Slap technique

[HalfPlayer]

Any tips on my slap bass technique? I have been playing slap a little while and recently have been having trouble with slapping the E string when im trying to slap A string. What do you guys do?

 

[MonkeyBass]

Slow meticulous practice. And keep your thumb parallel to the string.

 

[mcblahflooper94]

Do a search. I don't want to be that guy, but slap is the MOST covered subject in this subforum, most likely. Thousands of threads

 

[TheJetsFan4Eva]

Do a search. I don't want to be that guy, but slap is the MOST covered subject in this subforum, most likely. Thousands of threads

+1 make sure you search the forum before you post a topic. but i would say to create different rhythms for yourself to make you comfortable with slapping.

 

[adamsmatthewj]

Put some Flatwounds on your bass and don't slap lol!

Ok sorry, that sounds a little negative, but lets be honest. The amount of slapping that a working bassist will do in the "real world" is so minuscule, it should probably be dead last on your list of things you're learning and working on.

 

[Prezel]

The amount of slapping that a working bassist will do in the "real world" is so minuscule, it should probably be dead last on your list of things you're learning and working on.

Should have told Marcus Miller, Flea, TM Stevens, Tim Commerford, Mark King, Larry Graham, Victor Wooten , Stanley Clarke, Robert Trujillo... the list goes on.

Electric Bass as an instrument appeared only just 1951... it´s not the time to set standards

For the OP: Left hand muting (respectively right hand for the lefties) is one key to proper slap on higher strings (A,D,G). Also try to keep the contact of your thumb on the string as short as possible. My teacher compared it to touching a hotplate. The tone itself will be much cleaner and with a more defined attack, whereas there will be less effect on the other strings even if you touch them accidentally

 

[Dellers]

Put some Flatwounds on your bass and don't slap lol!

Ok sorry, that sounds a little negative, but lets be honest. The amount of slapping that a working bassist will do in the "real world" is so minuscule, it should probably be dead last on your list of things you're learning and working on.

That depends entirely on what you play and what you like to do. If you play radio friendly pop with acoustic guitars or country it wouldn't fit, but it does fit in a lot of stuff besides that. I slap quite a lot, mostly during funk songs, but I don't limit it to that one genre. I slap quite a bit when playing metal for instance, mostly thumb work. Kinda gets me into the same street as pick players with an overdrive pedal, but sounds a little better tonewise to me since there is no box making half of my sound.

 

[Duckwater]

Put some Flatwounds on your bass and don't slap lol!

Ok sorry, that sounds a little negative, but lets be honest. The amount of slapping that a working bassist will do in the "real world" is so minuscule, it should probably be dead last on your list of things you're learning and working on.

I slap with flats and use it all the time whether I'm playing with my Rock band or one of my own solo pieces...

What is the "real world"?

 

[danielfnj96]

Just make sure your hitting the string hard and fast with the bone on the outer side of your thumb. If you don't know where it is feel your thumb until you find the hard bony spot opposite to your index finger.

 

[Hobobob]

Keep your thumb parallel to the string, and thump through the string. Gives it a much better fundamental and the tone is cleaner than just bouncing your thumb off the string. Start slow and work on your accuracy, then build your speed.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Try playing some exercises just using the thumb attack. Play major scales starting on both the E and A string..all slaps, no pops. Also work on string skipping exercise using the thumb attack. For example, slap all strings open with a quarter note rhythm..E string, D string, A string, G string..etc..you can make up your own patterns too.

Good luck!