Slapping the double bass? Did I see this? (I'm an electric bassist)

[Fassa Albrecht]

Basically I was watching a busking band and I was watching theor double bassist seen as they didn't have an electric player.
He was using a technique similar to slapping on an electric...is this actually slapping or is this some other technique I should know about??

Apologies for the noob question but I'm an electric player normally.

[bassist1962]

Yes, slapping on the upright bass is a technique that goes back to the teens/twenties. It is mainly used in Rockabilly nowadays. Is this the technique you saw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV0IizvQHW0

[rftbass]

Here are some more links:

How to Slap (Milt Hinton style)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj0ZEt2Z-oc
Milt's Rhythm

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18...on-milt-hinton
bass lesson with Milt hinton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm8CnIOIzD4
ol'mantime Milt Hinton