Muting E string while slapping

[Hedgehog_SBM]

I thought I'd find a big thread on this topic, but didn't. I'm starting to learn slap now. I have a great book for it, which at the start describes muting the E string with the left hand. Playing fingerstyle up to this point, muting the E with the thumb of the right hand is so natural and automatic that I find myself not muting with the left hand. I started trying to mute with the palm of the right hand, which is feeling more natural, and I expect will be more versatile, as I bet I'll need the left hand for many other things as I progress.

What do you do for E string muting while playing slap? What would you suggest a beginner to do?

 

[Cookye]

I fully endorse finding the Louis Johnson DVD. You can still purchase it on the net.

 

[bassRunner]

http://www.youtube.com/user/MarloweDK?feature=CAwQwRs=

Check out these lessons. I remember one of the vids discussing left hand muting. Also, the left hand slap gives a similar effect.

Additionally, I've purchased Ed Friedland's slap bass dvd. I'd recommend it, but the above youtube resource is free.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I actually find the left hand for open muting is much easier, you just have to close your fist. Muting with the right hand seem extremely difficult to me, especially since I am trying to slap and pop with that hand. To each their own.

I learned a lot of stuff from Berklee's slap bass book.

 

[mcnach]

mute with your index finger in your fretting hand.

 

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Thanks a lot for the quick responses. Here's a concrete example - the "first(?)" song that used slap - Larry Graham on "Thank You". The sound that he produces is so clean on each note - each are staccato, except for the single open E that rings a little bit (which is such an awesome contrast):

G -------------9---7---9---------------9---7----|
D ----------------------------------------------|
A ----5---7------------------5---7--------------|
E -7--------------------------------------------|
s s s p p p s s p p


G -------------9---7----9---------------9----7--|
D ----------------------------------------------|
A -----5---7-----------------5/7----------------|
E -7------------------------------0-------------|
s s s p p p s s p p

Now, when I play this, I've got the pops down clean. But if I keep my right palm off the strings, the slaps tend to ring. And since I'm fretting with the left hand, I don't have optimal placement for the muting, so I get overtones if I try. I'm trying to get those clean, staccato slapped notes.

If I play the slaps, *then* put the heel of my palm against the strings, then they all mute well, and I can follow with clean pops. The feeling is like I'm tucking the bass in a bit more tightly with the right hand forearm and hand. Seems to clean the single tones up a lot - not perfect yet, but it's getting close now.

But is this technique going to slow me down and lead to bad habits? It's nothing like Flea, whose right hand seems to be flying all over the place.

RSVP - you people are really helpful ! Thanks in advance.

 

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Bassrunner - wow - those are great beginner's slap lessons on the YouTube site you mention. I'm going to run through them all.

I'll check out the Louis Johnson DVD too - thx Cookye!

 

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Any more comments on how you would mute strings on "Thank you" ? (see TAB above)
I expect it's very basic.

Thanks.

 

[topo morto]

And since I'm fretting with the left hand, I don't have optimal placement for the muting, so I get overtones if I try.

don't quite understand that.... when I try playing that line, my index finger lies across the strings like a barre on the slapped notes, so it's pretty easy to mute with it.... not sure if that's what mcnach meant....

 

[Groove Master]

I use the bottom palm side of the right hand.

Check out this [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] to get a ton of exercises that help gain control of your attack.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I use the bottom palm side of the right hand.

Check out this [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] to get a ton of exercises that help gain control of your attack.

I did that too, it just feels natural to me and I don't have to use my fretting hand thumb to mute the strings ( which I consider a not-so-great technic ).

 

[topo morto]

.... for the E string, yeah, I guess muting with the heel of the right hand.

I think with muting in general I use LH for strings above and including the one I'm playing, and RH for those below and including the one I'm playing. Sometimes there are passages that need you to think a bit more and find a spare body part to mute with!