Slap Bass - Beginner Problem

[Keejeejee0]

Hi peeps!

I'm new here on Talk Bass (or forums in general) and I thought I would come here for help! I have recently started to try slapping and surprisingly, I am kinda getting the hang of it. For me the thumbing part is easy (I align my thumb parallel to the strings). The problem is that whenever my thumb is in its position and I try to pop with my index or middle finger, it gets stuck under the string. I can pop fine when my thumb is not aligned with the strings but when its not, i can never position my popping finger correctly so that it doesn't get stuck.

All replies are appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Tom

 

[fearceol]

What type of reply did you expect.....except.... PRACTICE ?

 

[bholder]

Practice doesn't help if you're not performing the technique correctly (speaking about myself, not OP). I still can't get slap, no matter how many videos I watch, they never show the thumb movement clearly and slowly enough for me to see what's actually happening (or perhaps I'm just too much of a spaz with my right thumb), but I ain't got it, and practicing wrong doesn't help. I now understand why so many slap players wear their basses so high, to get the thumb more parallel to the strings, but I still find it uncomfortable, and I still can't figure out just what my thumb is supposed to do. Maybe it's because slapping involves twisting the entire forearm rather than moving fingers, but I seem not to have fine enough motor control or something.

 

[Keejeejee0]

Practice doesn't help if you're not performing the technique correctly (speaking about myself, not OP). I still can't get slap, no matter how many videos I watch, they never show the thumb movement clearly and slowly enough for me to see what's actually happening (or perhaps I'm just too much of a spaz with my right thumb), but I ain't got it, and practicing wrong doesn't help. I now understand why so many slap players wear their basses so high, to get the thumb more parallel to the strings, but I still find it uncomfortable, and I still can't figure out just what my thumb is supposed to do. Maybe it's because slapping involves twisting the entire forearm rather than moving fingers, but I seem not to have fine enough motor control or something.

Practice doesn't help if you're not performing the technique correctly (speaking about myself, not OP). I still can't get slap, no matter how many videos I watch, they never show the thumb movement clearly and slowly enough for me to see what's actually happening (or perhaps I'm just too much of a spaz with my right thumb), but I ain't got it, and practicing wrong doesn't help. I now understand why so many slap players wear their basses so high, to get the thumb more parallel to the strings, but I still find it uncomfortable, and I still can't figure out just what my thumb is supposed to do. Maybe it's because slapping involves twisting the entire forearm rather than moving fingers, but I seem not to have fine enough motor control or something.[/QUOTE

Hey, about the thumb technique. I suggest that you watch the beginning of this video. It helped me so much.



Even if you don't want to do the double thumb thing that it shows in the video, it works fine normally as well. Just relax your wrist, and move it as if you're twisting a door handle. Prior to this video, I have been hitting the strings with my thumb and lifting it off, but I've found that hitting it and resting it on the next string works and feels way better for me. It takes practice to get used to tho, just like what fearceol said.

 

[bholder]

Thanks, I've watched the Vic Wooten video and others. One thing I notice in every slap video or instruction site I have ever seen - everyone who is good at it seems to have a thumb that bends way back at the first knuckle - mine don't, at all. Can anyone with this "straight thumb deficiency" describe how they slap?
I also seem to have sprained my right wrist, so I probably won't be trying to slap for a few days.

 

[Keejeejee0]

Bump.

We need the slap wisdom from professionals on this site! Please, anybody! We are desperate for proper technique!

 

[Jrussblues]

Slapping and popping is simply creating a rhythm with your notes. Sometimes you don't even play notes at all.
When I first got into slapping and popping I was learning on a passive 125 dollar bass with high action and a bent neck so I spent some time and figured out that highs and lows were importantant to reproducing the sound. So I cut the mids a little on my amp and went from there.
The next thing I figured out was that you are using the fingerboard to create a percussive sound, so I lowered the acion and went from there.
Along the way I learned to start slow and play to the string that was in front of me, no string slaps or pops the same way so it took some time to figure out what actually sounded right on each string. Then I adapted my technique accordingly.
Keeping my thumb and wrist loose and my index and pointer tight really helped me in the early days. Learning how to make the two work together so that I could get a thunk pop thunk pop sound took a little time too, but I still have a lot of fun with it now and my technique is constantly changing. The most important point is that you develop a rhythm and understanding of when where and how to use the technique once you figure out the mechanics. It can take away as much as it can add.

 

[Rio Haride]

Hi peeps!

I'm new here on Talk Bass (or forums in general) and I thought I would come here for help! I have recently started to try slapping and surprisingly, I am kinda getting the hang of it. For me the thumbing part is easy (I align my thumb parallel to the strings). The problem is that whenever my thumb is in its position and I try to pop with my index or middle finger, it gets stuck under the string. I can pop fine when my thumb is not aligned with the strings but when its not, i can never position my popping finger correctly so that it doesn't get stuck.

All replies are appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Tom

My thought is your index or middle finger positioning is wrong. I suggest you to try pop the strings with your index finger first, cause it's very easy.

Here's my tips: put your index finger under the strings (practice it on D and G string first cause it's easier). When you pop the D or G string, try it at very slow tempo.

If your finger still stucked when you pop the string at very slow tempo, your techniques are probably wrong.

To pop the strings, put your index finger under the string. Pull the string at certain height. After that, RELASE your index finger from the string. The effect of RELEASING your string is, it will snapped into the fretboard. That's how popping sounds produced.

If you don't RELEASE your index finger after pulling the string, you index finger will forever get STUCKED.

Sorry for the capitalized words. I just want to make it clear.

