RH slap question

[pharmakon]

What part of the thumb do you use to actually slap the strings? Been watching a lot of videos (thanks to the sticky above!) and haven't really found one that shows this. A lot look different, too. It seems that it's mostly the meaty part under the nail, but some look like they're using their knuckles, and other look like it's the center of the thumb pad!

Some also look like they are coming straight down on the string, while others almost have a strumming action.


What are some preferred techniques out there?

 

[Skitch it!]

For me it's on the joint of the thumb, the stirrup of bone in line with the joint, my thumb is kept quite parallel with the string so it works individually on that string without disturbing the others, keeping it parallel (ish) is also easier for doublethumb stuff, you can manoeuvre underneath the string for slapback without much repositioning and it's closer to your index for triplets.....that's my deal with it

 

[peledog]

I use the first joint bone on my thumb. 'Luckily' I broke that thumb when I was a kid, and it's curved perfectly for slapping. LOL

I thump more at the very end of the neck before the body.

This guy uses thump and pluck (with thumb) - and I've learned to do upstrokes with my thumb using his technique:



Obviously Larry Graham influence.

 

[Skitch it!]

I use the first joint bone on my thumb. 'Luckily' I broke that thumb when I was a kid, and it's curved perfectly for slapping. LOL

I thump more at the very end of the neck before the body.

This guy uses thump and pluck (with thumb) - and I've learned to do upstrokes with my thumb using his technique:



Obviously Larry Graham influence.

That guy has a great chunky aggressive slap style that'll cut in the mix...it's wicked! Much heavier than my thing it's a lot lighter than that

 

[alexgeddy]

he won;t be workin long lol

 

[pharmakon]

thanks for the input! I was looking for the super slo-mo on that video.. Damn!