Funny, Mark King plays with his thumb at 12 o'clock (with his bass strapped in the "bow tie" position 
) and I haven't heard many bassists who can slap better than him.
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I thought I was a 19mm guy until I learned to slap!! AGGGHHHHH!!!
- Thread starter Baird6869
- Start date
Funny, Mark King plays with his thumb at 12 o'clock (with his bass strapped in the "bow tie" position ) and I haven't heard many bassists who can slap better than him.rockstarbassist
Inactive
I learned to slap/pop from watching Claypool live vids.
I'm beyond "formal technique" at this point! 
I'm beyond "formal technique" at this point!
WOW! That is great!
I gotta admit thought... the beginning riff sounds a lot like something Les Claypool of Primus would do. Didn't realize how different Graham was.
That was the only thing holding me back on a Sadowsky. Now I have to find some money....I slap like Flea, I just change positions of slapping when I switch from the E to A string haha.
I spoke to Roger today on another item and we discussed this also. A Sadowsky or a Hipshot (Style A) would work perfectly. The Sadowsky is 18mm and the Hipshot will go even narrower. Both bridges aren't expensive IMO... just above $100.
I think I am going to leave it at 19mm as I still play my Sadowskys most of the time anyways and honestly like a bit of variety from time to time. Happy problem to have if I have to put down a Sadowsky and play a EBMM 20th Anni SR5 for a few funky songs!
Ok so is there a "proper" technique?
I always though the 3 o'clock position was proper, since it lets you get in between the strings which makes adapting to different string spacings easier. But, I just can't get as much meat behind it because my wrist is always higher than my thumb at the point that i make contact..
I always though the 3 o'clock position was proper, since it lets you get in between the strings which makes adapting to different string spacings easier. But, I just can't get as much meat behind it because my wrist is always higher than my thumb at the point that i make contact..
I don't think there is such a thing as "proper" - there are "better" methods to play with the thumb, but there are SO many variables that must be taken into account...
-arm length
-finger length
-playing position (bass slung high vs. low)
-overall posture
-playing over the edge of the fingerboard vs. closer to the bridge
-action and setup
-pickup position
Lonnybass
-arm length
-finger length
-playing position (bass slung high vs. low)
-overall posture
-playing over the edge of the fingerboard vs. closer to the bridge
-action and setup
-pickup position
Lonnybass
If you practice enough you can adjust to string spacing differences - just play more till you don't have to think about it.
yeah but I don't care how much you practice, if you slap with your thumb perpendicular to the string, muting is going to be more of a concern when you go to a smaller string spacing..
I spoke to Roger today on another item and we discussed this also. A Sadowsky or a Hipshot (Style A) would work perfectly. The Sadowsky is 18mm and the Hipshot will go even narrower. Both bridges aren't expensive IMO... just above $100.
I think I am going to leave it at 19mm as I still play my Sadowskys most of the time anyways and honestly like a bit of variety from time to time. Happy problem to have if I have to put down a Sadowsky and play a EBMM 20th Anni SR5 for a few funky songs!
Thats sounds great. Way to get my GAS going!
