20+ years playing, still can't slap & question about strings

[pepj]

Set the bass up to have the slapped strings resonate when you bounce the string off the neck.
If you dont do this, you'll never get a sound out.
I would suggest double thumb if only to get the sound going but that takes more empathy to make it work so ultimately harder.

 

[Les Fret]

You might explore Victor Wooten's double thumb approach, since he uses his thumb like a pick and that stroke will be more familiar to you than the Larry Graham "bounce" thumb approach. They are both handy and useful, but start with what's easy and go from there.

I love double thumb but for most people and students it’s actually a lot harder to learn than regular slap I discovered when teaching. That’s why I use another approach to get the same result myself, a “double thumb imitation technique”. Works great, you can play almost all double thumb lines that way in an easier manner (for me and a lot of students of mine anyway).

Larry Graham was one of the first who used double thumb I think (in the early 70s), only in some songs though. Besides the bouncing thumb as you mention.

 

[bass12]

You want to slap through the string, like it’s a pick. You get the deepest tone and least decay. Don’t bounce your thumb, although this can have a desirable effect as well although in moderation

Victor Wooten has some good videos on it.

I’m not sure why you’d suggest not bouncing the thumb, since that is the way lots of the best slappers thump. Yes you can play through the string as Vic does, but if you want to emulate, for example, Louis Johnson, Larry Graham or Mark King then bouncing will be more appropriate (and in many cases necessary to achieve the desired effect).

 

[JimiLL]

I’m not sure why you’d suggest not bouncing the thumb, since that is the way lots of the best slappers thump. Yes you can play through the string as Vic does, but if you want to emulate, for example, Louis Johnson, Larry Graham or Mark King then bouncing will be more appropriate (and in many cases necessary to achieve the desired effect).

It doesn’t create nearly as much string movement.

 

[bass12]

It doesn’t create nearly as much string movement.

I'm not sure that's true. Regardless, you get enough string movement with a bounce to produce the effect that most people associate with slap.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I keep my thumb almost even with the string it's slapping. The "old style" which I can also do was to keep the thumb almost vertical. This I found to be very artificial.
I find double thumb next to impossible. Also. I'm fair to good at slap and pop and I've been at it for at least 35 years.

 

[Robert Brassard]

This video is what I started with. Old school slap 101. There’s written material with the course that can probably be found online also. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V_XdwqBJqLc
[URL='https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V_XdwqBJqLc'][/URL]

 

[TOOL460002]

I will always post my advice for slap: Practice clapping with one hand. You have to keep your wrist tense and fingers loose for it to work. Same as slap. Best of luck.

EDIT: Oh, and FWIW, I can only one-hand clap with my right hand (I'm a righty). There is a link for sure. I also advise looking into arm wrestling exercises. Weird, I know. My Covid YT algorithm got strange but it paid off.

 

[J Wilson]

I have chronic CSFS(Can't Slap For S**t), but have learned to live with it.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Hello!

I've been playing since '99 and have never grasped the "just hit the strings with your thumb" concept. I am a fairly decent player with good left-hand technique, and I generally use a pick. I play hard rock/alt rock style. I have attempted to learn slapping from various sources, but it always ends in failure. The issue is that I don’t get the desired sound from my right-hand thumb hitting the strings; it often just dampens the hit, or the sound doesn't play, or alternatively, it sounds close to normal playing but not quite right.

The music that I play generally doesn't require slapping, but it has always bothered me that I can't do it and have failed to learn it.

The other concern: I have a Gretsch G2220 short scale, and I struggle to find suitable strings for it. I have played EBS Northern Light ML4 40-100 strings before on my previous standard scale bass, but they don’t make short scale strings, and I have failed to find any that I am comfortable even trying. The closest I know of is Rotosound66 swings 40-90, but I have not purchased those as I fear that the E string will be very floppy on a half-step down tuning.

How should I approach this, and is there any alternative that has a growly, bright sound where the volume levels are even across all octaves? (I often use the whole fretboard).

Appreciate the time you take to answer this!

Any specific music you listen to that utilizes the technique?

 

[Lionel Albert]

Hello!

I've been playing since '99 and have never grasped the "just hit the strings with your thumb" concept. I am a fairly decent player with good left-hand technique, and I generally use a pick. I play hard rock/alt rock style. I have attempted to learn slapping from various sources, but it always ends in failure. The issue is that I don’t get the desired sound from my right-hand thumb hitting the strings; it often just dampens the hit, or the sound doesn't play, or alternatively, it sounds close to normal playing but not quite right.

The music that I play generally doesn't require slapping, but it has always bothered me that I can't do it and have failed to learn it.

The other concern: I have a Gretsch G2220 short scale, and I struggle to find suitable strings for it. I have played EBS Northern Light ML4 40-100 strings before on my previous standard scale bass, but they don’t make short scale strings, and I have failed to find any that I am comfortable even trying. The closest I know of is Rotosound66 swings 40-90, but I have not purchased those as I fear that the E string will be very floppy on a half-step down tuning.

How should I approach this, and is there any alternative that has a growly, bright sound where the volume levels are even across all octaves? (I often use the whole fretboard).

Appreciate the time you take to answer this!

That's interesting, I've never been able to slap on my active four string bass with round wound strings, on a passive five string bass with flats I do it without any effort !
Maybe it comes from the bass, 24 frets for the 4 string bass and 21 frets for the 5 string one.
Maybe it comes from the pickups but I'm not sure.

 

[jmmyoh]

If I needed a set of rounds right now I would want to try the new sheptone.com strings.

 

[Tweety Leaf]

Any specific music you listen to that utilizes the technique?

No, not really. I listen a lot of Hard rock, post rock and some proge. Bands like Guns and Roses, Maybeshewill / Fair to Midland and Tool.

Been really busy with my studies lately but I've been experimenting with the thumb playing, so far not a lot of success (not a lot of effort either to be honest), but will keep at it.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I think its context. I once saw a guy on stage performing "Day Tripper" slapping?!?

 

[sean_on_bass]

No, not really. I listen a lot of Hard rock, post rock and some proge. Bands like Guns and Roses, Maybeshewill / Fair to Midland and Tool.

Been really busy with my studies lately but I've been experimenting with the thumb playing, so far not a lot of success (not a lot of effort either to be honest), but will keep at it.

Definitely find some music you like with slap playing. it's really hard to pick up on it if you don't know what slap lines sound like, played by the masters. One of the first slap lines i learned was this: