Elementary Slapping And Popping

[Wintermute]

Slapping

Slapping is a sound made by striking the string with your thumb.

- Hold your thumb parallel to the string
- Twist your wrist sharply so that the thumb hits the string, and pull away again immediately.

I've often thought that slapping was closer to a Drumming technique than a stringed instrument technique. You're looking for the same kind of bounce off the string as if you were drumming.

Slapping is easiest on the E string, so start there and work your way onto the other strings.

You don't have to slap hard, as a general guide I slap the back of my left hand with my thumb, and if it hurts AT ALL I'm slapping too hard.

I personally slap near the fretboard, but experiment with this.

Popping

Popping is a technique commonly used in conjunction with slapping. Usually slapping will be used on the lower strings, with popping covering the higher ones.

- using your index or middle finger, pull the string away from the fretboard, perpendicular to it.
- release.

This doesn't have to be hard either, you are not trying to break a string.

The beauty of slapping and popping in conjunction is that a slap sets you up for a pop and vice-versa.





A good exercise for slapping and popping is the song 'Higher Ground' as covered by the RHCP.
A tab is included here. Slap the lower notes, and pop the high ones. Build up speed until you can play along with the song. Incidentally, this song uses octaves almost exclusively, going two strings up and two frets up like this is an octave and is a handy tool in songwriting.
Other good songs for demonstrating slap include:

Oysterhead - Little Faces, Mr. Oysterhead
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop (during the guitar solo), Aeroplane, Higher Ground
Primus - Antipop, Golden Boy, Tommy The Cat (Hard) Awakening, most other songs
Wooten - Classical Thump (Extremely hard)
Marcus Miller - Teen Town (Hard)
Ella Fitzgerald - Slap That Bass (Easy)
Mudvayne - Dig





If you have any questions or comments, I check this thread most days and will reply as soon as I can.
If you ask a question here and I can't help you out properly, feel free to add me to your MSN (gehennaprophet@hotmail.com) and I'll try and help one to one.

www.soundclick.com/apgmxmusic.htm - download 'Slap Demo'. This is a brief demonstration of the technique. I first slap each of the strings, then pop each of the strings, then have a quick run through RHCP's 'Higher Ground' and Oysterhead's 'Little Faces'




* * * * * * * * * *
Addendum

This is an addition about gear. People ask questions such as which basses are best, and similar. So here are some important points.

NEVER slap on a fretless bass unless you are VERY sure you know what you are doing. It can tear the neck apart, unless it has been made from a select list of hardwoods, or has a slap plate. You see, when you slap, the string hits the frets hard. This is what causes the characteristic noise. If there are no frets, the string hits the wood, and this can quite quickly cause noticeable damage.

As for which basses are good/bad for slapping, no high end basses are bad for slapping. (bar fretless models) Some say the Fender Jazz isn't good for it, but it's good enough for Marcus Miller, one of the masters of slap...
However if one must be chosen as best, the Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray is often acclaimed as the greatest standard production bass for slapping.

EQ - I personally use a 'scooped' EQ setting for slapping,
Low:6, Mids:3 High:7
though I can think of at least one MXer who uses a very high Mids - experiment with this for yourself!

[jacksloadedgun]

nice but you forgot to mention that when you slap you nead to make sure that you slap on where the neck ends.

[NewFoundBassist]

dumb question by a slap n00b, but when I start to slap fretted notes, the strings keep tapping the bottom fret for an annoying 'dead' metallic tap rather than the actual note. any ideas on whats wrong? any help/advice would be appreciated.

[chimp_and_zee]

Originally posted by NewFoundBassist
dumb question by a slap n00b, but when I start to slap fretted notes, the strings keep tapping the bottom fret for an annoying 'dead' metallic tap rather than the actual note. any ideas on whats wrong? any help/advice would be appreciated.
Ah, it seems that either you arn't taking ur thumb away quick enough or your bass has too low action, that problem can be fixed quite easily by a guitar/bass tech

Anyway, I found its also possible to slap using any of the fingers on your right hand instead of your thumb, simply put the finger at a right angle with the fingertip just above the string and do that sterotyped gay guy limp wrist thing real quick and as it goes with using your thumb, ur looking for minimum contact time with the string. Actually its a pretty useless technique and i cant find any good uses for it but i thought id post it neway:p

[Wintermute]

Jacksloadedgun, I'm not sure what you mean but I think I mentioned that.

[pinkbass]

took me awhile to get the sterotypical gay guy's wrist thing. but i figured it out! :thumb:

[Offspringer]

What part of my thumb should I be hitting the string with? Like the side kind or right on the bottom?

[morpcat]

The left side of your right thumb (or v.v.) - unless you wanna be WeIrD!

[muthagoose]

http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/lesson_5slap.htm should be added to the first post :thumb:

[Wintermute]

Offspringer - outer side of the right thumb, on the outer knuckle. It may hurt a bit at first but you'll soon build up a callous.

[piecekeeper]

ok, i have a dendancy to pull my hand back as soon as i slap and its making my popping slow. any suggestions?

[Wintermute]

You should be able to hook your finger into place as you slap, ideally.

Seems like a facetious answer but 'don't' is about all I can say. Work on not pulling your hand away. You need to pull your thumb off the string, but not your hand away from the bass, for exactly the reasons you've already discovered.

Try popping twice in rapid succesion, going for the bounce I described earlier. If you can get that right then you won't be pulling away from the bass too much.

[popinfresh]

Just a question. How do i mute E when slapping D ? i always hit the E srting a little and it buzz's. Thanks for that but, that and the warwick page. i can slap now :D

[madthumbs]

you have to practice and make sure that you don't hit the E string when you are popping the D, if you mant tryign to mute it and making a mute slap then just put presure on the string and slap it not to hard otherwise you will get some buzz.

[Blink'd]

to mute the strings so it doesnt buzz for too long, get your sisters or your prison mates hair tye- the scrunchy fuzzy ones, and wrap it around the neck, like a capo for bass, this is what such bassists as victor wooten and p-nut do! cheers

[popinfresh]

^^Wouldnt that get annoying but?^^


:D I can slap great now, playing stuff like coffee shop-RHCP. Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard at all really (shhh, everyone that doesnt play bass, or can't do it, thinks its like the hardest thing in the world and are mega impressed when you do it ;))

[Wintermute]

^^^
Isn't it great? :D

[the14yrold with the bass]

yeah, but remember its one thing to hit the string with your thumb but its another thing to get it to sound good :thumb:

[trev913]

Two questions.

I'm sitting here with my bass around me and am doing this, and am getting it. But I've come to see that slapping and popping sound essentially the same no matter where you do it. Can't you just do one or the other for a full song? For example, I point to (insert random song full of slaps and pops). Could you just slap the entire song or pop it?

And secondly, does it really make a difference where you do your slaps? I've tried this, too. I like to stay...er...I guess "central" with my playing. As in if I start out playing between the pickups (why? theres about an inch freedom, but just exemplifying), I want to stay there, even if I have to slap and pop and so on. So does it make a difference?

[BlessTheMartyr4]

Okay I've read all this watched that movie on that site and read that. And I'm still clueless on what to do. I put my hand over the bass sharply turn my wrists, using the knuckle of my thumb I hit the string right where the neck ends and when I bring my finger up I pluck the string...if I'm doing this right it sound just like if I were to play normally. I don't see a difference in tone or anything except for the annoying metal click.

[Wintermute]

trev913 - it's a case of convenience. Slapping is easier on lower strings, popping is easier on higher. Plus, alternating between the two is faster than doing one twice. And some people find they get a sharper tone when they slap at the base of the fretboard, but that's a matter of opinion.

[Wintermute]

Okay I've read all this watched that movie on that site and read that. And I'm still clueless on what to do. I put my hand over the bass sharply turn my wrists, using the knuckle of my thumb I hit the string right where the neck ends and when I bring my finger up I pluck the string...if I'm doing this right it sound just like if I were to play normally. I don't see a difference in tone or anything except for the annoying metal click.

First up, are you plugged into an amp? If not, do so. If you are, set your EQ to around about Low-8 Mids-3 High-8 and try again. Failing that, lower your action a little.

Alternatively, it could be that you have a very rough tone in ordinary playing (don't take offense, I've never heard you play, I'm just going through all possibilities). If it IS the case, ease up, play more smoothly, and you'll hear more of a difference when you slap.

How old are your strings? If they're losing their tone, then you may find changing them, or maybe boiling them will help.

