slapping

Thomas

Thomas

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anyone else here use your middle finger rather than the pointer? i don't intend to change the way i'm playing, but every instructional video i've ever seen and my teacher all use the pointer. i've tried and it just doesn't feel natural.
 
I use my middle finger to pop the G string and use my pointer for the other ones.
 
I actually use all of my fingers... Depending on what I'm doing... Although for the slower basic stuff it's just my index finger.
 
I use them both... They work different for me. With the pointer I can do fast tricks, while the middle finger can be useful for heavy straight patterns with octaves.
One trick almost nobody tells you is to always keep that finger ready to pop. In the same time my thumb hits the lower strings, my index is going to the pop position. It actually touching the body. Then I just rotate the whole hand and POP!!!
 
i use my pointer to pop on all strings and use my middle finger with im doing something reasonably fast (it'll alternate with my pointer)


Florin said:

my index is going to the pop position. It actually touching the body.!!!
Click to expand...

i do this and i always scratch the waxy layer on my bass beneith the strings because of it. doesnt damage the bass though because its just the wax. a quick rub with a cloth after playing and its back to normal
 
Stroud said:
i use my pointer to pop on all strings and use my middle finger with im doing something reasonably fast (it'll alternate with my pointer)


Florin said:

my index is going to the pop position. It actually touching the body.!!!
Click to expand...

i do this and i always scratch the waxy layer on my bass beneath the strings because of it. doesn't damage the bass though because its just the wax. a quick rub with a cloth after playing and its back to normal
Click to expand...

i have to keep my nails really short, ok there short already but shorter, because they dig in when slapping and have gone past the wax...i think its due to them hitting just were the grain naturally sits....

i'm learning slap i normally use my index finger...i'm not as advanced to start throwing more fingers into the mix.....i'm on page 8 i think of 'slap it'..slowing working through it :D
 
I think "slap it!!" is the best slap method ever!
 
Yup, middle finger for me too and occasionally I'll use pointy to do double pops.

I also slap slightly weirdly in that I slap with my thumb pointing diagonally towards the floor and not diagonally upwards (using extremes there to get my point across, it's not precisely 45 degrees!!)

I attended BassTech in London doing a once a week course and the guy there (mentioning no names) took a dislike to my style and basically told me to change! Bugger that I thought...it works and it sounds great, so never changed. I'm sure there are other people who slap this way - much easier if you have your bass slung lower for a start.
 
there are well known bassists that do it all three ways (thumb facing up down and in the middle). its just about what works and sounds best for you
 
I use both as well. Sometimes it just feels more natural to use the middle finger to me.
 
EvilSmile said:
Stroud said:
i use my pointer to pop on all strings and use my middle finger with im doing something reasonably fast (it'll alternate with my pointer)


Florin said:

my index is going to the pop position. It actually touching the body.!!!
Click to expand...

i do this and i always scratch the waxy layer on my bass beneath the strings because of it. doesn't damage the bass though because its just the wax. a quick rub with a cloth after playing and its back to normal
Click to expand...

i have to keep my nails really short, ok there short already but shorter, because they dig in when slapping and have gone past the wax...i think its due to them hitting just were the grain naturally sits....

i'm learning slap i normally use my index finger...i'm not as advanced to start throwing more fingers into the mix.....i'm on page 8 i think of 'slap it'..slowing working through it :D
Click to expand...

Mainly using my index finger, maybe I'll work on the second one. But Idon't scratch the wax, I even rip out small parts of the wood with my fingernail :cry: Not really visible especially after waxing but still not nice.
 
Dont mean to brag.... but, I am pretty good at slap (won 5 competitions here in FL and CA.) and I only use my index. Never really saw a need to use both I can get fast enough using one. The only time I use more than one on a pull is for Chords.


See its more about clearance for me. The space between the strings and the body right after the fretboard heel has to be as low as possible in order to be fast, that way you dont get "lost" in there. The basses that are the worst for this are spectors they are like an inch high.

Warwick NT's (Not BO's), Fenders, laklands, MTD's and most Zons are just right for me. Of course Foderas can be good as well depending on wether you order it like that.

.
 
H8ER 321 said:
Dont mean to brag.... but, I am pretty good at slap (won 5 competitions here in FL and CA.) and I only use my index. Never really saw a need to use both I can get fast enough using one. The only time I use more than one on a pull is for Chords.


See its more about clearance for me. The space between the strings and the body right after the fretboard heel has to be as low as possible in order to be fast, that way you dont get "lost" in there. The basses that are the worst for this are spectors they are like an inch high.

Warwick NT's (Not BO's), Fenders, laklands, MTD's and most Zons are just right for me. Of course Foderas can be good as well depending on wether you order it like that.

.
Click to expand...

You must teach me your skill! I'm somewhat good at slapping... Although I tend to play the same line over and over and over again and it gets to the point where my wife is about to take some scissors to my patch cord :P
 
Gah....I don`t know.. I`ve tried to learn slapping on several occasions, but I just gets crappy. Maybe I lack a gene or something.
 
Stroud said:
bassoctopus said:
Florin said:
I think "slap it!!" is the best slap method ever!
Click to expand...

+1 great book, taught me a lot :)
Click to expand...

with all these comments it sounds like i should get myself one of these books :)
Click to expand...

It is an awesome book after playing through the exercises for a few hours my slap had improved loads. My drummer even commented that i was slapping way better....as at rehearsals i would try but fail miserably.
 
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