Slap/pop right hand question

[ieatlitlehamstr]

Hey everyone, this is my first post on this forum, whoo hoo. I was wondering if you could help me with some questions, and I am sorry if this has been asked before but I did a search and came up with nothing. I am learning slap/pop bass and have been working on it off and on for about a month. For some reason when I am popping my automatic action is to use my ring finger. Will this cause problems in the future? In all the guides I have read to slap and pop they state to use your index or middle, is there a reason for this? I assume that as with fingerstyle that I will eventually get the hang of using more than one finger to pop with so I am wondering if this is really a proplem.

 

[BIGBOTTOMBASS]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I use my ring finger every once in a while for some strange reason also. What you should do is start with that ring finger, wait until it turns into mush, go over to your middle finger, wait until that goes into a coma, finally move to your pointing finger. Next thing you know you are plucking with all three fingers. That is what I basically did, but I started with my first finger.

Hope that helps

Mark White

 

[Jon Moody]

Yeah, as long as you're not feeling pain in your hand from using it, you should be fine. I use three fingers for popping regularly; depending on the line being played usually dictates which finger does what.

 

[gregmerrill]

You need to use both the ring finger and the index finger if not all four. I only use the 1st and ring finger. You will want to be able to play passages with just these fingers and no thumb. You better believe Wooten does at least that much if not much more. Take any exercise and try playing it like you normaly do with plucking but just pop it instead. If your walking a bass line walk it by poping the 1st and 2nd finger ect and build speed until your fluent.

 

[gregmerrill]

I meant 1st and 2nd finger

 

[ieatlitlehamstr]

Hey thanks for the replies guys. I am going to try and work on my other fingers but keep going with my ring to get the hang of it. My initial question was mainly pointing to beginning slap/pop playing and not anything beyond that, as i know that as with standard plucking eventually you will use two fingers and then three and so on.

 

[gregmerrill]

Yeah I use to use just my 1st finger but then by mistake I did it with my 2nd finger and then starting using both. It really makes me more fluent and accurate using both. A common sense argument a man who walks on 2 legs will walk better than the man with one leg

 

[Pettson]

I think Flea mostly pops with his ring finger to =)

 

[iamlowsound]

I think Flea mostly pops with his ring finger to =)

While he might groove like a mad man, he isn't exactly a master of proper technique. Pop with your index and middle, it will be easier to transition between fingerstyle and slapping within a run if you keep the fingers consistent.

lowsound