[burntgorilla]

I find that I can usually slap fine when the string is open, but when I'm fretting a note, all I get is a clanging sound. This also happens if I try to hammer on instead. The slap doesn't sound very loud, is it supposed to be as loud as picking a string?

[Wintermute]

I find it louder than picking a string.
Start with the obvious - if you aren't plugged into an amp, plug into one.

Other than that, sounds like you're getting a muted note, which implies that you're fretting incorrectly. How does it sound when you play notes fretted normally?

[PhishBass]

First up, are you plugged into an amp? If not, do so. If you are, set your EQ to around about Low-8 Mids-3 High-8 and try again. Failing that, lower your action a little.

Alternatively, it could be that you have a very rough tone in ordinary playing (don't take offense, I've never heard you play, I'm just going through all possibilities). If it IS the case, ease up, play more smoothly, and you'll hear more of a difference when you slap.

How old are your strings? If they're losing their tone, then you may find changing them, or maybe boiling them will help.
thanks man, i was having real trouble figuring out a good eq setup for slap bass. :thumb:

[burntgorilla]

It sounds quite normal when I don't slap. The note rings out fine and sounds good. I get a bit of clanging when I play the same note quickly (especially on E), however.

I think I have the hang of slapping pretty well, but the clanging is holding me back a bit. I'm pretty sure it's not the way I'm slapping it, as I can do it on open pretty well.

[the brass bass man]

nice but you forgot to mention that when you slap you nead to make sure that you slap on where the neck ends.




not entirley, there is a technique for slapping on the neck, in the middle of the neck, for instance slap the neck, but hold down youre left index on the 3rd fret of E, when slapped at 3 take your ring and middle and hammer on and pull off of 5 then 4. its like fretboard slap/tap...ing

ha

[Wintermute]

It sounds quite normal when I don't slap. The note rings out fine and sounds good. I get a bit of clanging when I play the same note quickly (especially on E), however.

I think I have the hang of slapping pretty well, but the clanging is holding me back a bit. I'm pretty sure it's not the way I'm slapping it, as I can do it on open pretty well.

Sounds like a case of extreme fretbuzz - how low is your action? if you raise it, you may find you get a cleaner, less clangy sound.

Again - no offence if you know, I just tend to assume people don't to cut down the number of posts I have to make - the action is the distance between the string and the frets. Particularly the 12th fret. It can be raised at the bridge. On my bass you need a small allan key, but that varies with the model.

[livintruth]

Cool, this thread help me a bit. But I was curious as to what strings some people use to slap with. Like what gauge, brand, ect. whatever really.

[Wintermute]

That I can't help you with - don't have a lot of experience with string guages and such. I get a nice slap sound with my Warwick strings, but I also did with my D'Addarios.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

[madthumbs]

DR's have a very good slap tone, or so i think.

[burntgorilla]

Sounds like a case of extreme fretbuzz - how low is your action? if you raise it, you may find you get a cleaner, less clangy sound.

Again - no offence if you know, I just tend to assume people don't to cut down the number of posts I have to make - the action is the distance between the string and the frets. Particularly the 12th fret. It can be raised at the bridge. On my bass you need a small allan key, but that varies with the model.

Ah, I was going to make a thread about that. I often get various metallic noises when I play, but I always thought it was just my playing. However, I played a friend's bass, and noticed that his strings were much higher from the fretboard, and that most of the extra sounds were gone (only a little buzz at times). On mine there is a screw with a spring on it right beside each string. Does that raise the action, or is it something else?

Edit: Ah, don't bother. I looked through the archives and got my answers. Cheers for the help.

[MikeSk8s40]

I dont think i saw you mention it Wintermute but cant you also slap by striking the string you are slapping with your index finger. It makes the exact same sound as with your thumb and i often use it for the A and sometimes D string.

[Wintermute]

I didn't mention it because it's not really slapping. I know what you mean, and have experimented with it, but I'm not sure it comes under this heading.

I'll mention it in more detail now though, for posterity.

fingertip striking

With this you are not striking the string with the side of you finger, as you would with your thumb, but using the tip. Using your index fingertip, tap a rhythm on your computer desk, or any hard surface. This effect is exactly what you are trying to achieve, but on a string. Do not ask for any tracks demonstrating this, as as far as I know there are none. As Mike pointed out, this creates a sound similar to slapping, though in my view, it's a lot more difficult to use properly.

Go wild, experiment. :D

[MikeSk8s40]

I made something creative! YAY! :)

[ThisCaucasianLovesTool]

Im retarted, what is the action? is it the metal thingy at the bottom with the springs and such? I know, I am stupid....

[burntgorilla]

Using the bridge (the metal thingy at the bottom with the springs and such) raise the level of the strings so that there is more space between them and the frets.

Does anyone have a video that is just slapping? The ones I find have popping too, and I can't really make it out.

[Wintermute]

The definition of action is the distance between the 12th fret and the string.

And everything I know about slapping I taught myself from watching the video of Les Claypool playing the Awakening. Seek it out, on Kazaa, or WinMX, or whatever's your poison.

[burntgorilla]

How high should you action usually be for easier slapping?

[tunafish_scumbag]

Two questions.

I'm sitting here with my bass around me and am doing this, and am getting it. But I've come to see that slapping and popping sound essentially the same no matter where you do it. Can't you just do one or the other for a full song? For example, I point to (insert random song full of slaps and pops). Could you just slap the entire song or pop it?

And secondly, does it really make a difference where you do your slaps? I've tried this, too. I like to stay...er...I guess "central" with my playing. As in if I start out playing between the pickups (why? theres about an inch freedom, but just exemplifying), I want to stay there, even if I have to slap and pop and so on. So does it make a difference?

1. You could if your fast enough. But why would you want you? Its way easier to slap and pop octaves and such then to just use one or the other. And slaps and pops sound different, so you wouldn't get the sound of the song.

2. It would just sound different for slaps. Though you wouldn't want to pop too far back.

[Wintermute]

How high should you action usually be for easier slapping?

Good question. Mine is moderately low - too low and you'll get fretbuzz, too high and you may find you have to slap harder and fast fretwork gets harder - I recommend taking an Allan Key, or Screwdriver, or whatever you need to adjust the action on your bass and experimenting.

[Vamp Bassist]

[QUOTE=BlessTheMartyr4]Okay I've read all this watched that movie on that site and read that. And I'm still clueless on what to do. I put my hand over the bass sharply turn my wrists, using the knuckle of my thumb I hit the string right where the neck ends and when I bring my finger up I pluck the string...if I'm doing this right it sound just like if I were to play normally. I don't see a difference in tone or anything except for the annoying metal click.


:wave: [/QUI know this could sound stupid, but...do have an Active Bass? if youve onlyu got a assive, slap just dont work! hope this helps...

[DavideV]

You mean that slap/pop technique works only on active basses??

I have a passive bass, and it works fine too, also if slap is not just the right kind of sound my instrument was designed for!

I think he only needs exercises or a friend who shows the right technique.

Somethings can be learned only when you look at with your eyes...

[madthumbs]

Slap and pop work on both passive and activ instruments.

[burntgorilla]

With popping, you pull it directly away from the fretboard, yes? What does it sound like (I can't find a video that doesn't have slapping as well)? I sometimes pull too hard and it buzzes like hell, I'm assuming it's not pulled that hard. Also, with slapping, is the string meant to hit off the bottom frets?

[bass-kiddo]

Like some others....I'm sitting here following what I've read, etc, but I have a feeling I'm not doing it right. I'm trying to just do some slap on the E string, but my wrist doesn't really "twist sharply", it's more like my thumb is moving really fast.
And then, when I'm trying to pop, what should I do with my thumb? I mean, if someone is slapping and popping in a song, do they ever rest their thumb against the bass? I pretty much always rest mine on the pickup, because I've never tryed to slap or pop before. :-/

[madthumbs]

Like some others....I'm sitting here following what I've read, etc, but I have a feeling I'm not doing it right. I'm trying to just do some slap on the E string, but my wrist doesn't really "twist sharply", it's more like my thumb is moving really fast.
And then, when I'm trying to pop, what should I do with my thumb? I mean, if someone is slapping and popping in a song, do they ever rest their thumb against the bass? I pretty much always rest mine on the pickup, because I've never tryed to slap or pop before. :-/

Well, usually when a song is slapped or popped or both, it has a flow to it, and usually when I pop after a slap my thumb is just freelanceing in the air. Slap and pop is a technique that comes good with lots of practice. Don't expect to get it in 5 minutes. Your rist should not snap sharply but flick and the force from the flick should be pushed to the thumb where you get your slap sound. Its all about accuracy too. Just keep practicing and it should come to you.

