slap bass help

[Hardinge]

my slap bass at the moment is alright but two big things are wrong with it

1. i am really in accurate with my thumb
2. i can't left hand slap to save life

any things u guys can suggest to help me would be great

cheers

[Chameleon]

About your accuracy, there's nothing to do except practice for 20 minutes a day, just slapping with your thumb on various strings...there's no quick fix for it.

Again, left hand slap, just practice slapping with your left hand for a while every day. I've uploaded this Mark King lesson I got a while back on some common 16th note patterns you can play between thumb and left hand slap:

http://funkshake.com/bob/mk_slap_lesson.mp3

[Hardinge]

cheers

[Hardinge]

do u know any other exercises that would help accuracy

[Luchesi]

do u know any other exercises that would help accuracy

Run scales slapping with your thumb: you can kill two birds with one stone that way by familiarizing yourself with the fretboard and improving your slap tone. It just makes slapping more comfortable all the way around.

[I play that funky music]

I dont understand what mark king was doing with his left hand in that lesson?

[Marly]

no me either...i think he's just hammering on *confused*

[Luchesi]

no me either...i think he's just hammering on *confused*

It's like a hammer-on, yes, but you keep your fingers flat and mat down so you get a good percussive hit with it.

edit: you usually do it without striking the open string.

[Omega Red]

make sure you thumb is parallel to the strings

[BassVirtuoso]

Mark King's tone is pretty orgasmic in that thing.

[Hardinge]

i dont really get how to do a lef hand slap

could someone explain

thanx for all the help

[PaulSimonon]

Take your left hand.

Put it on the bass in a normal fretting position around the 6th fretish area.

Mute the strings with your index finger.

Lift up the middle, ring, and pinkie as high as you can comfortable without lifting your index from the strings.

Bring them down together with some force so that they all hit all of the strings at about the same time.

Bounce them off the strings as soon as they hit the solidly.


Be careful not to fret any notes on accident.

[Hardinge]

Take your left hand.

Put it on the bass in a normal fretting position around the 6th fretish area.

Mute the strings with your index finger.

Lift up the middle, ring, and pinkie as high as you can comfortable without lifting your index from the strings.

Bring them down together with some force so that they all hit all of the strings at about the same time.

Bounce them off the strings as soon as they hit the solidly.


Be careful not to fret any notes on accident.

thanx

i finally understand it now!

[PaulSimonon]

You got it working alright?

[Hardinge]

almost lol

with the accuracy thing i think im slaping wrong as my hand is hitting the other strings

[PaulSimonon]

(The right hand slapping?)

Your actual hand is hitting other strings? Try rotating your wrist more on the down swing. You should get most of the power in the slap from flicking your wrist; not from your forearm.

Try slapping through the strings instead of bouncing off of them. After the downswing your thumb should be resting on the string blow the one you slapped.

[Hardinge]

(The right hand slapping?)

Your actual hand is hitting other strings? Try rotating your wrist more on the down swing. You should get most of the power in the slap from flicking your wrist; not from your forearm.

Try slapping through the strings instead of bouncing off of them. After the downswing your thumb should be resting on the string blow the one you slapped.

kk thanx

[Luchesi]

make sure you thumb is parallel to the strings

Not necessary. Marcus Miller's thumb is never parallel to the strings.

[Omega Red]

Not necessary. Marcus Miller's thumb is never parallel to the strings.
http://www.musiconphoto.com/UD_250701_2/FOTOS_250701_2/MarcusMiller_96_02Cs.jpg
http://www2.uol.com.br/bibliaworld/musica/workshop/images/bxo05_02.jpg

[Killer Fridge]

Not necessary. Marcus Miller's thumb is never parallel to the strings.

Neither is Fleas. Doesnt mean its good technique though

(even though marcus miller as far as i can remember always slaps parrallel, and i feel certain quatres pics agree)

[Bplay]

If you're hitting the other strings (probly the A D OR G strings) instead of bouncing, try going tru the string like victor woten does. it will help you hitting the right string, also remember to have your thumb paralell to the strings and NOT TO USE YOUR ENTIRE ARM TO CREATE THE NECESARY MOTION TO SLAP; the right movement to slap should only come from your wrist and your forearm.

oh and remember to DO IT SLOOOWW . .

[PaulSimonon]

If you're hitting the other strings (probly the A D OR G strings) instead of bouncing, try going tru the string like victor woten does. it will help you hitting the right string, also remember to have your thumb paralell to the strings and NOT TO USE YOUR ENTIRE ARM TO CREATE THE NECESARY MOTION TO SLAP; the right movement to slap should only come from your wrist and your forearm.

oh and remember to DO IT SLOOOWW . .
Next time, try actually reading the thread before posting in it...

[Luchesi]

Neither is Fleas. Doesnt mean its good technique though

(even though marcus miller as far as i can remember always slaps parrallel, and i feel certain quatres pics agree)

Huh... I must be thinking of someone else...

Regardless, so long as your not bumping the strings your not actually playing, it really doesn't matter. That's where Flea has problems from time to time.

As far as I'm concerned, if it works just as well then it can't be "worse" technique. The only problem I can even think of is that you can't DT unless your thumb is parallel.

What I did is I got comfortable with both parallel and "slanted-thumb", because with parallel you can DT and with "slanted-thumb" you can slap chords.