 09-18-2009, 05:04 AM

You should be fretting just behind the frets - for example, C on the A string, is the third fret along (with the dot marker). To slap this note, you'll want to press (just like you would for fingerstyle) on the dot marker, or even a little further towards the bridge/plucking hand.

If you press too close to the fret, you may not be getting enough break angle of the string over the fret, and it will sound muffled, or like the next note up a fret.

If you press too far from the fret, you won't get enough leverage to apply pressure against the fret, and will end up rattling something bad, sounding like fret buzz.

Another thing to try and aim for when fretting is to keep your fretting fingers parallel to the frets (i.e. relatively straight up and down). If you have your fingers angled, it will also make fretting more troublesome.

Your thumb should also be on the middle of the back of the neck, not the top or bottom. It should also be parallel with the other fingers. If you check your fretting hand's position without the bass in your hands, the thumb and fretting fingers should be in a position similar to a crabs claw. You should be able to pinch your fingers together.

Bad thumb position is when you have your thumb pointing up the neck towards the headstock (i.e, not parallel with your fretting fingers/frets). This will make it harder to get leverage/pressure with your fretting hand. Try to avoid this grip position, or you will get cramps and sloppy technique later on.

If you are covering all these bases, then you shouldn't need to apply much pressure to fret a note, it should be very easy to do and it should sound clean.

As for timing, well you should have got it down with fingerstyle playing before trying slap, but you need to program your thinking to press the fret down BEFORE you slap a string - other wise it will sound deadened or muffled.

johann_theodore · #11 08-23-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott01

The slap sound comes from the strings bouncing off the metallic frets

Is this correct? I am just starting out (read: days) on the electric bass after playing banjo for many years. I am trying to learn the basics of playing finger style, with a pick, and slap/funk. My Ibanez SR seems ideal for the first two, but slap was a problem because I was trying to NOT hit the strings against the frets.

If I relax a bit and let the strings hit, it sounds all right but I wasn't sure it was the proper technique.