[BassBoy12]

Rite all i can do is slap on E, but i put my hand in a ball pointing down and stick out my thumb and hit with the knuckle, wen i slap it hit all the strings and buzzes! HELP!
i dnt understand the wrist movement...can u help!

[madthumbs]

you are meant to slap with the thumb, not the knuckle. The wrist movement shold be a flick.

[Wintermute]

Have you read the opening post? I go into some detail on how to do that - give it a read if you haven't already.

[Wintermute]

know this could sound stupid, but...do have an Active Bass? if youve onlyu got a assive, slap just dont work! hope this helps...

Assuming assive means passive... this is absolutely wrong.

I have a passive bass, and I can get a very good slapping tone out of it. Why wouldn't I be able to? There's nothing you can do on an active you can't do on a passive.

[DavideV]

i dnt understand the wrist movement...can u help!
The movement is like when You shake a thermometer to get down the mercury (turning just the wrist and not all the arm!!), but with the thumb raised up and relaxed. In fact, the thumb as to quickly hit the string bouncing over it.

[burntgorilla]

I think I've got it, but it sounds much lower that it does on videos I've seen on slapping. What's the cause of that? Also, if I fret a note, especially near the head, it's nearly impossible to get a sound without clicking. How can I do that right?

[Wintermute]

Some click is to be expected - the string does hit the frets, after all - but if you're amplified you won't hear it.

If it's a real problem, try raising your action a little.

[burntgorilla]

Is the string actually meant to hit the top few frets? I get the clicking from the bottom frets, obviously depending on which one I'm playing.

[Wintermute]

How loud are you being amplified?

[burntgorilla]

Not that much, really. I turned it way up once, and the clicking almost seemed to get louder with the amp.

[Wintermute]

Hmm - It shouldn't do. Are you using a little practise amp, or a big one? Because at low levels you should expect some clattering, but if you're being very loud, it shouldn't. If you aren't using a large amp, try and track one down in a practice room or something similar and see if it really does get much louder.

In theory, at least, as you turn it up, the clicking will be drowned out.

[burntgorilla]

Well, it's only 20W, so it's not massive. I also find it harder to get a sound from slapping when fretting a high note, but I'm assuming it's also volume related?

[Wintermute]

That's natural - if you think about the physics of it, you'd have to slap a lot harder to get it to hit the frets properly. Basically, either try to pop it, or move to an equivalent note on a different string.

[burntgorilla]

Hmm, raising the volume did seem to sort it out, a bit of practise and I'll be away. Two last questions: why does the slap sound so much lower than it does on videos (like in the Warwick survival one), yet playing normally sounds higher than in songs? Also, in popping, how far should you pull away from the fretboard, and do you just basically straighten your finger to let it go?

[Wintermute]

Not sure what you mean by the first question - surely as ever that just depends on which note you fret?

And as for popping, I don't change how straight my finger is at all, I just only hook the string with the tip of my finger so that when I pull away it just slips off.

Glad to be of help.

[burntgorilla]

What I meant was, if I slap open E, it sounds low, but then if I watch a video of someone slapping the same string, it sounds higher.

Edit: To try and explain, here's a little wav file: www.psyvision.co.uk/slapping.wav (it plays twice as fast as it should in winamp, for some reason). It's all on E, and you can hear the clicking sound in the strings.

[pooble]

maybe its the tone, it can make a big difference on my bass when im slapping with an amp...

[Wintermute]

How did you record that? if it was putting a mike up to the amp, I'd expect a lot of clicking, but not that much if you're running a lead direct from the amp to the pc.

It sounds like you may be slapping too hard, or have the action too low - try slapping the back of your left hand (assuming you're right handed) if it hurts at all you're doing it too hard.

[burntgorilla]

It was through a mike, but the only background noise was some hissing, so any clicks must've been me.

[Wintermute]

Yes, but if you're using a mike it can pick up the acoustic clanging of the strings, which the pickups do not pick up on.

[burntgorilla]

I had a hell of a time getting it to pick up on the sound of the bass, I had to turn the amp up to full and dangle the mic in front of it. I don't think it would be able to pick up on the acoustic bits.

[Wintermute]

You might be surprised - I remember recording an mp3 for someone and realising I'd also recorded on of the 'Yeah, I know' sketches from Little Britain.

What I do to record is plug a cable from the heaphones jack on the amp to the line-in jack on the soundcard of my pc. There's no mike, so there's no background noise. (but a more complete guide to home recording can be found in the Bass Forum Archive)

[burntgorilla]

Hmm, I think I've got it now, though Higher Ground sounds much lower than it does on the CD. Thanks for the help.

[Wintermute]

Glad to help.

[andrew4402]

okay, well i've been learning how to slap and pop but sometimes when i slap on the higher strings, my thumb hits the string that is lower, is this something that will improve with practice or am i not doing it right?

[Wintermute]

It's simply a practice thing. Keep at it, keep practicing on slapping the higher strings.

Track down 'Golden Boy' by Primus, that's a handy one for that.

Your accuracy will improve over time.

[tom_the_bassist]

I know im gonna sound REALLY dumb here but wat the hell r the octaves, and mute exercises? i dunno wat everyones talkin about. someone please help me

[Wintermute]

You know how the musical scale runs ABCDEFG? Well after the G comes another A, and the whole thing repeats.

AbcdefgAbcdefg

The two As here are octaves to each other.

To play an octave, you want to move up 12 frets (semitones). Another way to do it is to move up two frets and two strings. Try it (for example the 2nd fret on the E string and the 4th on the D string) and you'll see they fit together very well, as they are the same note in different octaves.

Now try slapping the 2nd on E and popping the 4th on D, and presto! You're slapping and popping octaves!

Technically that was a theory question, rather than a slapping one, but never mind.

As for the mute exercises, let me first ask: Do you know what a ghost note is?

[FleaWannabe313]

Sweet, finaally a good topic to talk about, but i have one more thing to add. most bassists do an octave slap (like u were just talking about), but many dont do a kind of riff like such... (btw, its in G)

---------------------------------------------
---------5--------5--------5-------5-------- (Pop)
----------------------3h5------------------- (Pop)
---3-3-------3-3-------------3-3----------- (Slap)

Most bassists just do a simple octave, try this (this i believe is in G major blues scale, not sure tho). If you add more poping to something, u can be heard better and u sound really cool ;-).

Ok, ill shut up now...

[FleaWannabe313]

oh,, just wondering WINTERMUTE but is that an albino stingray in ur pic?

[Wintermute]

Actually it's a shot of my Stingray replica, but with the colours reversed in Jasc Paintshop Pro 7. I wish they were made like that though...

[FleaWannabe313]

Yea, that looks REALLY cool, especially the black strings and white pickup. Im gonna submit that idea to Musicman... heh...

[Iluvmybass]

I have a 5 string. I can slap a little bit but the b-string is pissing me off. i got a private slap lesson once and they said to use palm mute which i know I use my right hand palm (outer edge of palm) to mute...but one thing I dont know how to do.

the whole time while slapping and popping and whatnot your doing flicking movements with the wrist which brings the palm off the strings right...so how does that work?

[Wintermute]

Imagine the right side of your palm is a hinge. It's perfectly possible to do, though a little tricky to explain. Thing is, your thumb and forefinger are on the left hand side of your right hand (as you look at it palm down) so they can still move up and down when the right side of your palm stays in contact with the strings.

Imagining the right hand side as a hinge is about the best I can put it.

Did he not demonstrate what he was telling you to do in the lesson? If not, why not?

Either use the palm mute or just practice your slapping - as accuracy improves you'll find it becomes less of a problem.

[tom_the_bassist]

No i dont but can ya tell me? thanx for the help so far, its great, keep it coming

[tom_the_bassist]

You know how the musical scale runs ABCDEFG? Well after the G comes another A, and the whole thing repeats.

AbcdefgAbcdefg

The two As here are octaves to each other.

To play an octave, you want to move up 12 frets (semitones). Another way to do it is to move up two frets and two strings. Try it (for example the 2nd fret on the E string and the 4th on the D string) and you'll see they fit together very well, as they are the same note in different octaves.

Now try slapping the 2nd on E and popping the 4th on D, and presto! You're slapping and popping octaves!

Technically that was a theory question, rather than a slapping one, but never mind.

As for the mute exercises, let me first ask: Do you know what a ghost note is?



