Honestly, to me from a tone perspective all you need is both pickups up full, a little less treble and then adjust mids to taste. Pretty simple. Slap technique takes time and practice, and it really helps to have a teacher. There was a book called "Slap it" by Tony Oppenheim that was/is the classic instruction book—it used to come with one of those little vinyl records in the back of the book to listen to the exercises. I think you can find it on YouTube. I was never a fan of his tone but the exercises are invaluable.
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Slap/pop - Am I missing something?
- Thread starter The Big
- Start date
Don't take the word "slap" too literally, the technique doesn't require very much force for a good sound. When you release the string for a pop you want the string to hit the frets, but not too hard, and if the bass's action is too high then the pops won't sound good because you have to pull the string harder to get it to pop at all. Slaps sound worse with high action too.
(Yes there are exceptions, bassists who do slap hard or who make it work with high action, but the guy in the video with your desired tone is not one of them.)
I play a couple of songs that are mostly fingerstyle but that have a few little slap licks here and there, and I'm not adjusting EQ knobs in the middle of the song, I have amp EQ almost flat, bass's tone knob set near maximum (or on an active bass high EQ neutral, don't need to boost but don't cut), and both pickups on full - fingerstyle and slap/pop both sound good at those settings.
(Yes there are exceptions, bassists who do slap hard or who make it work with high action, but the guy in the video with your desired tone is not one of them.)
I play a couple of songs that are mostly fingerstyle but that have a few little slap licks here and there, and I'm not adjusting EQ knobs in the middle of the song, I have amp EQ almost flat, bass's tone knob set near maximum (or on an active bass high EQ neutral, don't need to boost but don't cut), and both pickups on full - fingerstyle and slap/pop both sound good at those settings.
Some people slap such that their thumb comes to rest on the adjacent (higher pitched) string, which I think can be more the motion needed for double-thumbing. But yes, setting your finger up for the pop as part of the slap motion is the normal thing either way.
Thank you all for the advice, it's been very useful. I adjusted my pickup height, lowered my action a bit, added some relief to the neck since it was dead-straight, overall fixed the previous owner's preferences, and it's not only easier to slap, but a hell of a lot easier to play fingerstyle.
I developed an awful blister on my first finger, which in all my time playing fingerstyle bass I'd never before experienced, so that tells me I've got a long ass way to go with slap technique, but I'm excited for the journey.
I developed an awful blister on my first finger, which in all my time playing fingerstyle bass I'd never before experienced, so that tells me I've got a long ass way to go with slap technique, but I'm excited for the journey.
Yeah, I never get blisters from fingerstyle with occasional slaps/pops thrown in, but last time I decided to practice a whole lot of slap songs in a row I got a blister on my index finger in a spot that I guess I don't use with fingerstyle. (Probably didn't help that I usually pop with my middle finger but for some reason that day I decided to switch things up and use my index.)
no left hand.. light touch.. one finger.. one thumb.. Palm on strings... 1 thump down with thumb.. 2 palm mute 3 pluck with finger 4 palm mute.. repeat.. wear your bass higher up.. til you get good.. forget being comfortable.. go slow...til you get the movement.. now the truth about you playing.. you will always suck at something.. I suck at bass playing.. but I do it anyway.. cause I like it and don't care what others think..
now the cheat is two hair ties tied at the headstock and the bridge.. double muting the easy way.. freed me up it to do double slap.. triples.. hammer ons.. glisandos.. multi finger tap slap.. 32nd and 64ths... if you want insta slap eq.. try.. just an eq pedal.. set.. for the slap.. set.. forget.. and ready to go
now the cheat is two hair ties tied at the headstock and the bridge.. double muting the easy way.. freed me up it to do double slap.. triples.. hammer ons.. glisandos.. multi finger tap slap.. 32nd and 64ths... if you want insta slap eq.. try.. just an eq pedal.. set.. for the slap.. set.. forget.. and ready to go
I'm coming at this from an audio engineer's perspective: your tone is fine. We will tweak it in the mix but all the positive elements are there.
As a bass player: your technique sounds forced, stiff, and nervous. Your post shares the same elements.
Settle in, take some breathes, relax, listen to yourself and have some fun with it. Keep playing and ask yourself where the tension lies? What's the thought process?
The video example you give as your goal tone (in post #1) is 100% both pickups fully on. Favoring either pickup is gonna take you further away from that goal. Not that you can't make it work (Mark King's tone is always favored slightly toward the bridge), but that is not what you've referenced. Start there, because both pickups full makes a lot of really useful and necessary phase-cancellation, which is the key to the sound.
So .... I'm sure everyone has a video they like or a book that is great. I learned a lot from this instructional video and book.
For me this was the gold standard for learning the basics of good slap technique.
Hope this helps, good luck.
For me this was the gold standard for learning the basics of good slap technique.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Nothing wrong with your tone. You don't need to mess about with EQ or setup (if you feel comfortable).
Unplug. Take your bass into the living room and watch tv. Slap the open E and practice making it right, muting it with the left hand to make it neat. Keep doing it. Throwing in pops should feel like a natural counter to a slap but it's all in the wrist and will become smooth with time. But don't get sidetracked with EQ and so forth which won't help.
You can try other fingers for popping - I find my middle finger feels more natural.
Unplug. Take your bass into the living room and watch tv. Slap the open E and practice making it right, muting it with the left hand to make it neat. Keep doing it. Throwing in pops should feel like a natural counter to a slap but it's all in the wrist and will become smooth with time. But don't get sidetracked with EQ and so forth which won't help.
You can try other fingers for popping - I find my middle finger feels more natural.
