Slap-style bass

[HeavyMetalKing]

hey people
I'm new to bass. I've tried to imitate the slap-bass technique, but I really have no idea what I'm doing. Can anyone give me advice on hand-positioning, etc.?

[fuzzymonkey]

I'm not good at explaining stuff like this so check out this site:


http://www.guitarists.net/lessons/view.php/slapping_on_bass_guitar.html



First you have to figure out where you want your bass to hang, depending on how i'm playing i'll have it pretty low. but if i'm doing more diffcult stuff I have it pretty high.

[HeavyMetalKing]

well, I always play sitting down. (I'm "confined" to a wheelchair) so how high I would have my bass isn't an issue.

[paulwhite]

i would just avoid doing it in the first place, but that's just me.

[cubby]

You really can't slap just any bass. It seems to work better with a Fender Jazz or MusicMan style basses where you can get good treble and where the pickup is close to the bridge.

[jimbobass]

Just get comfy and slap away and remeber practice practice practice I am not very good at it but I play trash metal and some solo **** but I like to slap around on the E string when I am just jammin with my drummer.

[Surferosad]

I personally think that slap bass is one of the most hideous sounds on earth. Different strokes for different folks, eh?

[drl_06]

I like slap bass, but what do I know I'm just a guitar player...

I hope this doesn't turn into another "slap bass sucks" thread, but I probably just fueled the fire by saying that. Oh well.

[jimbobass]

it is still bass playing no matter what people think and thats what this section of GuitatGeek is about and anybody who wants to not read the thread and just come in and start that should just roll over and kick them self or start a new thread with a poll.:D

[malcom]

The secret, that I finally figured out, is that it isn't so much slapping as bouncing your thumb off the string.

[HeavyMetalKing]

this is probably a rudimentary question about slapping, but should the thumb be exactly parallel to the string being slapped?

[yledbetter]

slap bass is great, a lot of great bassists (i.e. flea,bootsy collins) make it sound awesome. slap on mo****as.

[guidedbyechos]

the easiest way is to loosen up and strike the string with outside of your thumb just above the knuckle I guess you would call it. I beleive it is possible to slap on all basses. I have a yamaha. Strings are a big factor stock string most of the time suck ass. Just experiment around and see what you like.

[JDogg]

I think its like harmonics - can sound good and be very useful but is better in small quantities and can be overused

[coldbuggin]

Originally posted by paulwhite
i would just avoid doing it in the first place, but that's just me.
i tend to agree with that

[Greyskull]

There's a pretty good example of slap bass on the Remedy Lost website - www.remedylost.com

Its the second song - Xaveche...Phil goes off on that one.

[pdaconq9]

I think slap bass is great, but sadly, way overused in the wrong situations (read: Les Claypool). But still, when used right, it's brilliant (read: "Aeroplane" by RHCP).

[Cobb]

hows it hanging?

a lil to the left