I've been playing bass for about 2 years, and only in the last 3 months or so have I played around with slapping. I started super simple--octaves on E and D strings. After that, I moved to the A and G strings, and that's where I started having issues. I keep practicing it, but no matter what I do, when I slap the A, I end up hitting the E just barely. I have really big meaty hands and fingers, I don't know if that's the problem, or it it's my technique, or positioning of my thumb, or if it's a muting issue? I've tried to come up with a way to mute the E while slapping the A, and the only answer I could find was using the LH thumb, but that's just too unnatural. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I need to get past this before I can move on.
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Slapping issues
- Thread starter kintrap
- Start date
Using the LH thumb to mute the E while slapping notes on the A string is pretty standard. It feels natural to me at least, but I've been doing this for decades.
The solution to getting the separate strings thumbed cleanly and precisely is the solution nobody wants to hear : Practice. In this case, you simply have to train your mind and body to be familiar with the geography of the bass through very slow repetition that can be built up to speed over time.
It also helps to play along with songs that use techniques you're working on. I'd try Boz Scagg's "Lowdown" to work on slapping the A string cleanly.
The solution to getting the separate strings thumbed cleanly and precisely is the solution nobody wants to hear : Practice. In this case, you simply have to train your mind and body to be familiar with the geography of the bass through very slow repetition that can be built up to speed over time.
It also helps to play along with songs that use techniques you're working on. I'd try Boz Scagg's "Lowdown" to work on slapping the A string cleanly.
How do you practice? Is it aimless or focused? If focused you need to start at the basics. Slap up the 5th fret and back down on each string. Then do the same but 2 times each then 3 times each. Then skip strings from E to D and A to G and back down. Just sit and do that until you can do it without missing. Once you get it down, do this while you watch TV and are focused on other stuff. Just do it all the time and you will see improvement.
I mean, I can't slap the A a single, focused time with enough power to actually slap it against the fretboard and not also hit the E. I think there is something fundamentally wrong with my technique, but I've watched dozens of videos on slap technique and I can't figure it out.
Go slap the A string, but freeze right when you hit the string. Pay attention to the thumb. Keep pushing te string with your thumb until it reaches the fretboard. Find what angle you have to position the thumb to do this without touching the E string. Note the hand/thumb position. This is the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM displacement your thumb/hand/wrist will have when hitting the A string.
Now, practice hitting the string extremely lightly while maintaining the hand position you just discovered. Once you can reliably hit it at the softest possible volume, then start increasing speed/volume SLOWLY.
In order to fix technique, you have to address the broken mechanic.
I have the feeling that your thumb might be angled too far down. When I started slapping, I realized I had to raised straight in order to get my thumb in a horizontal, slightly upwards position.
Now, practice hitting the string extremely lightly while maintaining the hand position you just discovered. Once you can reliably hit it at the softest possible volume, then start increasing speed/volume SLOWLY.
In order to fix technique, you have to address the broken mechanic.
I have the feeling that your thumb might be angled too far down. When I started slapping, I realized I had to raised straight in order to get my thumb in a horizontal, slightly upwards position.
I had the same revelation when I was learning how to slap properly (read: efficiently). I used to slap in a sort of Flea-like way and it worked well enough until I wanted to learn how to do other techniques such as the double-thumb and triplets and stuff. I found that a horizontal position made things much quicker, and therefore easier.
One thing that had to change though, was that I needed to raise the height of my bass... I don't know how low you wear your instrument but if you sling it low, consider moving it up a bit. I now wear mine on my chest, but not crazy high - it's just a little lower than it rests when I'm sitting down to practice.