Thanx for your help, its great, no i dont know a ghost note, keep it coming

[tom_the_bassist]

how do you do harmonics on different frets? i can only do it on the 7th

[Wintermute]

You play other harmonics exactly the same as you would the seventh. They're all over the place, but the easiest to get are the 7th, 5th and 12th. (The 12th should be the same pitch as the note you'd get if you fretted the 12th on that string).

That is nothing at all to do with slapping though - I really should be a little less helpful when people go off topic!

Right then, ghost notes. Rest your finger on a string as if you were going to play a harmonic, but then put other fingers on the string as well in the same way. Slap that string. You should get a *thud* kind of sound of no discernable tone. This is a ghost note, and they are more useful than they sound.

A mute exercise is basically a good way to practise them, like

G-------x------
D-----x---x----
A---x-------x--
G-x-----------x

where an 'x' is a ghost note. Slap that kind of thing, and you should get better at ghost notes (which are the same as mute notes)

For more examples and how to use them visit Bass_Guy33's thread 'Slap Rudiments'
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128136

[tom_the_bassist]

Hey thanks sooo much for the help, its great. just one more thing, i know im being a pain its just could you tell me wat a triplet is, thanx im learnin anesthesia by metallica and it said somefink about triplets.

[Wintermute]

Three notes played in one beat. (In rapid succession) With fingerstyle, this would normally be done with three fingers, one to each note.

(Once again, sod all to do with slap, but never mind!)

[Munky ona Bass]

Im a real noob and I was just wondering if better quality pick-ups would make my slaps sound better

[Wintermute]

Put simply, yes. Better quality pickups give better quality sound.

[tom_the_bassist]

hey ur really helpin me out here and i know im a pain its just what do u do if someone asks u to improvise, is it just scales mixed together? i know its sod all to do with slappin but i really appreciate ur help.

[burntgorilla]

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6692&page=1&pp=20

I think that thread might be of use to you, but good luck on finding anything, it's about 40 pages long.

[cameo]

ive gotta problem.......ive bin leanrin to slap for bout a month now and when i try to
slap the A string, i always hit da E string...is there any way to solve this problem???
help would be kool!

[tom_the_bassist]

ive gotta problem.......ive bin leanrin to slap for bout a month now and when i try to
slap the A string, i always hit da E string...is there any way to solve this problem???
help would be kool!

y dont u just pop the A string? its hard to slap it i know, just keep practising it

[Wintermute]

As a general rule I slap the E and A and pop the D and G.

Basically, the best way to solve a problem like this is by practise. Find a cool song that slaps both (Suggestion - 'Antipop' by Primus) and keep playing it until it starts to work.

Oh, and Tom The Bassist - I really have to draw the line here, that has nothing at all to do with slap, but there are lots of other lessons about that.

[cameo]

wikid thanx guys!!

[tom_the_bassist]

yeh ok soz for askin all those rubbish questions,
wen u slap do u have ur whole hand parralel to the string and then hit with the side of thumb, it sort of slows me down, is there a better way? wen i want to slap quickly.

[Munky ona Bass]

What is the actual "Slap" suposed to sound like cos I've been practising and I dont know if Im hitting the string right
Thanks in Advance

[Wintermute]

Tom - once you get confident there's no reason you can't start playing fast and dirty, as long as you can still get the sound you need. For example, I usually slap as I've described, but if I need to I can slap at 90 degrees to the string and get the sound I need. Once you know the rules, you can bend them all you like.

Munky - I can't describe that adequately in words... Your best bet is to track down and listen to some songs with clear, clean slapping in it. I suggest 'Higher Ground' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[Wintermute]

Aren't I good to you?

www.soundclick.com/alexgmusic.htm

Click on this, and download 'Slap Demo'

First, I slap the E string, A, D then G, then I go back down the strings popping. Then I have a quick blast through 'Higher Ground' and Oysterhead's 'Little Faces'

[burntgorilla]

The thing that amazes me with slapping is seeing players like Flea (just as an example) slap bass. It looks like they're whacking the string as hard as they possibly can, but in reality they're only hitting it lightly. Must take a lot of skill.

[Wintermute]

Just practice, as with everything musical. Bear in mind that the time when they look most like that is in music videos, when they're almost always miming, and players (especially Flea) will go crazy with it.

[Munky ona Bass]

Thanks Winter mute thats helped me alot :D

[Wintermute]

Glad to help.

[tom_the_bassist]

wow man i wish i could slap like that, ur a great bass player and teacher. nice work wintermute

[Wintermute]

I've only been playing about a year and nine months, with practice you'll become at least as good, I'm really not that impressive!

Thanks nonetheless!

[Wintermute]

Incidentally, as the Slap Demo recording was all simple, demonstrative stuff, I'm now working on a 'going slap crazy' one.

I want to make it clear that it's as a Demo of what slapping can do, not showing off, as there are people on this site who could hand me my *** on a plate!

[Hopper]

just started learning slapping so i got my own tips. i haven't read all the posts so i could be repeating some stuff. i wouldn't recommend slapping with the knuckle of your thumb, maybe a bit lower between the middle of the bottom of the thumb and knuckle(if that makes sense), it gives a nicer sound and doesn't hurt if ur an aggressive slapper.

try this simple octave lesson, playing with your fingers first to remember it, then try slapping the low notes and popping the high notes. take a really slow rythm at first so u can learn to mute the low notes after a slap and learn to pop the high notes quickly. then just build up a quicker and quicker rythm over time. maybe try moving it down to the E string to start if u have trouble hitting the A without brushing off the open E. this may all sound very lessony but it helped me and the stretch is good to learn to.
(if anyone knows this from a 70's disco song will u tell me the name, could be Disco Duck, not too sure)

G---5--5--5--5--5--2--3--4----5--5--5--5--5--7--8--7---
D--------------------------------------------------------
A-3--3--3--3--3--0--1--2----3--3--3--3--3--5--6--5-----
E--------------------------------------------------------

just learnt another nice slap lesson that uses similar octaves. on the slides just pop the D with your index finger and the G with your middle finger at the same time, gives a cool sound.
the first run of octaves are played in a 1+2+3+ count but the second run don't play the 4 on the G string till the 4 count, ie play nothing on the last + then play the 4 on the G on the 4 count(i'm so confused too and i'm writing this), just makes it feel like there's a definite ending.

G-------7--2--3--4-----12/13-----2--3----4-
D----------------------11/12--------------
A---4h5--0--1--2---------------0--1--2---
E-0-----------------0---------------------
1+ 2+ 3+ 1 +2 +3 + 4

[Hopper]

ergh, the counting at the bottom of the second lesson isn't lined up properly, ignore it

[Wintermute]

Slapping with that part of your thumb is an interesting idea, but as that part of the thumb is recessed, it's very hard to slap accurately on any string other than E. I'd stick to the way I recommended, but try both!

[Hopper]

just started learning a really sweet slap song. it's 'Foget Me Nots' by Patrice Rushden or something like that. for some reason the tab is on the site under The Ramones

http://www.mxtabs.net/tab_versions.php?path=Bass,t,2713,The+Ramones,Forg et+Me+Nots,45023
(this is nearly perfect except it's missing a 2 or 3 variations for the last bar, i can post them if anyone wants them)

you'll must likely know it as the same bass line from Will Smiths 'Men In Black', as in it's the exact same. i got the single from a friend and it has an instrumental so u can prob dl that somewhere so it's easier to hear and u don't have to listen to the crap lyrics everytime u play it. :)

anyways this slap bass line has pretty much all the basics for learning slapping, it has slap, pop, slides, hammer ons but not pull offs. it's wriiten by Eddie Washington and if u can play this ur doing pretty well, this guy has 20yrs+ experience and is one of the best session bassists around.

and if u get it down everything in slap will become a lot easier.

[Sporadic]

Awesome thread, I used to be clueless about slapping and now I'm getting a lot better!

One question, when I slap I can feel my upper arm (sort of around my bicep) working...is that supposed to happen due to the wrist movement?

[Larrivée-6-string]

For some good videos on how to slap check out http://www.gazzbass.com/Features/bass_videos.htm from http://www.gazzbass.com/home.html

There's more examples in this thread http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183645

Also - Right then, ghost notes. Rest your finger on a string as if you were going to play a harmonic, but then put other fingers on the string as well in the same way. Slap that string. You should get a *thud* kind of sound of no discernable tone. This is a ghost note, and they are more useful than they sound.
This is incorrect, he's described mutes here not ghost notes - don't get the two things confused.

