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Slap: To bounce, or not to bounce?

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by bman, Nov 10, 2001.

  1. Nov 10, 2001 #1
    bman

    bman

    Dec 4, 2000
    Sandown, N.H., USA
    I've read through a lot of the slap threads, but I'm curious what you think...

    I've recently committed myself to learning a little slap. I used to mess around a little and slap by bouncing my hand off the string. Sounded fine.

    After working on "Classical Thump" for a while, I watched a Victor Wooten video where he teaches a different technique where you slap THROUGH the string and let your thumb rest on the next string down. I've seen it discussed here plenty. My question is this: It's easier to bounce. Is it worth working on the new technique?

    It's a little harder, (possibly because it's a totally new thing for me) but I get a much clearer and bell-like slap if I just bounce instead of slapping through.

    However, I can see that if I really work at slapping through the string, it'll allow for double thumb technique.
    Even when my technique is fairly clean, I get a different tone from the two styles.

    How do you do it? Is bouncing actually a simpler yet less effective way of doing it?

    Does anyone use both techniques - alternating when each suits the piece?
     
  2. Nov 11, 2001 #2
    FeTiS

    FeTiS

    Feb 23, 2001
    your backyard spying on you
    by bouncing, im assuming you just mean basically hitting the string straight on with your thumb or finger or whatever you use, and thats how i've tought myself. although, i find you sometimes hit the other strings with your palm and other parts of your hand, but with practise it goes away. all i really have to say is: i learned to play slap by watching les claypool slap, and he is damned good at it.