Hello friends. Been playing bass for about 6 months now and I am trying out slapping on my PBass II. I think I'm hitting the strings too hard because I'm getting a clang instead of that funky Bing I should be getting. I don't believe my action is too high on the PBass. I brought it brand new. I have a Maple Fretboard, so I know it produces a brighter tone. Now I understand it's gonna take me a while to get the correct tone, and I do believe my wrist technique is sound where as I'm hitting the fret in the back and fourth position as I'm turning a door know per say. Understanding that different basses have different tones is a PBass good for slapping. Or would it be easier to get tone on another type of bass in general? After continuing to practice and not hit the strings so hard and sort of bounce my thumb on the strings I've gotten better tone, but still miles to go understandably. I prefer to play with my bass upright so my thumb is up as well. Any suggestions from more seasoned bass players would be very helpful because I really want to be the best bassists I can be. Thanks in advance
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Slapping Technique
- Thread starter Mr Goodnight
- Start date
You can slap the snot out of a P Bass. They're nice and heavy and that makes things easier. A couple of things will help and these apply to any bass:
A very low action
Bright medium light strings - I use Bass Boomers. Strings effect the slapping tone a lot. And, you need fairly new strings. Once the zing is gone then replace them.
Your amp should be set very scooped mids and boosted low end and high end.
Have a good amount of volume so you can hit softer.
Using a compressor helps but apply it sparingly
I used to play a P-Bass and could never get it to sound good on slap so I bought a J-Bass. Then I dedicated several years to slapping and got real good with it. Went back to try it on my P-Bass and found it was easier and sounded better, oh well.
I like to show this clip of mine because you see just how soft the slap action can be. I have my amp loud but play soft. So, you hear every nuance while my right hand stays very relaxed. During the verse, you can hear the light thumb bounces on the A played in the 5th fret of the E String. The pops are suttle and often muted for a percussive effect. Apologies that the camera is all over the place
A very low action
Bright medium light strings - I use Bass Boomers. Strings effect the slapping tone a lot. And, you need fairly new strings. Once the zing is gone then replace them.
Your amp should be set very scooped mids and boosted low end and high end.
Have a good amount of volume so you can hit softer.
Using a compressor helps but apply it sparingly
I used to play a P-Bass and could never get it to sound good on slap so I bought a J-Bass. Then I dedicated several years to slapping and got real good with it. Went back to try it on my P-Bass and found it was easier and sounded better, oh well.
I like to show this clip of mine because you see just how soft the slap action can be. I have my amp loud but play soft. So, you hear every nuance while my right hand stays very relaxed. During the verse, you can hear the light thumb bounces on the A played in the 5th fret of the E String. The pops are suttle and often muted for a percussive effect. Apologies that the camera is all over the place
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Excellent tips from tshapiro.
The thumb really doesn't have to strike hard. At first I was banging it and having problems. Now most of the time its really light. I can just flick the thumb and get the right thump tone.
One tip I would also mention, crank up the tone knob. Maybe not to full, adjust to taste. This will help.
This one doesn't really apply to your p bass, but for instance on a jazz bass make sure the neck pickup is cranked up as this will help as well.
Also as stated, new strings. if they arent bright and zinging, replace them.
The thumb really doesn't have to strike hard. At first I was banging it and having problems. Now most of the time its really light. I can just flick the thumb and get the right thump tone.
One tip I would also mention, crank up the tone knob. Maybe not to full, adjust to taste. This will help.
This one doesn't really apply to your p bass, but for instance on a jazz bass make sure the neck pickup is cranked up as this will help as well.
Also as stated, new strings. if they arent bright and zinging, replace them.
Thankyou both for the thoughts and ideas. I shall use those to try to improve my slapping. 
I know bounce versus slapping "through" the strings, and clanking off the frets has been covered, but keep your wrist completely locked with your thumb loose. I always say it's like the sound of one hand clapping (not my video, but this illustrates the concept):
In the same way that you have to keep your wrist/thumb locked/stiff and your other fingers loose to clap with one hand, you will likely find it easier to thumb slap with everything but the thumb stiff. This may change a bit with more advanced techniques, but this is the foundation I would advise.
In the same way that you have to keep your wrist/thumb locked/stiff and your other fingers loose to clap with one hand, you will likely find it easier to thumb slap with everything but the thumb stiff. This may change a bit with more advanced techniques, but this is the foundation I would advise.
