slapping without a thumb?

[kiennbrd]

being a stereotypical boy when i was younger, i managed to break lots of bones. I have nerve damage in my thumb so badly that its almost as if everything from the joint up to the nail is dead. I have enough movement to rest my thumb on a pickup but not enough to slap. At least in any way of slapping i know of. Are their any alternative ways? maybe using another finger somehow? Its horribly frustrating and depressing. I've thought about relearning how to play left handed. But because of the same injury i can't turn my right arm enough to fret left handed. Thanks.

 

[PoundinThunder]

try maybe using the joint part? i dont uses anything above that unless im double thumbing or something

 

[DWBass]

Yeah, Doug Wimbush and Sekou Bunch have alternative methods of slapping. Look them up on youtube. I think you can see Sekou Bunch on BassplayerTV. I've seen Victor Bailey do something different as well.

 

[newbold]

upright rockabilly players slap with their hands.

You have 4 fingers...and all a 'slap is' is striking the string with a digit, hitting a high fret.

If you work it with your fingers then tapping and 2 handed fretting isn't too far.

And from THAT, you might just be the next next next virtuoso...

You're very welcome.

Please send me copies of your records and the photos of your back stage love ins - or polite sunday potlucks...whichever turns out to be your thing when you start bringing your light to the world.

 

[jmac]

You can try developing your own technique to compensate for your thumb issue. It may be more difficult but it can be done. Try just slapping with your index finger. Like you're going to tap. I used this method once in a while.

 

[agreatheight]

 

[Largedon]

I've seen Wimbish slap using the fingers, but of course, he's a freak of nature. You can actually slap with the pointer and middle finger and then pop with the ring finger. I can do it just screwing around, nothing great mind you, but with some work I think it could be a very viable way of doing it and might really lend itself to some speed slap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0WiyG62QQ

Here's a link to a Wimbish solo slapping with fingers. You gotta skip ahead a little and please forgive me for making you listen to Cissy Strut

 

[dannoman]

I feel violated from watching that......




seriously, that was freakin funny...

 

[CoffeeBass]

Hope it gives you some ideas.

cheers,

Coffee.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

i was in L.A. a couple of years ago doing some shows and i came across this player who's name escapes me but the way he slaped did not. He was a finger and all he done was to tap the strings right at the point they left the neck against the last fret. He done it with one finger and it was great, the he done it with a left right two finger style and it was amazing. but when he done it with three and four fingers and slaping chords... well.... So it can be done if you think out the box.

 

[2x4strgkramers]

what the Indian gentlemen there is doing is a great way to imitate that fieldy tone from Korn that alot of guys just love.

If you can solidly rest your thumb then you can use you finger to slap and this may be very adventageous for you if you devlope the required speed becuase you will have 4 fingers that can slap and never move a thing. I may be working on this today.

Good ideas guys.

Damn...I never needed to see that...


Check out this indian bassist with some crazy percussion based technique.



Hope it gives you some ideas.

cheers,

Coffee.

 

[HaVIC5]

what the Indian gentlemen there is doing is a great way to imitate that fieldy tone from Korn that alot of guys just love.

While the tone certainly is in the Korn "click-click" vein, what he's actually doing is far more complex rhythmically - he's immitating (somewhat successfully) the tabla rhythms with his right hand, and his actually "touch" looks to be relatively light compared to the Fieldy bitchslap method.

 

[2x4strgkramers]

good disection but sometimes the fieldy bitch slap gets it dne and this is a good way to imatate that sound. Also his style is interesting. I was toying with that technquie right after saw that video a few weeks ago and it definately opens new sonic doors.

While the tone certainly is in the Korn "click-click" vein, what he's actually doing is far more complex rhythmically - he's immitating (somewhat successfully) the tabla rhythms with his right hand, and his actually "touch" looks to be relatively light compared to the Fieldy bitchslap method.

 

[groove pump]

I'll sort of slap with my fingertips - index, middle, and maybe ring - with the same sort of motion that an impatient person drums their fingers while they're shooting a nasty look, you know? I do this with my fingers curling along the strings, not across them, and it can produce quick double taps or triplets.

You can also sort of slap with one or two fingertips by getting your hand in the same position that you'd use for conventional slapping, but instead of rotating your wrist to knock the side or your thumb on the string, flex it to knock the tip of a finger on it, sort of like hitting a computer key really hard. Stay loose so that your finger bounces right up off the string instead of muting it.

 

[Stanley Design]

Exactly what groove pump said, I know a few players who slap this way. You wont be able to pop the upper strings, but you can slap them instead this way.

 

[Zombbg4]

If you do want to learn left handed, and add even more challenge to it, try and play like this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0&feature=related

 

[kiennbrd]

Thanks everyone. Some real interesting ideas there. I've now got a few flowing myself.

 

[DWBass]

If you do want to learn left handed, and add even more challenge to it, try and play like this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0&feature=related

I just realized his bass is strung upside down.