Members SuproSuper Man Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 hi all , im a guitar player, but we got some bass guitars and ive been getting into it lately...kinda finding playing bass to be very enjoyable.. I mostly play bass like a guitar finger picker using my thumb and the other three fingers,,but lately ive been wondering how they get that slap bass sound happening...? is there some things i should be aware of if im gonna try to make that slap bass tone...do string gauges come into play,,,and im assuming that real close string action is important... can you guys who play slap or those who have just started playing slap bass pass on any tips or advise on how to play that style.. oh if you know of any good Youtube videos that demonstrate how to get started in playing that slap technique then please post the video or the link to it much thanks in advance for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 [YOUTUBE]j2_SreKsg2k[/YOUTUBE] The master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 [YOUTUBE]nCoHgfCVbYE[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 [YOUTUBE]UK_P4NQrxcA[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roguetitan Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 [YOUTUBE]1SVd9dM5r0Q&eurl[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SuproSuper Man Posted January 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 awesome thanks Funkee1 that second video really shows the hand technique quite well, thats exactly what i needed to see,,, he pulls the strings away from the bass with his first two fingers I sorta figured, in away that the thumb bangs the string, rather than do the chet type thumb pluck which im sorta doing now ,,,but i have tried hitting the string almost like the video with my thumb , but it dont realy sound out right or the same as the video,,,i think i may need to just practise it more to get the right feel for that slap, but seeing that video is a real big help...im gonna study his hand/thumb movement closer ... do slap bass players set up their strings super close or is just a matter of practising the playing technique to get it right..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 awesome thanks Funkee1 that second video really shows the hand technique quite well, thats exactly what i needed to see,,, he pulls the strings away from the bass with his first two fingers I sorta figured, in away that the thumb bangs the string, rather than do the chet type thumb pluck which im sorta doing now ,,,but i have tried hitting the string almost like the video with my thumb , but it dont realy sound out right or the same as the video,,,i think i may need to just practise it more to get the right feel for that slap, but seeing that video is a real big help...im gonna study his hand/thumb movement closer ... do slap bass players set up their strings super close or is just a matter of practising the playing technique to get it right..? I've found that the strings being too close to the fretboard creates a lot of buzz and saps your tone, but that's just me. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SuproSuper Man Posted January 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 hey i just noticed while watching that hot bass girl/lady playing that she is hitting the string with her thumb over top of the frets.. is that what is giving it the slap tone, the smacking of the string with the thumb against the frets .... maybe thats why i dont seem to get that tone i hit the strings over the pickups and not over the fret board like she is doing... BTW great video Roguetitan , thanks for posting it ,,,as for the girl on the bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 Here's what I post in response to any of these "learn to slap" threads... [YOUTUBE]NHdN_O5k3WM[/YOUTUBE] That's the masterclass right there. The key it to get your body in the right position, then sort of "bounce" your thumb off the strings. Think of your thumb as one of the felt hammers in a grand piano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 do slap bass players set up their strings super close or is just a matter of practising the playing technique to get it right..?Personally, I prefer my action nice and low and my neck relief set very straight. That lets me use a very light bouncing action on the strings. You really don't want to be pounding on them. Small, light, controlled strokes will give you the most consistent sound. Here's another example from a random YouTube search: [YOUTUBE]7CbXJepTNl8[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted January 17, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 17, 2009 That's the masterclass right there.The key it to get your body in the right position, then sort of "bounce" your thumb off the strings. Think of your thumb as one of the felt hammers in a grand piano. Master classes aren't for beginners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LanEvo Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 Master classes aren't for beginners.At least the basic technique is right. Might as well learn it right the first time. If you learn to slap "Flea-style" (like in the other vids), most often you'll run into trouble down the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roguetitan Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 hey i just noticed while watching that hot bass girl/lady playing that she is hitting the string with her thumb over top of the frets.. is that what is giving it the slap tone, the smacking of the string with the thumb against the frets .... maybe thats why i dont seem to get that tone i hit the strings over the pickups and not over the fret board like she is doing... BTW great video Roguetitan , thanks for posting it ,,,as for the girl on the bass regardless where you are hitting the string you have to slap it hard enough for the string to hit the fret that is how you get that slap tone if you slap the string with your thumb just in front of the neck pickup you should get the tone you are trying to get:thu: the second part of the technique involves using youe index and middle finger's to hook under the string and pull. you will also want to mute the strings with your fretting pinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s4001 Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 The master. I love that DVD. Larry teh God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators isaac42 Posted January 17, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 17, 2009 At least the basic technique is right. Might as well learn it right the first time. Always good advice. If you learn to slap "Flea-style" (like in the other vids), most often you'll run into trouble down the line. The thing is, for me, that I don't expect I'll ever slap much, and having the bass high like that is bad for conventional playing. Again, for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 Four rules for guitar players wanting to learn slap bass: 1) think like a drummer, not a guitar2) do not overplay3) do not overplay4) do not overplay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flâneur Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 You need to have some means of keeping your sleeves rolled up at least part-way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted January 17, 2009 Members Share Posted January 17, 2009 Heres a nice slow vid to learn to. This guy is amazing and all his videos are super helpful. Look at all his videos about slapping and you'll be slapping in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SuproSuper Man Posted January 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 wow thanks folks for all the help, and tips and those awesome videos theres a bit more to it than i think i first thought, but now with all the info you folks have put up top i at least have an idea of what some of the key points are to doing the technique... now i just need to work on it i think... Big thanks everyone :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted January 18, 2009 Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 Four rules for guitar players wanting to learn slap bass:1) think like a drummer, not a guitar2) do not overplay3) do not overplay4) do not overplay So I guess what you're saying here is not to overplay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ezstep Posted January 18, 2009 Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 The only slapping tip that I know... Every time you sit on the couch to watch t.v., pick up your unplugged bass and slap while watching. EVERY time, not just "once in a while." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roguetitan Posted January 18, 2009 Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 The only slapping tip that I know...Every time you sit on the couch to watch t.v., pick up your unplugged bass and slap while watching. EVERY time, not just "once in a while." that is good advice indeed:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brother Mango Posted January 18, 2009 Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 Four rules for guitar players wanting to learn slap bass:1) think like a drummer, not a guitar2) do not overplay3) do not overplay4) do not overplay And I still don't know what "overplay" means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted January 18, 2009 Moderators Share Posted January 18, 2009 And I still don't know what "overplay" means. It means play a note with no meaning. Every note you needs to be appropriate in context whether rhythmically, melodically or harmonically. If you play a single note that doesn't have meaning, you've overplayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Longfuse Posted January 18, 2009 Members Share Posted January 18, 2009 If you're a guitarist then you can get a pseudo-slap sound by using chicken-picking on the lower strings of a six string guitar. It's similar to the pizzicato technique that actual bass players use. If you then use a EH micro-POG to get an octave down effect, it sounds close (listen to attached sample - apologies for boomy sound as I didn't EQ it properly). PS, I do play bass too, but I actually find the slap thing easier to fake with a guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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