Oh my. Boy does this thread hit home with me. I have been telling myself I'm going to actually learn how to Really slap, for 50 years. (I've played professionally over 50yrs) I play more of a fake slap and pop, but not the real deal. Not well enough to meet my Own standards. I'll work at it for a while and then stop practicing it and go back to my comfort zone of finger style. Since I never get calls that are solid full time slap type gigs, I'll probably rationalize that it wasn't necessary. I've never gotten to the point where I feel comfortable slapping full-time and it has hurt me professionally. Not practicing enough to be fluent has stunted my musical growth and professional success. Just this month, I've started working on it again. Like so many people I said I would do all these things while we are stuck at home with Covid, but even after 10 months I haven't, until last couple of weeks. So, thank you, for a small kick in the ass. I realize once again I need to start from (not quite) square one basics because my technique sucks. Practice
S L O W L Y is, for me at least critical. Because when you rush my technique gets sloppy. The guys I like are generally very precise, not at all sloppy. The two vids above are good starting points. I have worked on some of Stu Hamm's old videos so I'll dig them out as well. I'm a few decades behind, but I know You can teach an old dog new tricks because I even quit drinking after 45 years. LOL.
And to you, @The Big, I wish you patience and good luck with your journey in quest of slap.
S L O W L Y is, for me at least critical. Because when you rush my technique gets sloppy. The guys I like are generally very precise, not at all sloppy. The two vids above are good starting points. I have worked on some of Stu Hamm's old videos so I'll dig them out as well. I'm a few decades behind, but I know You can teach an old dog new tricks because I even quit drinking after 45 years. LOL.
And to you, @The Big, I wish you patience and good luck with your journey in quest of slap.
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A few things.
Sounds to me you need to focus on your left hand technique, which is damping and slapping some ghost notes as well to make the stuff your right hand does come out way better.
Check out this video from around the 3 minute mark onward to see what I mean.
Secondly, like some others said before a jazz bass sounds the most snappy at a 50/50 pickup blend so that might be where you want to keep it.
Third thing: You want your bass to be set up correctly for a great slapping tone. This means a near straight neck and low action across the fretboard.
Last thing: In your example video, the bass tone sounds produced meaning I think he's got a compressor mixed in the game. Compressors can really spice up your slap sound and give it more punch. Great examples are the Aguilar TLC and Cali76cb compressors. First do focus on sounding good without a compressor though. Think of comps as the icing on the cake.
Sounds to me you need to focus on your left hand technique, which is damping and slapping some ghost notes as well to make the stuff your right hand does come out way better.
Check out this video from around the 3 minute mark onward to see what I mean.
Secondly, like some others said before a jazz bass sounds the most snappy at a 50/50 pickup blend so that might be where you want to keep it.
Third thing: You want your bass to be set up correctly for a great slapping tone. This means a near straight neck and low action across the fretboard.
Last thing: In your example video, the bass tone sounds produced meaning I think he's got a compressor mixed in the game. Compressors can really spice up your slap sound and give it more punch. Great examples are the Aguilar TLC and Cali76cb compressors. First do focus on sounding good without a compressor though. Think of comps as the icing on the cake.
I saw a lot of replies about tone adjustments etc... But from what I hear it's your technique more than anything else. For slap to be right you have to be smooth and 100% in the groove. The rest will follow.
I'd schedule some lessons with Anthony Wellington. He is an outstanding teacher and a master at slap/pop, along with many other styles.
Bassology – Bassology: Anthony Wellington's Bass and Music Theory School
Bassology – Bassology: Anthony Wellington's Bass and Music Theory School
I'm terrible at slapping so I can't give any advice on technique. But I will say that a compressor is going to go a long way toward getting you the tone you seek. I don't use one, but I don't slap. if I were in your position I would have a good comp as an always-on part of my signal chain. If you don't have one or you aren't familiar with how to use one, there's lots of good advice on TB and plenty of Youtube videos that explain it.
Other than that, your bass is fine, so focus on technique.
Other than that, your bass is fine, so focus on technique.
Technique. Work on it.
Yes the EQ is crucial for a good sound but
if the technique is not there it won't sound like the Pros.
Yes the EQ is crucial for a good sound but
if the technique is not there it won't sound like the Pros.
Yeah, it takes a while.
When I started, I used to get pains in my shoulder too. I used to tense up, and move my arm/hand pretty wildly, too much movement. It's hard to have any control like that but... that's all I could manage! Little by little I got more relaxed, my movements more economical, and as a result I could play better, more cleanly, and faster too when I had to.
It's a journey!
REcord yourself from time to time. Then, when you feel down because you're not progressing, listen to older recordings. You'll realise how much you've progressed then. Sometimes I feel like I learn nothing and I'm stuck, but it's just because the improvement is slowly progressive and I don't notice much from day to day... hearing yourself and noticing the progress can be a good encouragement to continue.
I think this is the first step. Both pickups wide open and notch/cut mids. If your eq is parametric I think around 550hz is where to cut. On a jazz the high mids should come through easy enough. Boost the lows and the treble.
This should give you more Marcus Miller vs Flea. Keep in mind Flea wasn't using fenders on the slap happy RHCP stuff, so you won't get HIS tone but you should be able to get a pretty respectable jazz bass slap tone this way. Keep us posted!
I listened to your Soundcloud sample. In my opinion, the reason your pops sound inconsistent with your slaps, is that your thumb-slaps are legato (long sustain, allowing the notes to ring out) whereas your finger-pops are staccato (short sustain, with more silence between the notes). I can actually see it visually, when I look at the waveform.
My suggestion is to practice controlling the duration of your notes: Experiment with short, staccato thumb-slaps, and vice versa, experiment with long, sustained finger-pops.
I disagree that you need to go shopping for a new bass, amp, effects, strings, etc. You are well within "striking distance" of a good slap tone, with the gear you have now.
Technique counts big time! Agree this can be solved without spending any more money.