 

[pravus]

The only thing I know to do is find a simple but non-tedious exercise to practice the hand position you want. Start with what you know and just keep a simple beat. Make small adjustments to your fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder as necessary to achieve the desired position. It sounds like you might just need a small wrist/thumb movement to move the fingers such that the tips hit the string rather than grasping all the way around. I find a lot of these issues just come down to simple body geometry/mechanics and you just kind of have to figure out how *you* work. Having a good feel in your hands helps a lot to make the small adjustments. You get that through repetition. Focus and keep practicing!

 

[The Bass Clef]

Thanks, I've watched the Vic Wooten video and others. One thing I notice in every slap video or instruction site I have ever seen - everyone who is good at it seems to have a thumb that bends way back at the first knuckle - mine don't, at all. Can anyone with this "straight thumb deficiency" describe how they slap?
I also seem to have sprained my right wrist, so I probably won't be trying to slap for a few days.

I thought I'd mention that there are 2 different (main) techiniques for slapping.. the "Flea" style, and the "Wooten/Marcus Miller" style. In the Flea style, the thumb is more parallel to the strings and even facing downward, and you hit the string with the 1st knuckle of your thumb.. While the Wooten/Miller style has the thumb up, almost like you're hitchhiking, and contact with the string is made more with towards the tip of the thumb so it can go right through the string and under it so you can pluck it again on the way back up (so you can get 2 notes outta one slap - if that makes sense). A lot of people will say that the wooten style is more efficient because it makes that double thumbing easier (and this is the style that the player's thumbs are usually more bent backwards, like you mentioned). I have learned to do both styles over the years, but it took a lot longer for me personally, to get comfy with the W/M style.. and I still find myself using the Flea style naturally.

Is one "better" than the other? I do not believe so. They both have their pros. The W/M style does make it so you can play certain lines faster, but I personally think the Flea techinique sounds harder and funkier. And I feel that, just as James Jamerson played hit after hit with only one plucking finger (which nowadays would be considered by many to be a "bad" technique), it's really all about the sound that comes out in the end that matters, not the technique so much IMO. So for you, I suggest trying the Flea style and see if that's easier for you.. it definitely was for me when I was learning. On a side note, I don't slap a lot in actual performances. I try to use it tastefully in fills and certain parts of songs for effect, but too much slap (to me) dulls the senses and gets old real fast. YMMV.

Here's a good video that Scott explains the 2 different slap styles better than I have, and he also believes you should do whatever works best for you...

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I thought I'd mention that there are 2 different (main) techiniques for slapping.. the "Flea" style, and the "Wooten/Marcus Miller" style. In the Flea style, the thumb is more parallel to the strings and even facing downward, and you hit the string with the 1st knuckle of your thumb.. While the Wooten/Miller style has the thumb up, almost like you're hitchhiking, and contact with the string is made more with towards the tip of the thumb so it can go right through the string and under it so you can pluck it again on the way back up (so you can get 2 notes outta one slap - if that makes sense). A lot of people will say that the wooten style is more efficient because it makes that double thumbing easier (and this is the style that the player's thumbs are usually more bent backwards, like you mentioned). I have learned to do both styles over the years, but it took a lot longer for me personally, to get comfy with the W/M style.. and I still find myself using the Flea style naturally.

Is one "better" than the other? I do not believe so. They both have their pros. The W/M style does make it so you can play certain lines faster, but I personally think the Flea techinique sounds harder and funkier. And I feel that, just as James Jamerson played hit after hit with only one plucking finger (which nowadays would be considered by many to be a "bad" technique), it's really all about the sound that comes out in the end that matters, not the technique so much IMO. So for you, I suggest trying the Flea style and see if that's easier for you.. it definitely was for me when I was learning. On a side note, I don't slap a lot in actual performances. I try to use it tastefully in fills and certain parts of songs for effect, but too much slap (to me) dulls the senses and gets old real fast. YMMV.

Here's a good video that Scott explains the 2 different slap styles better than I have, and he also believes you should do whatever works best for you...

You got me kind of confused.
You MIXED TOGETHER Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller styles.
In my opinion those Super Bass players have (more or less) different approach when it comes to Bass Slap.
Victor Wooten = 80% plus Double Thumb Slap, where
Marcus Miller = maybe +/- 20% (It's my approximate guess only)

Next, when Marcus Miller plays the regular Slap way (not the Double Thumb Slap way) he hits the strings, more or less, with his "1st knuckle of his thumb."

Only when he REALLY plays Double Thumb Slap, then he (and everybody else who uses the Double Thumb Slap technique) hits the string with the tip of the thumb.

Anyway, your comment was very interesting - no need to panic.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I was just mainly talking about the thumb up or down position. Both MM and Wooten play slap with the "hitchhiker" thumb up, as opposed to Flea's thumb down style. But yes, I agree Wooten does a lot more double thumbing with the tip of his thumb than MM. So yeah, their technique isn't necessarily the same, but more alike than the Flea technique I think. Cheers.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I was just mainly talking about the thumb up or down position. Both MM and Wooten play slap with the "hitchhiker" thumb up, as opposed to Flea's thumb down style. But yes, I agree Wooten does a lot more double thumbing with the tip of his thumb than MM. So yeah, their technique isn't necessarily the same, but more alike than the Flea technique I think. Cheers.

Here is another difference between MM and VW.

Take a look at Victor's other right hand fingers while he's Thumb-slapping:

Now, take a look at Marcus Miller's right hand fingers.
They are almost ALWAYS tightly closed like a fist.
It's almost impossible to see how Marcus Pops the string and with what finger.