[Wintermute]

Well, that's how it was taught to me, and as I often see it printed. The two terms seem to be more or less interchangeable. If it is wrong, I apologise. HOWEVER - though the terms are possibly often interchangeable, the one I described is more relevant to slap, so I went with that. Had he meant the other and made that clear, I wouldn't have answered.

And to Sporadic - Interesting question. No, I don't think it should. Your arm shouldn't really be working above the elbow. But you probably would use your upper arm if you went from one string to another while slapping.

[Larrivée-6-string]

Ghost notes are notes which are implied, they are either played lightly or not played at all. RHCP's "Mellowship Slinky In B Major" is a good example, the main verse part is full of them. Hope that helps with the confusion :)

[Wintermute]

Yes, I know that, but you will often see people write ghost when they mean mute and vice versa. Particularly on tabs. I made an assumption based on the meaning most relevant to slap. Still, now he has both definitions.

[Sporadic]

http://www.getdownministries.com/video_download.html

The slap bass videos on that site might help someone out there...

[burntgorilla]

Right, to clear something up. If you slap the second fret on the E string, without an amp, what should you hear? Nothing, a little click, or a loud click?

[Larrivée-6-string]

Right, to clear something up. If you slap the second fret on the E string, without an amp, what should you hear? Nothing, a little click, or a loud click?
You should hear the note (F#) accompanied by a clunk:) rather than a click.

[Larrivée-6-string]

Right, to clear something up. If you slap the second fret on the E string, without an amp, what should you hear? Nothing, a little click, or a loud click?
You should hear the note (F#) accompanied by a clunk:) rather than a click.

[Wintermute]

Yeah, it should play fine. Are you pulling off the string fast enough?

[burntgorilla]

Hmm, I suppose it depends what you mean by clunk. The sound I get is from the string hitting the frets up near my finger, not down by my thumb. I don't think I could pull my thumb away any faster, so it's not that. I don't suppose there's a recording anywhere of slapping without an amp?

[Wintermute]

I'd like to make one for you, but I'd need a microphone for that...

There will certainly be a clunk, or a click, as the string is supposed to hit the frets, but there should also be a note ringing out. Is there?

To be honest, it's not all that important, as long as you can make it sound right amplified.

[burntgorilla]

Well, I was using that to see if I was playing it right. There is a note, so I'm assuming it's right. I thought that you needed to hit the string extremely lightly, which was the reason it's hard to do. But if you don't need to do that, why is slapping so hard?

Edit: http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/slap1.mpeg

I'm getting that sound, though prehaps I could get it to ring out a little more. I think I've got it now, so cheers.

[Wintermute]

You don't NEED to slap the string very lightly, it's just wasted effort to do it hard. As long as the string hits the fret it's hard enough. Slapping is considered hard mainly because it's the only technique that you can do on a bass that you can't do on a guitar (Regi Wooten excepted).This makes it hard in the eyes of guitar players.

[Hitler 69]

Ok, I may just be really dumb but one thing I dont get about slapping/ poping is:

How exactley dose the slap set you up to do the pop and vice versa.

[livingzombie]

Thanks for all the help guys!

But I was wondering what you do you have lots of fast notes on the same string... Do you have to just go crazy with your thumb or what?

Also, what about all these muted notes you see? How do you do that sort of thing so fast and why mute them instead of just playing the ordinary notes?

[burntgorilla]

Ok, I may just be really dumb but one thing I dont get about slapping/ poping is:

How exactley dose the slap set you up to do the pop and vice versa.

Depends what way you do it, I suppose. If you do the way they say on all the sites, then when you move down to slap, you hook your finger under whatever string, and then pull away.

[Wintermute]

Depends what way you do it, I suppose. If you do the way they say on all the sites, then when you move down to slap, you hook your finger under whatever string, and then pull away.

That's pretty much right. Also popping moves your hand away from the string and makes it ready to slap.

Sorry about the delay, been moving house.

And livingzombie, you can build up speed with practice, but also for runs of two or three notes you can just bounce, slapping twice in the same movement. The thumb hits the string, and bounces off it, and you just let it fall right back again without pulling it back. (This is particularly tricky to explain verbally)

As for why you would play muted notes, sometimes it just sounds very good. Or works well as a rhythmic device. If you play a song which contains muted notes, try playing with ordinary notes instead and it'll sound convoluted, miss them out and it sounds disjointed.

[JBass]

ok im kinda havin trouble with this. i got the slap down, i can get a pretty clean sound when my aim is good, but i listen to songs using slapping and popping and mine just doesnt sound like theirs. For instance, in 311's "What was I thinking", the intro is a slap/pop solo...and it just sounds cleaner, like theres no excess ringing after a pop or slap which i cant get to do. Whenever i try the sound just keeps buzzing unless i mute it with my hand which requires me to stop playing. Is there a technique to get a cleaner sound or do i just need practice?

[burntgorilla]

Not quite sure of what you mean, but Higher Ground sounds really different when I play it. Must just be different basses or something. People say about getting callouses on their thumb, but all I've got is a painful blister on my popping finger, which is irritating.

[JBass]

Not quite sure of what you mean, but Higher Ground sounds really different when I play it. Must just be different basses or something. People say about getting callouses on their thumb, but all I've got is a painful blister on my popping finger, which is irritating.


Its like when i hear other songs the slaps and pops are sharp(not tone-wise) and clean but when i try the notes just ring out when i use hammerons and stuff

[Wintermute]

Sorry, another delay there. I should be back online properly now, problems with a house move.

The short, clean ending notes your afterare most likely achieved through muting. What you need to work on is your muting, probably. You shouldn't have to stop playing to do one. There are other ways of muting than just palm mute, for a start.

Practice pulling off a note, but keeping you finger on the string. (You may find keeping two fingers on the string helps avoid unwanted harmonics.) The note should stop immediately when you pull off.

Also, try muting the string or strings using the side of your hand, (The right hand side as you look at it palm down, the side without the thumb) You should be able to touch the strings with this side of your hand without stopping slapping and popping. Think of it as a hinge, so you can slap and pop comfortably barely moving this side of your hand. This makes it easier to mute with.

[Dustin_James]

www.soundclick.com/alexgmusic.htm

My mind is blank... but what is that song he is playin in his slap demo...

the first one after the practice pops and slaps....

the lyrics to it go like... "people.... keep on ??????somethin"

lol... I dont know, lol... someone help me out cause I wanna play that.

[Wintermute]

Higher Ground, as covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[BassistNate]

ok, i havent read all of the posts, but i have a quick question regarding slapping muted notes. i havent had this explained to me very well and am still confused as to what exactly to do. do you mute on the frettboard or just on the string and if it is on the frettboard, how does this not screw up the timing of the song? thanx

[Wintermute]

It can be done either on the fretboard with the right hand. Here's what to do. To mute on the frets, simply rest two fingers on the string without actually fretting. Similar to what you would do if you were playing a harmonic. This prevents the string from ringing, and you get a muted, toneless sound on the slap.
To mute with the right hand, when you slap leave the right hand side of your hand (as you look at it palm down) touching the string. It's best to think of the hand as a hinge for seeing how to do this. Imagine there's a hinge between the right hand side of your hand and the strings.

As for interrupting the flow, it's just a matter of practice. With effort, you'll be able to do them just as fluidly and comfortably as you would slap normally.

[Dustin_James]

Higher Ground, as covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Thanx alot man... this whole thread has really helped me out. :thumb:

[Wintermute]

Hey, no problem. Just remember to rate the thread!

[scave]

Does it sound different when you use a guitar amp instead of a real bass amp?

[Wintermute]

Yes, it'll sound horrible. DO NOT PLAY BASS THROUGH A GUITAR AMP

You can severely damage the speaker of the amp. At low volumes you might just be ok, but start doing more agressive (tonally) styles of play like slapping and you'll damage something. Get a bass amp.

[ooo]

I like to slap.

[Wintermute]

Thank you for your contribution.

[scave]

Yes, it'll sound horrible. DO NOT PLAY BASS THROUGH A GUITAR AMP

You can severely damage the speaker of the amp. At low volumes you might just be ok, but start doing more agressive (tonally) styles of play like slapping and you'll damage something. Get a bass amp.

Thanks! Now I know why my slapping sounds bad when I do it at home. :D My friend is a bass player too and when I play with his gear, it sounds great. I'm not into this whole gear stuff, so I didn't know this, although I'm no noob. I just play songs and if there's some noise coming out of the amp, I'm happy. ;) At first I thought it would be my bass, because it's a shortscaler, which was built in 1967.

