double thumbing

[Debiolator]

Laquer Head is a good example of Claypool double thumbing, I've also hear he uses
technique on My Name is Mud, but it sounds like good old hammer ons to me,
though I could be wrong.

 

[ohmanohjeeze]

okay, so read this here thread and think "hmmmm maybe i can do it" so i do what i think i'm suppose to...but it just seems to easy i must be doing it wrong....what exactly should it sound like?

 

[russ_4ft]

It sounds like a machine gun,
listen to laquer head and after the first chorus les does a whole bar of double thumbing.

thats what it sounds like.

-Russ

 

[DaveBeny]

Sometimes the best way to learn a technique is from watching someone show it to you. I'd recommend getting the Bass Day '98 highlights video. Victor Wooten gives a short lesson on the "double-thumb" technique, starting SLOWLY with just downstrokes, working around the fretboard and concentrating on independence between the slapping hand and the fretting hand. He then introduces the thumb-pluck/upstroke, and eventually introduces the first two fingers of the plucking hand into the technique - the aim is to play more notes with minimal hand movement, which saves you energy and which results in better speed and stamina. By the end of the lesson, the technique goes:

1 2 3 4
Thumb-down, Thumb-up, Index-pluck, Middle-pluck.

I think the lesson is also available on the 'Victor Wooten at Bass Day '98' video, which I think has just been released as a DVD with newly-recorded lesson footage.

David

 

[melvin]

i think its the new bass player mag (its got marcus miller on the front) he talks about how he double thumbs and it really helped me

 

[ColonelZulu]

I had a little trouble at first. I seemed to get the hang of it by hitting the strings up higher by the fretboard. I also keep my middle finger rubbing on the body for stability. You can see Wooton has worn the finish off his monarch in that spot the same way.

 

[StarzNAGlassJar]

check out the primus cover of master of puppets. i'm sure he does it there

 

[Toodles]

If you're having trouble getting the flea slap to work,
slap it hard and get your thumb out there quickly so there is minimal damping on the string. It works.
This method makes it hard to double thump. The Les Claypool slap works better for the double thump. If you don't know what the Les slap is it is like a stroke on the string. Your thumb should just stroke past the string gently brushing it and resting on the next string. From here can get your thumb under the string and pop it up. This works for me so it might as well work for you.

Cheers.

 

[Dave Castelo]

Originally posted by PuNk BaSSisT
Try the little solo in the song "Laquer Head".

I saw the family values 99 performance on muchmusic and he does it in that song a lot.

here´s a little mp3 i did last week on my pc...

it´s the laquerhead intro (with some lame variations... but check the little fast part)

Bad Link Removed

so... how´s my technique?

 

[NJXT]

Originally posted by Dave Castelo


so... how´s my technique?

Better than mine, that's for sure ...
Nice sound too.
I still haven't get the double-thumbing stuff.
Damn, I've got to find me a new teacher (at 29 years old, it's time to thing about it, ne ?)

 

[Dave Castelo]

Originally posted by NJXT


Better than mine, that's for sure ...
Nice sound too.
I still haven't get the double-thumbing stuff.
Damn, I've got to find me a new teacher (at 29 years old, it's time to thing about it, ne ?)

thanks! i appreciate the coment...

actually that was my first ever thing i learned on bass... really!
i picked up bass after watching Claypool doing Laquerhead on some MTV special about Family Values 99... first i taped it on video, i didn´t know who he was or who was primus or what bass was...

then i watched the tape over and over for months... then got my first bass and somewhat naturally came to me (the riff)

then i read about the techniques and little by little i polish it...

 

[Dave Castelo]

Originally posted by Debiolator
Laquer Head is a good example of Claypool double thumbing, I've also hear he uses
technique on My Name is Mud, but it sounds like good old hammer ons to me,
though I could be wrong.

my name is mud is Hammer ons... Les slaps on the neck... i saw it in same video of Family values 99

 

[WellsTheBassist]

First off, I'm new to the forum, so whats up? Secondly, about this double thumbing technique. I have never had anyone to teach me how to slap in the first place and I am currently slamming down the middle knuckle on my thumb to get the slap effect on my bass. Is this wrong? I'm accurante and quick with it, and I'd like to keep slapping this way, but if it will hinder me when I want to learn more advanced techniquies, I would like to break myself of the bad habit while I can. And how in the heck does Flea slap bass? Towards the fret?...I'm not sure I understand all that much. ANyways, there is no doubt that double thumbing is fun to learn, but if anyone can help me on how to slap like a normal person, or if my way of slapping is going to hurt me later, Id like to know and would appreciate it. Thanks.

Wells

 

[Tyler Dupont]

This is the first I've heard of this .. does marcus miller use this technique in the main riff of "power" ? And for laquer head .. I play the part like this --> thumb, mute(Left), thumb, pop , mute(left) ,thumb and repeat .... I'm just wondering if this is a thing for you guys that slap with a down stroke like Mark King, Stu Hamm etc(thumb pointing straight up in the air). I slap the other way .. can I still do this ? hehe, what's going on .. I'm confused

 

[Tyler Dupont]

I just disected my slap technique .. I guess I do use this double thumbing thing .. if I'm understanding it right that is.. I just never thought of it as anything special .. I find that when I really get going and the circular wrist flow comes into play I do connect on an upstroke.. very subtle though.

 

[iwannabeblack]

is there a difference from double thumbing and double slap? Th me you let your thumb simply bounce on the string.