How to play slap bass?

Rockstar216

Rockstar216

New member
Im not a bassist but am trying to use the technique on guitar which I know is possible because i've seen people do it. I have the Popping aspect down but not the Slap part. For those that use the technique was is hard to learn? Is their a certain way to go about doing it? Does the string height play apart in it? Or is it just harder to do on guitar then it is bass?
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Trick to remember is that it's a percussive technique.

Check out the videos on YouTube of Andy McKee playing 'Drifting', he uses this to really add a percussive element to the song.

Basic slap bass is usually striking the string at the end of the fretboard using the side of the first knuckle of your thumb in an ovular pattern.

~edit~ Here's a quick 30 second clip I just recorded using what I described above and just hammering between the 5th and 7th fret on the E, A and D.
http://snd.sc/14ky8sW

What gives this technique it's punch it using choked notes.
That's where you're still hammering the string but muting it with your fretboard hand.
 
Last edited:
Re: How to play slap bass?

Rockstar216 said:
Im not a bassist but am trying to use the technique on guitar which I know is possible because i've seen people do it. I have the Popping aspect down but not the Slap part. For those that use the technique was is hard to learn? Is their a certain way to go about doing it? Does the string height play apart in it? Or is it just harder to do on guitar then it is bass?
Click to expand...

I'm going to say it is harder on a guitar than on a bass. Thicker strings and wider string spacing mean there is a lot more room for, um, variations in technique and accuracy.

I'm going to disagree with John a little bit concerning "usually striking the string at the end of the fretboard" -- when I slap with my thumb, I always do it over the pickups. There's no rule, some people do it one way, some people do it the other.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

↑This. It's really crowded on a six-string guitar. Not a lot of room to move around between strings.

For bass, the picking hand (right hand for rightie players) is moving almost as if on a swivel, rotating from the wrist. The "slap" comes from the thumb striking the string like a piano hammer.

Some players use the index finger to pluck the higher string, some the second or perhaps third. I've seen vids of Marcus Miller using a flamenco-style technique, slapping the thumb and plucking with the index and second fingers in a rapid syncopation. Victor Wooten sometimes adds hammer-ons and pull-offs with his fret hand.

The rhythmic variations are what make the technique exciting. Think like a drummer.
 
Last edited:
Re: How to play slap bass?

Rockstar. I thought that you had given up slapping things. :D
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

JohnJohn said:
Trick to remember is that it's a violent technique.

... slap ... hammering ... punch ... choked ... still hammering ...
Click to expand...

Yeah, get angry and slap that thing around. Slap some damm sense into it. If you unplug it, the neighbours won't hear it scream.

If you get really inspired, you could invent kick bass too.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Tried that once.
Stubbed my toe.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Here's a clip of Regi Wooten (Victor's brother) slapping on guitar--he uses a lot of other unusual techniques:




Beyond the picking/slapping hand, the fretting hand can add a lot , as ginormous suggested above--for instance, you can also double up the number of beats by muting and adding ghost thumps in between and in conjunction with what the slapping hand plays. That effectively allows to you play more syncopated lines without having to physically double up the effort.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

^ Reggie Wooten and Guthrie Govan are the two that I have seen that have mastered the technique on electric guitar but could never grasp it for myself. And yea Reggie has a couple of out their techniques for guitar.

I tried doing it this morning with the guitar unplugged and it sounded like it was suppose to but I only did it on the open E string. My flaw before was I didn't bounce off the string fast enough I would hit the string but not bounce off.

My test riff was Play that funky music by Wild Cherry since it has thumps, plucks, and hammer ons in that riff.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

The Wooten brothers, Victor, Regi (his spelling), Roy ("FutureMan"), Joseph and Rudy, are all exceptional musicians. Any talk of slapping things must be tempered with the understanding that their slaps ultimately make music. Like superheroes, they use their powers for good, not evil. :) Mere mortals like us can only hope to aspire.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Rockstar216 said:
Im not a bassist but am trying to use the technique on guitar which I know is possible because i've seen people do it. I have the Popping aspect down but not the Slap part. For those that use the technique was is hard to learn? Is their a certain way to go about doing it? Does the string height play apart in it? Or is it just harder to do on guitar then it is bass?
Click to expand...

Hard to learn? Not at all. Hard to get down and use well? A bit.

As mentioned, your string spacing is working against you on the guitar, but given that a lot of 5 and 6 string bass players slap to their hearts content on narrower boards, it shouldn't be an issue once you get it down. Ideally, you want to strike through the string instead of bouncing your thumb on top, although you can really do either.

String height will play SOME part in it also. The lower the strings to the fretboard, the easier it is to slap the strings, have them hit the fretboard and get you the desired sound. Higher action = more work on your part. Same with placement of your thumb when striking. "Traditionally" speaking, you want your thumb's first knuckle in line with the end of the fretboard, although as many have said, you can do it anyplace you like (look at Flea).
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

I slap with my thumb and pop with my ring finger. Seems the most natural for me.

There's really nothing to it except being precise. When you slap it, make your thumb rigid, and get it out of the way after you make contact.

With the pop, it's much more natural. Pull up quickly until your fingertip gives way, and there's your pop.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

ginormous said:
The Wooten brothers, Victor, Regi (his spelling), Roy ("FutureMan"), Joseph and Rudy, are all exceptional musicians. Any talk of slapping things must be tempered with the understanding that their slaps ultimately make music. Like superheroes, they use their powers for good, not evil. :) Mere mortals like us can only hope to aspire.
Click to expand...

Yeah, those guys are some kind of genetic musical mutants.

Maybe start with basic percussion such as paradiddles and work your way up from there.
I saw an interview with Mark King where he said he was a trained drummer but the local music store was only hiring in the bass dept, so every chance he got he took a bass in the back and taught himself how to play by drumming on it with his hands.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

DrNewcenstein said:
How about Stabby bass?

*stab stab stabbity stab*
Click to expand...

"So I can practice my stabbin'! hya!"

I can hit some decent slap sounds on the lower strings of my 24.75" scale USA BC Rich, even more so on 25.5" scale guitars if they've got strings 0.046 or thicker. It's just a matter of flicking your wrist so that the side of your thumb hits the strings. It takes some practice, but it's definitely a usable technique on guitar in my experience.
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Great_Kazoo said:
Here's a clip of Regi Wooten (Victor's brother) slapping on guitar--he uses a lot of other unusual techniques:




Beyond the picking/slapping hand, the fretting hand can add a lot , as ginormous suggested above--for instance, you can also double up the number of beats by muting and adding ghost thumps in between and in conjunction with what the slapping hand plays. That effectively allows to you play more syncopated lines without having to physically double up the effort.
Click to expand...

What is that on the guitar? A couple of wristbands?
 
Re: How to play slap bass?

Wouldn't surprise me.
It's probably there to keep strings he's not hitting from vibrating while he slaps.

I saw a pick of his main guitar once and it's been modded all to hell with switches and all sorts of things all over it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top