Boogie Monsters' Mojo: Slap or not?

[Bass Momma]

...plus, you can combine techniques. A palm-slap is common with thumb-slap, but could be used with finger-style as well. I did that decades ago. Double-thumbing is sort-of like pick-playing, with the sharp attack only on the 2nd half of a double-thumb (finger-nail): the first half of the double-thumb sounds like a cross between thumb-slap and plucking with index or middle. Palm-muted pick-playing on rounds can be funky if you play stacatto and have some growl in your tone.

The bass is sort-of hidden in the mix on this song anyway. You got this!

Seems like if you get that percussive funk feel that's what's needed. I'll work on what you've suggested. Thanks.

 

[factory presets]

Dig in near the bridge and play a shed load of ghost notes. Instant slap feel with not a callus to show for it.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Seems like if you get that percussive funk feel that's what's needed. I'll work on what you've suggested. Thanks.

I was only noting all the different "funkisms" (techniques) available: and I am sure I missed many. Please defer to the more experienced bassists here for any specific solution to the OP.

 

[factory presets]

Double-thumbing is sort-of like pick-playing, with the sharp attack only on the 2nd half of a double-thumb (finger-nail): the first half of the double-thumb sounds like a cross between thumb-slap and plucking with index or middle.

Dang! I been doing it all wrong. Long B4 you tube I heard about double thumping and just added an up and down motion to my thumb technique (along with the in and out motion everybody uses). It's a little bit faster and a lot smoother than normal thumb work. And while I'm aware of, and occasionally use, the 3 fingers across the strings ghost note, palm muting for me is like floating thumb technique when my thumb is otherwise engaged. I don't know if other people do these things. I only know I don't read about them on TB.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Dang! I been doing it all wrong. Long B4 you tube I heard about double thumping and just added an up and down motion to my thumb technique (along with the in and out motion everybody uses). It's a little bit faster and a lot smoother than normal thumb work. And while I'm aware of, and occasionally use, the 3 fingers across the strings ghost note, palm muting for me is like floating thumb technique when my thumb is otherwise engaged. I don't know if other people do these things. I only know I don't read about them on TB.

I see a place for both. Sometimes I like the way a thumb-slap "rings" on the low frets, especially on the lower strings. For speed, fundamental, and ability to get volume on the high frets/strings, double-thumb is often needed.

My double-thumb still needs a lot of work though. I use it OK on some riffs, but I need more practice. The pluck isn't as natural for me when double-thumbing.

BTW, did somebody say palm-slap?