Can't slap/pop to save my life

[Sleeping Giant]

When I started playing slap the song that most helped my thumb technique was Love Games by Level 42. Most of the song if just slapping away at the E string. It has a great rhythm and can sound quite meaty with all that low end action.
Next up was Hot Water also by Level 42, this has a lot of slamming into the E string but also has some tastefully incorporated pops.

The best advice has already been said, practice practice practice. But I think you already know that.

 

[DrSpunkwater]

As far as slapping goes, tone is not "all in the hands" as many here might say. Your gear is every bit as important as your technique when playing slap. You can play the most intricate slap lines ever and absolutely hate the sound of it if you're not using the right gear.

Disagree about it all you want, but it's true. It's extremely unlikely you're going to get a slap tone you like from any short scale bass or any bass without a bridge pickup. Me, I've noticed the slap tones I like come from Jazzes, L2000s, Stingrays, Warwicks, Spectors, and Steinbergers. Notice how all but the Jazz are active basses, unless you go with an American Deluxe Jazz, in which case they're all active.

YMMV, of course.

 

[LayDownABoogie]

As far as slapping goes, tone is not "all in the hands" as many here might say. Your gear is every bit as important as your technique when playing slap. You can play the most intricate slap lines ever and absolutely hate the sound of it if you're not using the right gear.

Disagree about it all you want, but it's true. It's extremely unlikely you're going to get a slap tone you like from any short scale bass or any bass without a bridge pickup.

.

And disagree I will.

Any bass without a bridge pickup !? That's redic.. slapped P bass is iconic. Plenty of love out there for slappin P's. I've heard decent sounding slap on short scale basses too.

It's tone...
It's just a matter of opinion.

 

[Russell L]

Watched a Alain Caron (sp.?) vid yesterday in which he was demonstrating his Markbass amp. Oh, he was GOOD! But, all he did was slap. I listened for less than a minute before being bored, it just wasn't what I wanted to hear. Sorry, but I just don't get into slap. But, everywhere I go, every bass player seems to do it. Except me.

 

[Roy Vogt]

Watched a Alain Caron (sp.?) vid yesterday in which he was demonstrating his Markbass amp. Oh, he was GOOD! But, all he did was slap. I listened for less than a minute before being bored, it just wasn't what I wanted to hear. Sorry, but I just don't get into slap. But, everywhere I go, every bass player seems to do it. Except me.

Check out some other clips. Alain is a killer fretless player as well.

 

[jaxstarke]

I first started to get the hang of it by keep a steady rythm with my right hand (assuming you're right handed). Just keeping your hand 'rocking' from slap to pop, thumb to pointer is how I started. I then wrote simple lines that included a bunch of muted notes, and sped up. Give the youtube lesson of the song Laquer Head by Primus, good practice. The guy's name is Mark Eshenbaugh.

Yep, that's the guy that I learned the song from. Breaks it down into really easy parts for you. As far as learning S&P all I can say is try to learn a little bit from a bunch of different people. Little snippets of a groove here and there and everywhere. You will probably find that you'll never learn everything they play exactly as they play it. For me, I just learn the basics of a groove and once I've got that down I keep adding to it. It's an ongoing process. It took me YEARS to learn how to play. Partly because I play metal and their aren't too many instances where a S&P part is called for and partly because of my general laziness. It's super-fun to play for me personally. Better than sitting around practicing the same old boring stuff all evening.

 

[jaxstarke]

I don't have the time to read all 8 pages of this thread so excuse me if I hit some redundancy.

I had trouble for years trying the "flea-Larry graham" method o thumb near 12 oclock.

A bright insightful older basist taught me
To slap with my thumb at 4 o clock. This means the natural position my thumb would fall into when it's not anchored on a pickup or thumb rest.
Also, make sure you have a loose wrist- that thumb should be bouncing off the string.

Get your thumb slap down before moving on to popping!
Nukes

I play the same way. Throw however other people do it out the window. Tried for years myself trying to learn S&P with my thumb sticking out there like everyone else and it's just not at all comfortable or natural for me and I pretty much gave up on it. Then I realized,years later, that hey, I don't have to do it their way so I figured out what was easiest for me and that was all she wrote.

 

[Russell L]

Check out some other clips. Alain is a killer fretless player as well.

Oh, yes, I know. Didn't mean that that's all I think he does. But, the slap went on and on in this vid, so I left.

 

[musicianary]

for those who are essentially saying that it doesnt appeal to you, or that i shouldnt bother: thank you for your input, but its really not helping my situation

I think they're just trying to say that it isn't a necessity to know how to slap and pop. You've only been playing a couple of years, and it'll come to you with practice. Just keep up your enthusiasm and desire to learn. Learn the technique and make it your own!

 

[datsaxguy]

The Alexis Sklarevski slap bass program is really comprehensive and starts from nothing and builds. Highly reccomended

http://www.amazon.com/Slap-Bass-Program-Alexis-Sklarevski/dp/B000FKOZPG

 

[stevemac]

Took me a long time and everytime I think I've got it I learn just how wrong I am.

Just remember you dont learn it "all at once", keep practicing and you get better and better. Dont punish yourself for not being perfect. Everytime you attempt it you add to your skill. I know this sounds like a lot of proverbs but its true and is the right mindset.

 

[jnewmark]

I use the slap and pop style to accent certain parts of songs. I think Verdine White was a master at this, accenting little rhythmic junctures with the drummer. I don't think I've ever slapped and popped my way through a whole song, but I'm not in a band that needs that type of material. There is a local bass player here in town who slaps and pops exclusively, self taught, never learned finger style or pick style. He once asked me how to play a shuffle with fingers ! A Flea he is; a Duck Dunn he is not.

 

[Mike M.]

After playing bass for many years...and with a few very extended layoff's from playing....I'm just now starting to make some progress at the slap and pop technique. I've tried little bits here and there thru the years, but due to working so many hours it made progress in that area almost impossible.

But now I've got lots of free time because I'm laid off!! Thank God I play an instrument or I'd be going nuts! I've been practicing the slap technique everyday and while it's gotten better I'm the first to admit that I've got a looooong way to go. All I can tell you is what many others here have said, which is be patient because it takes time and practice. But then all aspects of learning and playing an instrument does.

 

[phillybass101]

I can slap my butt off. I've been doing it for many years. Depends upon the musical cultures you exist and grew up in. Where I'm from if you can't slap, don't show up. Also if you don't have a percolating and funky finger style. Don't show up. Both need a lot of practice and study and muscle memory development. Neither however is rocket science. It just takes time to build up. When I first tried to slap I had no clue.

 

[DWBass]

I can slap my butt off. I've been doing it for many years. Depends upon the musical cultures you exist and grew up in. Where I'm from if you can't slap, don't show up. Also if you don't have a percolating and funky finger style. Don't show up. Both need a lot of practice and study and muscle memory development. Neither however is rocket science. It just takes time to build up. When I first tried to slap I had no clue.

+1

Same here. I'm an old school style slapper. Can't do any of that machine gun style crap to save my life! Not that I need to anyway! When I first started, There was no visual on how folks were slapping. Videotape wasn't invented yet and not much in the way of Funk concerts were on TV. I found it by accident. was frustrated one day trying to play something and I just kinda banged my hand on the strings and I heard the sound. I kept doing it until I was able to figure out a pattern. Then met a couple guys who were good at it and I watched them. It takes time to develop. But some grasp it right away.