Slapping techniques, ways?

[John Davis]

See! No one believed me when I told them that was the intro to Dig! I mentioned it a while ago, but no one payed attention to me. Well, I actually thought it was:

B|--2-2--2-2--2-2--|

But, I'm probably wrong.

 

[maxvalentino]

Well, so this has turned into a thread on tunings?
While I agree that it is important for all to learn fundamentals, I also think that experimentation, and "searching" on one's instrument is a good thing. Although I will temper this by adding that just de-tuning strings so they sound "heavier" or deeper or just flap across the fingerboard does not equal a new tuning. I use a lot of different tunings and just picked up some new ones from Michael Manring.
I have found that a tuning change can often instigate a flurry of creative thought, breaking away from preconceptions and cliches, but alone is just a tool. Some of the tools I use:
EADG; AbGbAbAb; CFBbEb; GCFBb; CGDG; CGDA; BbFBbF; CGFG; GBDA; EBDA; EAEB; BbFBbEb; CADG;
...oh, and there are more!
Max

 

[VoodooChile]

however max, the searching that would otherwise be done by the players are being done for them and they are just followers such as what this thread was about in the first place, wondering about the tuning for dig from mudvayne. there are alot of newbies out there that don't want to be trailblazers they just want to be good enough to play the songs that they like that they've heard on the radio instead of the songs that are playing in their head.

 

[Angus]

No, that "ping" you guys were talking about definitely came from the bass, in the opening. The guitar joins in later. Guitar World's songs are generally wrong in a couple places every time, but "Dig" wasn't even close.

The opening note is a B, btw, not a C#. And the popped notes are G and C#. It's not a tritone.

On the CD, there a couple songs where he tuned BEADG, according to my ears. Dig, and Death Blooms, and a couple others. Live, he plays them in his usual tuning, GCGCF, by transposing the song up a half step, so it sounds a little different live.

I, for one, will likely never tune differently. Standard for me!

 

[VoodooChile]

i might in the futur get some strings for a 7 string and tune down the two high strings to be tuned like a guitar unless there are actually sets for bass already tuned like this that aren't incredibly exspensive.

 

[NewWaveBasser]

One question and IT'S NOT ABOUT TUNING!

Any information on how slap and pop bassists can "slap-pop-slap" fast enough? No...not soloing... just the slap-pop-slap motion which is very quick. I'm talking about slapping a note, popping the one an octave higher and inmediately get a perfect slap again in a fluid motion. The problem I have is after the pop my thumb doesn´t come back for a perfect slap right after the pop. If there is a pause between pop and next slap I can do that.

Any feedback is appreciated...

 

[maxvalentino]

ok...try this: The motion you need to execute a good slap (and pop) is in the wrist. Imagaine that your hand, in a slapping position, is gripping a doorknob. The rotation of the wrist as you turn the doorknob is the same as going from thumb slap to finger pop, and then back again.
It really is not a overly physical thing. In fact, it is more a light touch and finesse which achieve this technique. Don't beat the string into submission! You thunmb should strike the string gently but firmly and quiuckly rotate away to allow the string to vibrate. The same with the pop action. you don't have to yank on the string, just get your finger under it and the rotation of the wrist will pull it away with enough strength and quickness to achieve the desired sound.
Try to keep you hand and wrist in about the same position, this allows to to repeat the motion without "getting lost". All the jumping and flailing you might see is all show...well flailing has its spot, too. Remember, it is not brutality used to get the tone....
Max

 

[Funk Warts]

I don't see how dropping to a C is a 'passing fad'. On 'Bleach' Nirvana drop to a C for 'Blew', because it gives a grungey feel. When you drop to a C it doesn't just affect the pitch, the general sound is a lot different too. Kyuss used to drop to C, and quite often B on a 4 string, as it gives a much 'bigger' sound for them. It's all down to opinion really...

 

[NewWaveBasser]

Thanx Max!

 

[luisnovelo]

I dont get the objective of the poll either.. I thought it was a joke, but, anyway..