[t3h_m013]

dont quite know how to explain this question but oh well....
does anyone know where that thread is that had slapping and popping "shapes" (there was a word used but i cant remember what it is)

for example the aeroplane rhcp shape:
g----------
d-----4-4
a----------
e-2--2-2-
Think that should be readable.

Reason being that thread is what ive used to learn slapping and popping and am now a bit stuck on a couple of "shapes" and so need some new ones.

[Wintermute]

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128136

That's probably the thread you're looking for.

[liquid_tension_experiment]

i'm tryin to play at victor wooten's speed and its the pop of all things thats slowing me down (i play a 6 string but my slaping is sound) anyone else had this problem

[Dustin_James]

Ok all this slapping and poppin on a 4 string is great.... but what about a 5 string.

The B string is easy to slap duh... the E as well as soon as you can get it down.

But the strings are just so much closer together. Dirk Lance (The old Incubus Bassist) used to do it.

It's just when I shape my hand like yall tell me too... my hand is a lot more tighter... so what I normally do is just "freehand" it... like raise my hand and slap and pop with my index, middle, and ring fingers.

What would you suggest?

P.S. - Don't say buy a four string either.

[liquid_tension_experiment]

i can answer that cause i play a 6... muteing comes into play more, use ur fretting hand to mute that b string when ur playing e

[liquid_tension_experiment]

actually wat's ur string spacing u just have to get really accurate with ur thumb... 20mml is big 18 is comfortable.. 16.5 is gettin small

[Wintermute]

Liquid Tension Experiment - if you're doing Wooten stuff you may want to look into popping with more than one finger. I.e. Pop with your index finger then with your middle finger, then with your ring finger. You may also want to look into Double thumbing, there's a different thread in the L&A for that.

Dustin James - It may sound like a cheap answer, but it's just practice. You'll get used to it.

[Dustin_James]

Liquid Tension Experiment - if you're doing Wooten stuff you may want to look into popping with more than one finger. I.e. Pop with your index finger then with your middle finger, then with your ring finger. You may also want to look into Double thumbing, there's a different thread in the L&A for that.

Dustin James - It may sound like a cheap answer, but it's just practice. You'll get used to it.

Yeah I know, practice practice... Im gettin better... its just harder. But I guess thats the best for beginner wanting to be great.

[Chips]

I think I've gotten it down, but i'm getting this "clunk" sound. I'm playing thru a 15 watt amp, so do i just need more power to drown out the "clunk"?

And also, my pop is alot louder then my slap, is it supposed to be like that? Or am i just not slapping hard enough?

[Wintermute]

It's probably closer to the mark to say you're popping too hard rather than not slapping hard enough, but as the pop is more trebly, it is more biting, so it should always seem a little louder.

And yes, you do basically just need more volume. The clunk shouldn't be amplified, for the most part, so with more volume it'll be left behind.

[BassNewb]

Hey, when you slap is it supposed to be the side of your thumb hitting the string lightly just enough to make a noise and then immediatly springing back up from the string while poping (I got the poping part down that was simple)? Sorry for the dumb question, but I just want to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

[convergecult89]

Ok newb slapper question: I've pretty much got slapping, but for popping, how is the "popping" different from plucking the string as normal? Thanks!

[coddingtown]

Ok newb slapper question: I've pretty much got slapping, but for popping, how is the "popping" different from plucking the string as normal? Thanks!
Plucking the string as normal, you just kinda push down/back on the string, popping, you hook your finger under the string and pull up. Im sure this is explained at least 3 times in this thread dude! Its explained in the original lesson at least!

[Wintermute]

BassNewb - You should be slapping just hard enough to make the string hit the frets.
ConvergeCult - That's explained in the main lesson, post one, page one.

[basskid]

how serious can the damage get if you slap on a fretless....Ive been slapin on mine for a while before i saw this. the only damage I see, is I can see where my strings have been hitting. can that get worse?

[FREAKofNATURE]

ive been playing for about 15 months and i think im pretty good at slapping and popping. i have managed to tackle Classical Thump and A Show Of Hands(even though this is mostly tapping) and i dont know if im average at slapping or if im advanced. i can play any red hot chili peppers song easily slapping and popping and i really havent tried any primus songs because i dont know any really really good ones(if you know any please list). i havent really found any other good slapping songs besides Classical Thump and certain parts of A Show Of Hands so ive gone on to slapping non slapping songs such as Anesthesia. if you can tell me some really good slapping songs id be greatly appriciated.

also i slap at the corner of my nail on my thumb, its farther up from my knuckly and it gives me the same sound but i have better accuracy because there is less amount of thumb going over the string.

basskid the damage can get pretty extensive if you keep doing it. i suggest getting a slap plate or stop slapping for the cheap solution, or if you have the money buy a good 4 string(fretted).

wintermute you say that the Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray often claimed the best for slapping, ive never heard this but im sure its very good but id say that the very best bass for slapping would have to be the Fodera Victor Wooten Classic 4 is the best for slapping because he said it himself that it was his best bass for normal playing and for slapping out of all the basses he has.

well thats all i have to say and if you know any really good slap songs please tell me.

[TheRaped]

Well I'm still a beginner but I'd go with saying that it's really a personnal thing. You usually play with what you start with or get used to. Marcus Miller uses a Jazz bass, Flea uses Music Man Sting Ray on every video I've seen of him, and Wooten uses his Fodera.

For slap songs, get into some Marcus Miller if you haven't yet. He's one of the best slappers of these days. Funk is probably the way to go, since most of slap and pop is in it. If you master Wooten's thumb-pick technique I guess it won't be hard for you.

[Wintermute]

how serious can the damage get if you slap on a fretless....Ive been slapin on mine for a while before i saw this. the only damage I see, is I can see where my strings have been hitting. can that get worse?

The damage where your strings are hitting is what will happen, yes. It can get worse, it can get quite bad. I'm not an expert in this area, but there are ways of stopping it. Ask in your local guitar shop, or look round the forums.

[Wintermute]

wintermute you say that the Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray often claimed the best for slapping, ive never heard this but im sure its very good but id say that the very best bass for slapping would have to be the Fodera Victor Wooten Classic 4 is the best for slapping because he said it himself that it was his best bass for normal playing and for slapping out of all the basses he has.


This is a little pedantic, don't you think? The Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray is commonly regarded as the best STANDARD PRODUCTION bass for slapping. Most people can't afford a Fodera, and even if they could it's only a matter of opinion whether it would be the best, you may well find Carl Thompson custom basses, as endorsed by Les Claypool and Stanley Clarke to be the best.

I mention other good slapping songs in the main lesson at the beginning, but I'll go back and add some more now. Marcus Miller is indeed a good choice though. That guy has incredible slap tone.

[FREAKofNATURE]

i tried all of those songs and they were too easy except Classical Thump which i already know. If you have any more suggestions they would be greatly appriciated.

[Jiezeru]

Cheerz, this topic has helped me greatly, i used to slap with my thumb horizontal, but through reading this topic i have learned a lot, thank you.
There is only one problem for me now, and that is speed, i cant get enough pace as i would like to with my slappin, i practice but it seems like it aint gonna happen for me.

Is there any more tips for 5 strings, coz i have a 4 and a 5, but would like to be able to be as good on both.

[futurehomelessman]

to mute the strings so it doesnt buzz for too long, get your sisters or your prison mates hair tye- the scrunchy fuzzy ones, and wrap it around the neck, like a capo for bass, this is what such bassists as victor wooten and p-nut do! cheers

or you could just mute it with one of your fingers on your left hand, just dont press down

[FREAKofNATURE]

Originally Posted by Blink'd
to mute the strings so it doesnt buzz for too long, get your sisters or your prison mates hair tye- the scrunchy fuzzy ones, and wrap it around the neck, like a capo for bass, this is what such bassists as victor wooten and p-nut do! cheers

ive done this before and i havent been able to find a good scrunchy to use on it. you have the strings all at a certain height for the scrunchy to effect it. what i use for my steinberger is this thing i made out of medical wrap. i just stapled it together in a circle and it works perfectly, but the only problem is it will only work for headless basses.

[Dustin_James]

Well some of you might remeber me having the five string slap questions.. well I dropped the five string and got a four...

the four is sooo much more easier! I can really bust out now on this, since I was playin on the 5 for soo long.

[FREAKofNATURE]

^ see it is easyier because the strings are further apart, so i dont understand how anyone can think they slap better with a 5 string over a 4 string.

[gaslight]

Good introduction yo :).

