Can't slap/pop to save my life

[billoetjen]

I just can't seem to get it down.

Thanks

Consider it a blessing.

 

[Bochafish]

+1 to low action, and a good set of strings.
It took me a long time to get, (5 years maybe), and I'm still no master. Just practice a lot, take it slow, and it will come. 1 month isn't long enough, but keep at it if it interests you.

 

[Sam Evans]

sounds sexy, whats clawhammer

I think I read it's something he borrowed from banjo technique. It involves raking the backs of your finger nails up and down across the strings. Kinda like strumming, but a bit more percussive.

 

[PinkFloydDan]

So slap lovers are also anti- First Amendment? Holy moly.

I think the majority was clear: slapping is an overused technique and real bassists are better off not even getting into it. I can get quite funky without it. Yet, slap-poppers think it is funk.

Just pass on learning it or you'll become one of "them."

the slap hate entertains me. i believe it comes from a place along these lines:

ineveitably, a bass player will be asked if he can slap. they can answer in 2 general ways if they can't.

1. no.

2. slap bass ruined the bass world. i refuse to do it. never had any interest. etc.

A lot of people take the defensive route. I can't tap for crap, and don't like it enough to commit to learning it... but I don't go trashing threads on tapping nor judge anyone who want to do it. It's a technique and IMO anyone who's truly an artist will be open to any and every possibility of what you can do with your instrument. And not necessarily to try it or do it, but fer sure to at least respect it.

 

[PinkFloydDan]

Not only is it baiting, it was incredibly ignorant. We are all immigrants. Go slap and pop away poppy.

That sounds like a politically baited statement. I believe those aren't allowed.

 

[steveksux]

Given all the slap/pop haters out there, "I can't slap/pop to save my life" sounds like the premise for the next SAW movie sequel....

Can somebody photoshop a bass in this guys hands??

Randy

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Given all the slap/pop haters out there, "I can't slap/pop to save my life" sounds like the premise for the next SAW movie sequel....

Can somebody photoshop a bass in this guys hands??

Randy

hahahahahaha! nice randy!

 

[Double Agent]

Get the point?

That would be fine if the thread was titled "What do you all think of slapping?" I am as opinionated as anybody on TB, so I understand that people have, sometimes strong, personal opinions on a variety of topics.

But, TB is supposed to be a resource of information from players of all different experience levels and backgrounds. The OP started a thread looking for help learning to slap. It is not the right place for people to chime in about how much they hate slap IMO. If you don't like it, stay out of it. The OP doesn't care what anyone else thinks of slap, he wants to learn it. What I, or anyone else, thinks about the style is irrelevant at that point. Its not about intolerance of personal opinions at all, it's about knowing where/when to espouse them.

real bassists are better off not even getting into it.

OK....Louis Johnson is not a "real" bassist. Whatever you need to tell yourself.

 

[Ric5]

If you want to learn slap then get some lessons and practice, practice, practice.

 

[I Forget]

Check out "The Slap Bass" program by Alexis Sklarevski, originally on VHS. It is well put together.

+1 Excellent step by step video.

Set your bass up with a low action, work on your muting and controling your volume with your hands not a compressor, develop one tone that works for both slap & fingers and practice changing seamlessly between the two.

 

[T-MOST]

Just keep practicing. As long as you have the basic form down you are on your way.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Think how bad Seinfeld theme would have been without slapping!

Seriously, I cant do it either but I keep trying. In the meantime I have been using my thumb to pluck and index to pop just for root/octave to kind of simulate (read: cheat) the sound when I want it.

 

[FilterFunk]

Will somebody PLEASE just start a "Why I hate slapping" thread so haters can get it out of their system? That way, maybe threads like this one won't continue to get hijacked. Info threads, hater threads - let's at least try to keep them separate!

 

[Sam Evans]

Will somebody PLEASE just start a "Why I hate slapping" thread so haters can get it out of their system? That way, maybe threads like this one won't continue to get hijacked. Info threads, hater threads - let's at least try to keep them separate!

Done.

 

[billoetjen]

Think how bad Seinfeld theme would have been without slapping!

Umm, yeah. Might actually have been music.

 

[bass12]

Yet, slap-poppers think it is funk.

Nice sweeping generalisation there, buddy.

Just pass on learning it or you'll become one of "them."

Oh, you mean one of those well-rounded players? Yeah, heaven forbid.

 

[dpbass613]

i know a lot of "pro" guys don't see being able to slap a benefit and that you should focus on playing finger style, while I agree in most cases, some of the bands that I fill in for and make the most money playing with require me to slap for their sound. So its a good tool to have in your arsenal, but i do agree, you should focus on developing tone and feel within your finger style playing before moving to slap...while someone can play very fast...that does not mean they are playing the right notes (and if you think right note just means being in key, than you do still have some learning to do). Work on drills first, don't expect to just jump into a funk slap line, work on just builing up the octave slap/pop and build on it from there. It is one of those things you kind of have to learn on your own. Sounds as if you either new a setup on your bass, or maybe a different string spacing.

 

[perfektspace6]

Think how bad Seinfeld theme would have been without slapping!

Pretty sure that's a keyboard. Doesn't count.

 

[GregPlaysBass]

OP HERE: HOLY SH*T PEOPLE, IF YOU DONT LIKE SLAPPING, CONGRATULATIONS. THIS ISNT THE THREAD TO SPREAD YOUR BELIEFS IN. I ASKED WHAT CAN I DO IMPROVE MY SLAP/POP SKILLS, NOT WHAT YOU THINK OF IT.

And the Seinfeld theme is one of the few things I can play very well

 

[Beginner Bass]

Again, the question wasn't whether or not you liked slap, but what advice you had on how to do it. No trolling required.