In the slap technique, the bassist replaces the usual plucking motion of the index and middle fingers with “slaps” and “pops”. In the slap, the bassist uses the thumb to strike the strings (usually the lower E and A strings) near the base of the bass’s neck.
Is slap bass difficult?
Slapping can be really tough for beginner bass players that want to imitate their heroes like Flea, Marcus Miller or Mark King but some of the issues are easily fixed with some simple tips.
What is the best slapping technique?
Slap Technique
- Be precise with thumb attacks.
- Only hit the string you want to sound.
- Muting strings is critical.
- Muted thumb attacks should be struck with the same intensity as sounded notes.
- Pull attacks should not be louder or more intense than thumb attacks.
What is meant by slap bass?
slap bass in British English
noun. a rock or jazz style of playing the electric or double bass in which the strings are plucked and released so as to vibrate sharply against the fretboard or fingerboard. Collins English Dictionary.
Who invented slap bass technique?
Larry Graham
Larry Graham is generally credited as inventing slap bass guitar. Graham has said that he was simply trying to create a drum-like sound to flesh out the rhythm in the then drummerless Family Stone.
Why can’t I slap bass?
New strings are inherently brighter sounding where old strings can get very dull and thumpy sounding. Also how the bass is eq’d can also affect the sound. Typically you want to boost the low and high end a bit and decrease the mid. That is the typical setting for slap style bass.
Why do people slap the bass?
The slap and pop techniques are commonly used with pull-offs and hammer-ons with the fretting (usually left) hand, to further increase the rate at which notes may be played. Ghost notes, or notes played with the string damped, are also commonly played in slap bass to increase the percussive feel of the technique.
Can every bass slap?
In general, you can slap any bass guitar. However, not all basses produce the type of sound associated with slap bass. Having high action on your bass will make slapping more difficult and produce a less desirable sound. Slapping also becomes more difficult on basses with strings that are old or too thick.
Which bass is best for slap?
The 6 Best Bass Guitars for Slap (2022)
- Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz Bass.
- Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass.
- Music Man Sterling StingRay.
- Warwick Rockbass Corvette 5.
- Ibanez Standard SR400EQM Bass.
- Fender Marcus Miller.
Do you need low action to slap bass?
Low Action
Action is the distance between the strings and frets and it has a huge effect on slap tone. In fact, it may be the most important factor. Lower action puts the strings closer to the fretboard, making it much easier to bounce them off the frets.
How do you play slap bass for beginners?
To play slap bass, hold your fingers in a loose fist and stick your thumb up. Your playing hand will maintain this position whenever you play slap bass. Rotate your hand from the wrist and forearm. With your thumb still extended up, practice turning your wrist several times, as though you were turning a doorknob.
Can you slap bass with high action?
low action. because if you’re slapping, chances are you’re popping as well, and doing that with high action is not pretty. take my bass for example. great for fingerstyle, but the action just makes popping a real strain.
What does slap mean in music?
to be excellent or amazing
Slap is slang verb meaning “to be excellent or amazing.” It’s especially used to refer to a song someone finds extremely good, as in This song slaps!
Who invented bass?
Bass guitarInventor
Why do bassists slap their bass?
What is the Slap Bass Technique? Slap bass is a guitar technique that revolutionized the way people play their bass guitars. As you might guess from the name, the player will slap the bass strings to produce a unique percussive sound.
How is the greatest bass player of all time?
Rolling Stone Readers Pick the Top Ten Bassists of All Time
- John Entwistle. The clear winner in our poll was John Entwistle of The Who.
- Flea.
- Paul McCartney.
- Geddy Lee.
- Les Claypool.
- John Paul Jones.
- Jaco Pastorius.
- Jack Bruce.
When did slap bass become popular?
As the low-end custodian of British new wave act Level 42, Mark King brought slap bass to the pointy ends of the charts all over the world in the ’80s with hits like ‘Running In The Family’ and ‘Something About You’.
Can you slap on a jazz bass?
The Jazz is definitely right on for slap!
Is it easier to slap on a 4 string bass?
If you start on a 4, you’ll just have to adjust and re-learn certain aspects of your technique when you switch over to a 5 anyway. Its much easier to go from a 5 to a 4 then to go from 4 to a 5 for slapping. I would go ahead and get the 5er.
Can you slap on a 5 string bass?
Despite having an additional low string, it is possible to slap on a 5-string bass. While there are slight differences in slapping a 5-string and a 4-string, multiple professional bassists have used 5 basses for slapping.
How do I know if my bass action is too high?
The only thing that will really tell you if the action is too high is how comfortable it is to play. If it feels like it’s hard to move around because of the effort of fretting then it is probably too high for you. That being said, if you are fairly new to bass that might not be a good way to judge.
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