slapping

thumbin said:
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.

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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
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It's weird. Slapping is like learning to read, it takes time to really get comfortable with it. I have been playing for 12 years and I still from time to time feel a little stuck. My main thing that I tell people is start slow! Speed is not everything, when you master the basics and correct timing of the slower tempo the faster stuff just falls into place and fits like a glove.

Its weird, when you play slower and really really learn to add suspense to the notes you add so much demension to your style, the funny thing is it carries right over the faster stuff and makes the fast stuff still sound and feel musical (like Victor, although some may disagree). Correct "posture" is a big one, the music teachers dont harp on that stuff for no reason, slapping with your thumb pointed at the ground hinders your ability to use economy of motion, and economy of motion is how your style becomes more consistant and defined (not only that but it makes playing fast so much easier).


I could go on forever.. :(

/Also Theodore Presser's "Slap-it" is a great book to learn fresh new stuff. You should give it a try.
 
slapping with your thumb pointed at the ground hinders your ability to use economy of motion
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Sorry mate - don't agree with you there....unless your technique (or mine) differs wildly, I can't see how it makes any difference.

Any chance of posting up a video clip to see how it would make a difference? :D (Smiley face to hopefully show that I'm not being confrontational....just inquisitive)
 
TK276 said:
slapping with your thumb pointed at the ground hinders your ability to use economy of motion
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Sorry mate - don't agree with you there....unless your technique (or mine) differs wildly, I can't see how it makes any difference.

Any chance of posting up a video clip to see how it would make a difference? :D (Smiley face to hopefully show that I'm not being confrontational....just inquisitive)
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I will try. I myself do not have a video camera but a good friend of mine does. I have no idea how I would be able to truthfully contrast the two, as I am better at doing it the right way. Or do you just want me to play something I normally do and you can compare to your technique, instead of me trying to do them both.

You cant do the "double thumb" with your thumb pointed at the ground, thats just one of many techniques that use the economy of motion that comes from having your thumb paralelle to the strings.

Another good example would be look at all the "good" bass players. Stanley Clark, Victor and Mark King just to name a few. Aside from having amazing technique they slap that way for a reason. It wasnt them that came up with it, although slap is a fairly young style it still has gone throught the same sterilization that every other playing style has, broken down into right's and wrong's and do's and dont's. That happens for a reason, from ergonomics to economy of motion, its done to help "you" the musician.

Also, why do you think the teachers go out of their way to make sure you have correct posture (with any instrument for that fact)? I doubt they do it for their health.

but, it all boils down to what you like and makes you comfortable.
 
ever since i started trying out a few slap licks, i've used this approach:





i find this right hand posture to be very comfortable. whether it be right or wrong or whatever i do not know... :)
 
Snooze said:
ever since i started trying out a few slap licks, i've used this approach:





i find this right hand posture to be very comfortable. whether it be right or wrong or whatever i do not know... :)
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Yup, thats right. :mrgreen:
 
Btw guys,that's Dale Titus in that instructional.He's an amazing bassist & works at Dana B Goods.
 
Theres really no right or wrong way to do slapbass... Just whatever works fo you... Although I have tryed slapping verticly and cant... I find the standard way (straight with the strings) works best for me... espically when doing the double/tripple thumping
 
I started learn slappin few months ago, its ♣♣♣♣in killer technique.
Now im starting to figure it out.
Could anyone give me some tips?
 
Thomas said:
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.
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I feel much more comfortable using the middle finger for slapping,just like you said the pointer feels quite unnatural.
 
recrubass said:
I started learn slappin few months ago, its ♣♣♣♣in killer technique.
Now im starting to figure it out.
Could anyone give me some tips?
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Slapping is like putting salt on your dinner. A little bit is nice and brings out the flavor, but overdoing it will kill the meal.

Technique-wise, ever since I've brought my ring finger into my fingerstyle playing, I've found that I use that and the index fingers more than using the middle finger.
 
When popping strings I use just the index finger as this feels much more natural then using the middle finger. Coming from a hardcore/metal background I also throw in a lot of chords in between the slapping. Downstrokes using index, middle and ring fingers, upstrokes using my thumb. I used to be into Primus a lot.

I don't use slapping much anymore these days as I'm growing more and more into a melodic groove playing style and am currently a big fan of James Jamerson. I must be getting old or something as I used to be a much more aggressive player. :eek:

If you're looking to learn new techniques a great place to start is Thomas Risel's (aka MarloweDK) . There's very nice licks and tricks on there and they usually break it down for you into slow motion parts. Great stuff!

Edit: 's a lesson on starting with double thumb technique.
 
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I use my index, middle, and ring fingers when slapping. I keep my thumb parallel to the strings, and my index finger is always ready to pull the proverbial trigger.

Its odd though, when I moved here, I was told by the locals that I now call friends, that I have the most refined slap technique they've ever seen from a hometown player.

H8R, what slap comps are you speaking of? I lived in port St john for 8years, spent time in Melbourne, palm bay, and rockledge before moving to palm beach, then Daytona. I never heard of any slap comps, or I would have entered!!!
 
Thomas said:
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.
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I use my middle finger all the time 8:
 
For me the index finger feels better for rapid tricks, while the middle finger slaps better the octave grooves :-)
 
erm...and what about Alex Sklarevski's "Slap bass program" DVD ?



[video=youtube;sb-wk7dhnrc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb-wk7dhnrc[/video]


[video=youtube;SODrTBH8_MQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SODrTBH8_MQ&NR=1[/video]


I know it may sound a bit old-skool what he does, but this vid sure's taught me da basics... no music reading required, and da guy shows ya precisely (and as often as you like !) how da trick worxxxx....8:
 
Ive seen that guy all over youtube!! he is really good. i wonder when it was recorded? lol

__________________
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tehornsby said:
Ive seen that guy all over youtube!! he is really good. i wonder when it was recorded? lol

__________________
Thumb NT
Corvette $$
Xtream 10.1
Hartke Hx 410 cabs
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well... I bought this video almost 20 years ago... ;)
 
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