Man I wish I had have been on these boards when I first started bass.

I had been playing for a year before I taught myself slap, my bass teachers showed me the technique but I never understood. For so long I honestly thought I would never be able to do it.

But hey, now I can, live and learn.

[Wintermute]

^^
Ha, at least you had teachers. I taught myself to slap by watching the video of Claypool playing the Awakening. In fact that video made up a good deal of my bass education.

The string spacing makes it easier to slap cleanly on a four string, but going from one string to another is easier on a 5 as there is less distance to travel.

If you find the suggested songs too easy then you've gone beyond this lesson, which was intended after all as an introduction. There have been many many threads made about hard slap songs and such, go search for them!

[Wintermute]

Wow, all's silent for ages, then I spend ONE night under a desk in an airport and EVERYONE comes to the thread!

[FREAKofNATURE]

ya i had to teach myself how to slap also and i didnt even have a video to do it. i had a teacher but he couldnt slap because he was a classical guitar player. how fun it was to learn bass from him.

[BassNewb]

Wintermute nice thread on slapping. It took awhile to understand what slapping should sound like but this thread helped alot. When you first played that part from "Higher Grounds" I thought it was impossible. Couple days later I was able to play it full speed. Good job on the thread it's helped so much. :D

[Dustin_James]

^ see it is easyier because the strings are further apart, so i dont understand how anyone can think they slap better with a 5 string over a 4 string.

Yeah I've noticed in tabs that slapping on a FIVE and a FOUR use two differnt techinques. FIVE string bassist like Dirk Lance who used to play for Incubus use more of a finger tap for the slap.

I'm workin on that thumb now, since converting to a FOUR.

[Wintermute]

I've not watched Dirk Lance, but you commonly see Les Claypool going ape slapping away with his thumb on his six string.

Bass-Newb - Glad to help. Slapping is a lot easier than it looks and sounds, and so it continues as the ultimate weapon in our war against the guitar ;)

[FREAKofNATURE]

lol war against the guitar, to slap on a 5 6 or 7 string all you need to do is have a **** load of practice. i know this guy who has a 7 string and he goes crazy slapping on that thing.

[Wintermute]

With sufficient practice, you can slap virtually anything. Regi Wooten has been known to pull off slap solos on his electric guitar.

[FREAKofNATURE]

i found out i can play the first two parts of classical thump on guitar slapping.

[Wintermute]

Good.

Right, back to the lessons...

Edit: - To all readers - This lesson has been duplicated in the new, non-archived L&A section - if you have a question or a comment, be sure to head over there, and, as ever, feel free to contact me.

[Wintermute]

Thread resurrected from the Old Lessons and Articles forum to stem the flow of slap questions in the Beginner forum.

Any questions, ask them here, and I'll answer them as soon as I can.

Later today I'll take a couple of pictures, and include them too.

[vexedandglorius]

I was wondering if you'd gone over vic wooten's method of popping or not. I'd look through, but I'm lazy, and there's alot of stuff here.

[ReturnToRock]

my slapping sounds too twangy and my popping too metallic, even though i'm following the lesson's instructions. what can i do?

[_ThisSecretNinja_]

Im still confused...when you say your meant to use your knuckle to slap, do you mean on the side of your thumb where your knuckle is, or that flabby wrinkly part on the very top where your nail is? :confused:

[Wintermute]

my slapping sounds too twangy and my popping too metallic, even though i'm following the lesson's instructions. what can i do?

Most likely you either have very new strings, in which case just wait for them to wear in, or you can solve it with some EQ tweaking. Ease off the treble, and boost the Bass a bit, see how that goes.

Im still confused...when you say your meant to use your knuckle to slap, do you mean on the side of your thumb where your knuckle is, or that flabby wrinkly part on the very top where your nail is?

The side of your thumb, where the knuckle is.

[The Forgotten Bassist]

You said RHCP covered Higher Ground, who did the original?

[Wintermute]

Stevie Wonder

[Benny_G]

i thought stevie only helped make it, i didn't know it was a cover

[Wintermute]

Chili Peppers released Mother's Milk in 1989, Stevie Wonder released Innervisions in 1973.

[mikethecoug]

GREAT THREAD! I love it, thanks ever so much!! I thought slap was a touchy subject but now its so cool!!

[Flea's protege]

dumb question by a slap n00b, but when I start to slap fretted notes, the strings keep tapping the bottom fret for an annoying 'dead' metallic tap rather than the actual note. any ideas on whats wrong? any help/advice would be appreciated.
yeah concentrate on just brushin the string as u pass it. it's difficult to put in writing. as u practice the aim it comes naturally. hit it with the bone that protrudes outta the side of ur thumb. if u hit the string right down u get the metallic tap u talked about. if u just brush the string down and rest your hand on the string below it, it works out perfectly. practice with the ending of stirway to heaven (A, G, F) which is the easiest bass i know. i learned using that. have fun! hope i was of assistance!
sparky.

[Wintermute]

^^
Thanks for your help, but he asked that question in 2003. The odds are he's got it by now, or he doesn't play bass anymore. Either way I doubt he's still waiting on an answer! :thumb:

(especially since I answered it for him back in '03)

[blackmars0]

My thumbs seem overly large, and I keep hitting the A string if I'm slapping the E, etc.

Any suggestions for working on accuracy? good songs for something like that?

[Wintermute]

Antipop, Power Mad and Golden Boy by Primus are all quite good for accuracy, as is just slapping out something like:


G---------0
D--------0-0
A--0-0-0----0--0--0
E-0-0-0-------0--0--0

It doesn't have to sound musical, it's just a physical exercise. The size of your thumb shouldn't affect your accuracy unless you truly have side-show worthy digits. I've seen people pull off slap solos on a guitar before now. It's just a matter of practise and accuracy.

Keep trying! :thumb:

[Zespris]

I've started slapping, and found you post very useful, however, I keep getting harmonics sounding in my amp, is it because i don't mute the strings? (Btw, the amp is 20W).

I also find popping quite hard on my fingers, but slapping I can do without so much strength into the slap, am I doing something wrong?

[Wintermute]

First of all, welcome to the forums. :thumb:

Assuming you are fretting the not properly, if you're getting noticeable harmonics I'd say you're probably letting your thumb rest on the string too long. Just let your thumb bounce right off, keep a nice loose wrist.

As for the popping, it hits a different part of your fingertip to normal fingerstyle playing - your existing callouses won't quite cover it. As callouses build up, it will start to feel less hard on your fingers. You could also be doing it too hard - you don't have to pull it too far away, or hook under too far. When I first started playing I broke a couple of strings through popping - since I got the technique under control about two years ago I've not broken a single string.

[rushfan3]

im not that good at slapping

[Zespris]

Thanks for your reply but i keep getting the harmonics on the other strings, not the one i'm slapping.

[freakmeeko]

This freaks me out. I picked up bass no more than last weekend and I could naturally slap & pop but can hardly play standard style. Man I'm scared.

[AA-12]

I guess this is considored a slap question. I'm working on double thumping, and I can't figure out how to get the seconf half of it to sound right. Can someone help with this or supply a good video that has details on what exactly to do?

[Omega Red]

I guess this is considored a slap question. I'm working on double thumping, and I can't figure out how to get the seconf half of it to sound right. Can someone help with this or supply a good video that has details on what exactly to do?
i just posted some videos in the main bass forum, look for 'Video Lessons'

[AA-12]

i just posted some videos in the main bass forum, look for 'Video Lessons'
I just came across that. Thanks man.

[AA-12]

I watched the videos but I still don't completely get it. Do you slap the first time, and then pull up and basically pop it with your thumb?

[88BASS88]

But anyway. I can slap on the E string very easily now, credit due to Wintermute, but one thing I can't get right is slapping on one of the lower strings. If I try just hitting down onto it it makes a really muzzled noise, and there doesn't seem to be enough room to bring my thumb down enough to make a clean sound. Am I doing something wrong or is it suppost to be like this?

[irotinmyskin]

i get the element of slapping and popping, i get a good sound of it, but i have to do it very slow., i just cant nail the speed or the rythm u know?., ive tried a lot and it seems im not getting better at all, what am i doing wrong? what excercises can i do in order to get to actually do it in a continous motion without losing the speed or rythm or the thrust if u can call it that.
i appreciate any kind of help
thnx

[deadmilkman]

i get the element of slapping and popping, i get a good sound of it, but i have to do it very slow., i just cant nail the speed or the rythm u know?., ive tried a lot and it seems im not getting better at all, what am i doing wrong? what excercises can i do in order to get to actually do it in a continous motion without losing the speed or rythm or the thrust if u can call it that.
i appreciate any kind of help
thnx
hey man, play nothin but slap and pop, and all i can say is experiment w/ songs, like incorporate these techniques into all of your songs start w/ slow songs and eventually (once uve mastered that) move 2 a faster song
ive gotten 2 were i can play seek and destroy doin nothin but slap but ne way thats all i can say
good luck and i hope this helps u :thumb:

[ak50324]

I can't get any noise when I try to slap a string...

