[QUOTE=quatre07]i just posted some videos in the main bass forum, look for 'Video Lessons'[/QUOTE]
I just came across that. Thanks man.

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?

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?

ive tried..
 

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

[QUOTE=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[/QUOTE]
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:

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

[QUOTE=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?[/QUOTE]

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

[quote]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.[/quote]

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

[quote] I can't get any noise when I try to slap a string...[/quote]

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.

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.

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

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

Am I doing this right?

[url]http://scanner_1.tripod.com/slap.wmv[/url]

doesnt work :(

[QUOTE=HappyMarshmellow]I just got a bass yesterday, I've been playing guitar for maybe 4 years though.

Am I doing this right?

[url]http://scanner_1.tripod.com/slap.wmv[/url][/QUOTE]
not even close

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

[QUOTE=quatre07]not even close

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

:upset:

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

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."

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

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

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

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?

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!

Thanks for this wintermute I learned alot

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

[QUOTE=macabre]are there any other slap songs that are good for beginners besides, Higher Ground, The Antipop??[/QUOTE]
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

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

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.

[QUOTE=rylche]do you slap with your left hand or your right hand if you're a right-handed player?[/QUOTE]

Right

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

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]
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

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.

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:

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 ?

[QUOTE=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:[/QUOTE]

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

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.

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?

[QUOTE=Wintermute][b][u]Slapping[/u][/b]

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.

[/QUOTE]

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.

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

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

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.

[QUOTE=Pitch Fork6]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.[/QUOTE]

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