Are you smacking the strings into the pickup, where the string physically touches the pickup?
Learned fast not to do that on my new Yamaha bass!
Learned fast not to do that on my new Yamaha bass!
Yes this happens a lot on P basses when slapping. If so you have to set the pickup lower.
I'll take it for a professional to look at. But if I set them too low I'll get fret buzz correct?
The big nasty noise comes from a string hitting a/the pickup. Lowering the pickup has no impact on fret-buzz, or action. Within reason, you want pickups close to the strings, but not so close you push the strings into the pickups.
Just look at your slapping thumb in action. Is it whacking the string into the pickup? If you are doing it, you will see and hear it if you watch your thumb and the pickup.
In my case, I just avoid slapping on top of the pickup. I slap at the edge of neck, though on my other bass, I actually prefer to slap over the neck pickup.
If you can see that you are smacking the string into the pickup, just tighten the screws on the pickup, but don't force anything. In my experience, the pickup screws are one of the least precise parts of a bass. You probably just have phillips screws, but be sure to have the right size screwdriver. There is generally foam, rather than a spring, under the pickup.
Adjusting pickup height is one of the easiest adjustments you can make. Just be sure to have the right size screwdriver with a good bit, and you want the pickup a little closer to the G string than the E string. I you have the pickup the same distance from E as G, the G string will sound "thin" and soft, and you'll have to pluck the G string harder.
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The strings aren't hitting the pickups. I'm slowly getting better sound. I'm thinking it's just gonna take some time. I believe my set up is good overall.
I was looking carefully tonight while playing for a few and slapping. The strings aren't hitting the pickups and I do slap at the edge of the neck as you suggested. I'm starting to get better sound the more I do it. I think I just need time to get use to doing it.
One trick that you can apply to slap as well as fingerstyle, but can especially make a difference in developing your thumb technique:
Turn your bass/amp up louder than you would normally play. If you attack the string too hard it will be way too loud. So experiment with pressure to find the absolute minimum amount of effort required to produce a note. Rather than bashing your thumb onto the string, let the amp do the work and use your thumb just enough to make a note, but not any harder.
The same goes for plucking (or popping) the strings with your right hand. You don't have to yank the string halfway off the fretboard and let it snap back down. Even a very slight hook and release will give a nice crisp sound. You also don't need to use your entire finger, hooking the string with just the bare minimum of contact to produce a note will make it easier to play and probably save you some hand pain down the road.
If you watch Victor play, he's very efficient, using minimal motion which allows him to play faster and cleaner. You can always "turn up" your right hand and attack a little harder for a different sound, but if you get into the habit of always hitting the strings as hard as you can then you have nowhere to go dynamically.
Turn your bass/amp up louder than you would normally play. If you attack the string too hard it will be way too loud. So experiment with pressure to find the absolute minimum amount of effort required to produce a note. Rather than bashing your thumb onto the string, let the amp do the work and use your thumb just enough to make a note, but not any harder.
The same goes for plucking (or popping) the strings with your right hand. You don't have to yank the string halfway off the fretboard and let it snap back down. Even a very slight hook and release will give a nice crisp sound. You also don't need to use your entire finger, hooking the string with just the bare minimum of contact to produce a note will make it easier to play and probably save you some hand pain down the road.
If you watch Victor play, he's very efficient, using minimal motion which allows him to play faster and cleaner. You can always "turn up" your right hand and attack a little harder for a different sound, but if you get into the habit of always hitting the strings as hard as you can then you have nowhere to go dynamically.
It's most probably a technique thing. First thing with slapping, just like with finger picking, is coordination between two hands.
Second thing is to get right (slap) hand just right, and usualy it's too heavy. You are not realy slapping, more like precussing on a tiny drum just over the last fret (or after one). Hit needs to be precise and quick. Try drumming with your thumb on a table surface and getting clear defined percussive sound.
Second thing is to get right (slap) hand just right, and usualy it's too heavy. You are not realy slapping, more like precussing on a tiny drum just over the last fret (or after one). Hit needs to be precise and quick. Try drumming with your thumb on a table surface and getting clear defined percussive sound.
- Extend your arm and do a thumbs up
- Now rotate your wrist until the thumb points to the other arm
