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Fretting hand slap-tap, slapped harmonics

I

Invisible_Kid

Guest
Jun 1, 2010
280
9
#1
So I just watched this video on youtube:
YouTube - Andy C Saxton - Solo Bass Album - Track #9 "TOM THUMB"
And all I was left wondering after it was done was:

1. How he got his left hand slapping at equal consistency and volume with his right hand slapping, and
2. How he can slap harmonics and make them ring louder than regular slapped notes.

Now, I've tried left hand slapping and failed hilariously, so I assume there must be some sort of technique involved in mastering it. Also, when I slap harmonics, I get much more of the slap than the harmonic, if you know what I mean.

:help: please?
 
#4
I just watched it twice, and unless I'm just really tired, he doesn't look to be slapping the harmonics, he's plucking them. It makes more sense too, because that's how I'd do it to get that loud and clean-as-a-bell tone. Watch the video again and just stare at his right hand index finger. The whole first section is just that one. The next part where he picks up the pace, it looks like he grabbing index and middle sometimes. Cool stuff, thanks for posting it, I'm going to check out his album.

OTOH, I can't stand his tone in that first clip. However, I checked out the video for Track 5 (metal sounding thang) and he's got monster tone there. Either way, the guy can play, no doubt.
 
#5
I realized I answered question #2 and not #1 :)

For a relatively vague and unhelpful answer on #1, it just takes time to develop finesse with the left until you don't sound like a ham handed orangutan beating the fretboard. I remember when I got my Stu Hamm bass video back in high school (?) and just constantly hitting rewind, swearing, having my mom come in and tell me to stop swearing...hitting rewind...it came eventually (and I'm still no Stu).

I recall doing an exercise where you pretend you're playing with a simple kick-snare-hat-snare beat (or get a drum machine):

Kick : thumb
Snare : left hand mute/slap
Hat : thumb (or once you have the swing of it, use an index pluck)
Snare : left hand mute/slap

Kind like a disco beat...but that's where it's at with slapping IMO ;)
 
#6
for harmonics, maybe hit it and bounce off really quickly. a fraction of a second of contact with a string can deaden or lessen the brightness of the sound. thats all i got... didnt know people did that left hand slapping business... interesting...
 
#7
gscroggin said:
However, I checked out the video for Track 5 (metal sounding thang) and he's got monster tone there.
Click to expand...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/inimitable-metallic-slap-tone-754762/

TOOL460002 said:
for harmonics, maybe hit it and bounce off really quickly. a fraction of a second of contact with a string can deaden or lessen the brightness of the sound. thats all i got...
Click to expand...

That's actually really helpful for harmonic slapping, but I'm still trying to figure out harmonic popping. I still hear a clear fretboard-bounce on the Tom Thumb video, so I'm still unconvinced that it's just plucking.
 
#8
Invisible_Kid said:
That's actually really helpful for harmonic slapping, but I'm still trying to figure out harmonic popping. I still hear a clear fretboard-bounce on the Tom Thumb video, so I'm still unconvinced that it's just plucking.
Click to expand...

when im just slapping non harmonic double stops, i really dig in. you can smack down with your thumb as you normally do, but pop the double stop harmonics with a lighter touch. you can get rid of fretboard clack.

if you can play with longer finger nails (i cant... feels odd...) you could try getting nail on string contact. if youre just popping it normally, its all fleshy pad popping, so it wont be as bright.

the best way to get them to ring clear in fast slapping with double stop harmonics is to use your thumb normally, but rake the harmonics with your pointer or middle finger finger kinda flamenco style.

EDIT: oh, another thing that you can try is using your thumb to hit two strings (max i can do). its less aggressive than popping, but the finger nail will still beat that technique (its still a good one to learn if you havent; very useful).
 

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