[Wintermute]

But anyway. I can slap on the E string very easily now, credit due to Wintermute, but one thing I can't get right is slapping on one of the lower strings. If I try just hitting down onto it it makes a really muzzled noise, and there doesn't seem to be enough room to bring my thumb down enough to make a clean sound. Am I doing something wrong or is it suppost to be like this?

It's just a case of practise, practise, practise.

what excercises can i do in order to get to actually do it in a continous motion without losing the speed or rythm or the thrust if u can call it that.

Try the Higher Ground cover the Red Hot Chili Peppers did.

I can't get any noise when I try to slap a string...

Just a muted thump sound? If so, you're keeping your thumb on the string too long. It has to be a sharp impact, then away, otherwise you just mute the string. Let it come naturally - just bouncing off the string. No need to force it, no need to go too hard.

[88BASS88]

All right, I can finally slap, all the strings. And I've learned the first part to Wooten's classical thump. But one thing I can't figure out, is how to mute a string, or do a palm mute, or what ever it's called. I was trying to learn My name is mud by Primus, but the song involves palm muteing or something.

[Phalanx]

you can mute by either using your left hand to dampen the strings (more than 1 finger so you dont ring a harmonic) and use hand. I use a combination of left hand slaps, mutes and right hand slaps and palm mutes to make a very quick beat slap style which works really well. Palm muting works well when playing things like Stuart Hamm Country Music

[HappyMarshmellow]

I just got a bass yesterday, I've been playing guitar for maybe 4 years though.

Am I doing this right?

http://scanner_1.tripod.com/slap.wmv

[Killer Fridge]

doesnt work :(

[Omega Red]

I just got a bass yesterday, I've been playing guitar for maybe 4 years though.

Am I doing this right?

http://scanner_1.tripod.com/slap.wmv
not even close

hand should be more like this
http://www.dubyajoe.com/mxbass/quatre_DT_application.MOV

[HappyMarshmellow]

not even close

hand should be more like this
http://www.dubyajoe.com/mxbass/quatre_DT_application.MOV

:upset:

I was hoping that even though my technique technically wasn't correct, the sound I was getting would cut it

[Habnot]

If you're having trouble with slap, the only honest way around it is to practice. You should be able to slap or pop any string in any order with little or no difficulty.


Also, to add to the precussion element of slap, try incorporating muted notes. Even a series of them can completely rock with slap, such as "Me and My Bass Guitar."

[macabre]

are there any other slap songs that are good for beginners besides, Higher Ground, The Antipop??

[radiance]

Police Helicopter by RHCP is quite easy, only 2 riffs... I only started slapping today and it was the 1st song I learnt.

[tomtom]

thanks dude, i still don't fully get it, but it's close enough

[Tuning_Peg]

How good should a bassist need to be to learn to slap and pop? I keep gettign long tones, where should I mute the string to get a short sound on both slap and pop?

[Killer Fridge]

mute the strings with your left hand (assuming thats your fretting hand, might as well call it the fretting hand) by lifting the fretting finger up slightly after slapping or popping

and you can be as good as you want to be - its a technique like fingerstyle, not a measure of...goodness...bloody poor vocabulary!

[d-1]

Thanks for this wintermute I learned alot

[rylche]

do you slap with your left hand or your right hand if you're a right-handed player?

[Puddin Taine']

are there any other slap songs that are good for beginners besides, Higher Ground, The Antipop??
yeah, songs such as my name is mud when played with double slaps on the E string build up your speed, and there is a easy tab of lacquerhead on mx which helps getting popping and slapping on top and bottom string at a fluent rate

[Puddin Taine']

just wondering, does slapping a fretless bass put dints in the fretboard/break the bridge?

[radiance]

My fretless has marks on the fret(less)board but it isnt that noticable so far, and it hasn't done any real damage to it. I'm going to try and get a slap plate for it though just to be safe.

[Killer Fridge]

do you slap with your left hand or your right hand if you're a right-handed player?

Right

[NirvanaKid]

Please post some pics man I really want to learn :(

[Puddin Taine']

My fretless has marks on the fret(less)board but it isnt that noticable so far, and it hasn't done any real damage to it. I'm going to try and get a slap plate for it though just to be safe.
thanks for that, yeah i had heard that it damaged a fretless a fair bit but ive seen les slapping his rainbow bass (apparently fretless) many times, so im assuming he must have a plate or something on there

[darrell]

I'm just getting the hang of elementary slapping... Here's a line I learned today though:

G--------5--------------------------
D---------5h7---------5-5h7--------
A-----------------------------------
E--5-5------------5-5--------------

Slap anything on the E string. Pop the rest. Might be confusing if you can't hear it, but figure out a groove to it.

[Scott01]

Im finding it really difficult to slap/pop muted notes, in the slap technique book i have there is alot of licks with muted notes, the sample/backing tracks have a great sound for the muted notes, mine never come out right could you give me some advice on how is easiest to achieve a decent sounding muted note played in slap/pop style? seems to be the most difficult part for me :confused:

[Lennie]

I'm sure im braking the rules again, i don't really get this forum, but all my last replys has been "illegal".

I keep scratching the top of my index on the G-string, when i pop the D-string, i must be doing it wrong.. anybody got tips too get rid of this problem ?

[velvet goldmine]

Im finding it really difficult to slap/pop muted notes, in the slap technique book i have there is alot of licks with muted notes, the sample/backing tracks have a great sound for the muted notes, mine never come out right could you give me some advice on how is easiest to achieve a decent sounding muted note played in slap/pop style? seems to be the most difficult part for me :confused:

simply lay your left hand over the strings that you are muting, dont press down against the fret. Depending on where you do it you may achieve harmonics so if you do just move your hand down a little further, the right hand technique is exactly the same for muted notes, just tackle them with the aggression that you tackle the normal notes
PS-lay down more than one finger on your left hand if you are achieving harmonics

[Elemetal]

I seem to hit the string beside when slapping any way to solve this. Or should i mute the strings with my palm???? I added you to msn or wahtever but your not online now so i just am gonna ask here.

[slack]

i keep getting a ringing sound, almost like harmonics, when i fret and thump the A string a lot. the action is pretty low on my guitar, like .4 cm on the E string (8th fret) and .4/.3 cm on the A string. is that too low?

i don't think it's my technique 'cause i thump with my thumb parallel to the strings and i use my wrist etc., but i can hardly ever get a clear note on the strings.

i also get a metal clacking sound everytime i thump, but i guess that's normal eh?

[Pitch Fork6]

Slapping

Slapping is a sound made by striking the string with your thumb.

- Hold your thumb parallel to the string
- Twist your wrist sharply so that the thumb hits the string, and pull away again immediately.

I've often thought that slapping was closer to a Drumming technique than a stringed instrument technique. You're looking for the same kind of bounce off the string as if you were drumming.

Slapping is easiest on the E string, so start there and work your way onto the other strings.

You don't have to slap hard, as a general guide I slap the back of my left hand with my thumb, and if it hurts AT ALL I'm slapping too hard.

I personally slap near the fretboard, but experiment with this.



So are you suposed to rebound your thumb after slapping low E, because I thought you were suposed to slap and have your thumb end up on the next string. Being self taught sucks.

[supersids91]

thnx for the help:) , i was doing it all wrong

[death2u667]

hi there
ihavent managed to get the slap pop thing going yet i was wondering is it possible that some basses either dont allow it or make it harder than others

[Wintermute]

Sorry for the delay - no bass doesn't allow slapping, unless you've not put any strings on it!

That said, the way you have your bass set up can affect things. If your action is too high, you'll have to slap ludicrously hard to get it to sound properly, and if your action is too low you may find the tone hard to get.

[Killer Fridge]

So are you suposed to rebound your thumb after slapping low E, because I thought you were suposed to slap and have your thumb end up on the next string. Being self taught sucks.

you can do either, they both have their advantages and disadvantages - i do what you do, as does my tutor, and victor wooten

but marcus miller and mark king bounce off the string, so its different strokes for different folks really