I wanted to mention i HATE open tunings in bass...

some say that it makes somethings easier, but i storngly believe it´s more limitating than helping.. Most of the bassplayers I´ve known that use open tuning, are people who don´t know much about tunings and just follow their guitar player band mates who use an open tuning to play power chords faster (cause it realy helps guitar players play those chords much faster when playing heavy riffs), but i dont think any bass player who uses that tuning, plays fast riffs with power chords (I think that wouldn´t sound so good on bass). Other reason why they use open tuning, is because lots of the tabs you get on the WWW are made to play with those tunings..

I know many -rock- profesional bass players use open tunings also, but I repeat, I believe it´s limitating for playing most stuff.

 

[maxvalentino]

Just to clarify a few things: alternate tunings on bass are not "open" tunings. The term "open Tuning" refers to a type of guitar tuning inwhich the strings are tuned so that when they are played open(unfretted) they produce a chord. For instance, Keith Richards is very fond of open G, where strumming all the open strings produces a G maj chord. None of the bass tunings I have seen mentioned are open tunings.
Most of the alternate tunings memtioned here for bass (and on other threads) are just de-tuning. Standard tuning for the bass is in fourths. Changing the initial pitch from E to something else, but continuing with the intervals of fourths, really does not equate a "new" tuning....it is still fourths, just lower. Dropping just the E to D puts the interval between the 1st and 2nd string at a 5th, which break the cycle so to speak.
I learned a cool tuning from Michael Manring which is CGDG; so it goes 5th (C-G) 5th (G-D) 4th (D-G), and so new patterns and forms are uncovered. It is sort like an altered cello tuning.
When you try a new tuning, ask yourself is it just for a lower sound, but one where you can still use you standard and well practiced patterns and forms, or are you looking to really break out from your cliches, and seek out new sonic territory.
Max

 

[LimpyBizkit397]

Why can't u play longview without tuning the strings down a half step. I play it with standard tuning on my 4 string all the time.

 

[slapper3]

I'm guessing that's dig ( i havent read many other posts so dont freak out)

First: whoever said that the tuning was screwed up, something about a bass not havin a C string is a moron! Ryan Martinie( mudvyane) plays CGCGF so you can shut it....

and I think the intro to dig is something like this ( to my ears which sometimes aren't too good, but any how here goes...........

intro:
G------------------6-----------|
D------------------5-----------|
A------------------------------|
E------------------------------|
B--------0-0-------------------|

verse:
x3 x1
G------------------------|----------6\----|
D------------------------|----------5\----|
A------------------------|----------------|
E------------------------|-----2/---------|
B-2-3-2--02223202-2-3-2|--------00------|


not too good I dont think try it out........i hate tabs...........and yes I know this is in standard tuning instead of CGCGF so shut it!


Tony
P.S. - this post was pointless, sucked and it just falt out put me in a bad mood........

 

[slapper3]

my tab messes up so dont try to read it! match up the horiziontal bars and its the first part.....then play that 3 times....then play the slide as you see ( f#)(this screwed up0 then the two open b's( last two notes) then the chord!

The rest of my post has been edited since I've got no idea how to address others with respect. Someday I'll learn to express myself without resorting to personal attacks, and then my posts won't be edited!

 

[fleabass89]

Originally posted by LimpyBizkit397
Why can't u play longview without tuning the strings down a half step. I play it with standard tuning on my 4 string all the time.

You CAN, but it will be in E instead of Eb, which is on the record. I guess i'm picky

 

[Yvon]

Man!
you are funny!
I like it!!

 

[slapper3]

i apologize for my actions ( nobody saw them) but anyway that tritone businness is incorrect....it's the bass player playing a double stop...please watch the video.....I have cooled down a bit...and I'm now done with freakin out

 

[Yvon]

I'm the nice guy but pacman is the bad guy!
better have him on your good side, you will learn.

 

[Pacman]

Yep, Slapper, Yvon is Good Cop to my Bad cop. Thanks for the apology, and I'm glad you realize what the problem was. We'll now move on from here.

 

[slapper3]

alrighty......sorry again!