I love how well you described everything, but especially playing parallel and through the string into the next string. I was bouncing too much and accidentally hitting the E and D strings when trying to slap the A. Thank you!
Thanks so much Luke, youre the only instructor to show me how the slap motion is a run through the strings not a bounce off, I couldnt get my slap sounding right and this was the problem, I noticed the difference immediately
Thanks Luke, a well designed lesson for beginners or inexperienced. You're a very knowledgeable teacher and skilled at efficient presentation of the lesson.
This video came up next after another slap tutorial I got linked to. This is THE best beginner tutorial I've ever seen!! The explanation, demonstration, and most importantly the observable finger movements are excellent. This is the first time I've ever felt I might be able to figure this out! Can't wait to watch the remaining 8 minutes! 😄
2:20 Thank you so much for this explainaton. I was trying to "hit" the string like a piano hammer hits a string. I couldn't figure it out until now. It's more of a strum than a hit.
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I have seen many bass slap tutorials and I hearby announce to the world that Luke is Da Man. He is making non slappers, so so slappers like myself, and even good slappers better slappers. I salute you brother. Thank you.
Great lesson as always. Thanks a lot for making slap looks so easy and simple. I'm a self taught bassist for the last 3 years and half and I have seen numbers of videos but never was slap explained so simply and clearly. I have a request though. I see in many videos that many bassist end any improvisation with harmonics and frankly it sounds beautiful. I wish you make a video to teach us the basics of harmonics. Thanks a ton again and please take care in this special time!
I have a whole bunch of harmonics lessons here: becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-all-of-your-notes/ becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-4-ways-to-get-a-great-sound/ becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-left-hand-technique/
For months I couldn't get a good bass slap technique and have hitch hikers thumb. When I bounced off the strings my thumb looks weird and not straight like flea. When I tried this technique of landing on the string below it sounds cleaner and can sustain longer. Think I will keep trying this style oppose to the bouncing style. (Though the bouncing style looks cooler to me haha).
“You’re more than welcome to slap the D.” 😂 now that my immaturity is out of the way; the lesson is great. Really appreciate the illustration of how it’s done, and how it’s not done. Thank you!
You are the first one to show actually how to do the slap. For the longest time I thought you were supposed to bounce off the string, not play through it as you have shown. Hey, now it WORKS. Supper, thank you so much.
You *can* bounce off the string and plenty of people use that kind of technique. Flea for example uses that kind of technique when he plays 'across' the strings (as opposed to being parallel to the string). That was the way I originally learned, then transitioned to the technique I show in this video.
Thx as always Luke, great lessons you are a natural teacher. Question re the 5 Beginner slap bass lines - I dont know all the notations, P is Pop, T is slap thumb but what is H and X please?
Luke, I play like this(string through) after watching your (which helped a lot) and others videos. But it's hard to do it with my 5 string bass. String spacing is narrow and I keep hitting other strings. It's too narrow and I can't get a clean sound. Idk how to solve this. I love my bass unless I try to slap it...
Hey Luke, love your lessons. So I had a question- You demonstrate going through the string (one being slapped ) and landing on the string below( positionally not musically). I have also come across a ton of people who sort of bounce of the string and don't really follow through and land on the string below. So, I'm still a beginner when it comes to slap and my question is moving forward which method is more technically sounds because I want to have solid technique as a base so that in the future when I start playing some of the more complex slap bass lines I don't end up having problems. Thank you
Great question @Abhishek Misra! Bouncing off the string is a totally valid way of playing slap as well. Heaps of players do it - like you've noticed - and it's not like one way is 'correct' and the other is 'incorrect'. It's just that they're different. The reason I primarily show following through the string is so you can more easily learn to double thumb (a more advanced slapping technique) later on. If you don't really care about double thumbing or you'd just rather use the bouncing technique and it feels more comfortable to you, that's totally fine too. No matter which one you use, just make sure you stay nice and relaxed. Tension is the enemy when it comes to this stuff!
Ive found that sometimes bouncing off the strings can mess with the lower frequencies. Its a very precise way of slapping, but if you are supposed to be holding down those bass tones, I have found that going through the string allows for a much thicker low end. But then again it might also just be my setup... be wary and use your ear.
I have been waiting for you to do this video like for ages now... Thanks for reading my mind... I hope more videos on slap bass technique eventually pop up
hey man, i love your videos and have just started playing the bass so i wanted to try this out. i am having a problem though because every time i try to slap all you can hear is the string hitting the metal frets. you just hear the metal and no like actual notes. any way you would help?
I never knew it was supposed to be on the board i thought cuz i saw a vid that said you slap under the board also keep in mind i still barley know how to play but i wanted to try it still cuz well you know slap is amazing
Hey Peter - it's definitely possible to slap on a fretless, but the sound won't have the same attack or definition. A lot of the slap sound comes from the strings hitting the metal frets, but obviously you wouldn't get that kind of sound on a fretless when the strings hit the wooden fretboard.
now it might just be me, but this is just plucking with less consistency and more steps, could just be me, but I get the same sound as plucking or pick no matter what version of slap bass I do, this included, and I'm just more likely to hit the wrong strings, does anybody know what's up
“you’re more than welcome to slap the d”... sorry 😅😅😅 I suppose I’d rather someone slapped it than popped it 😂 Brilliant tutorial though, really helpful. Thanks for this
Sounds much better when your bass has active electronics and a nice compression pedal. Kind of need to do a few adjustments if you have a passive bass.
I didn't learn that one until way later! The first one was Fly Away because the terrible high school band I was in wanted to play it. Help Is On It's Way is a total banger though.
That depends @gup1973 - slapping 'thumb down' is a legit way of playing for some people, but it does have it's drawbacks. I talk about thumb down slapping in this video: ruclips.net/video/Gy8yzUQ0ONo/видео.html
This is Not "Slap" Bass, Slap Bass is done with the Open Hand on an Upright Jazz Bass, what You are doing is Thumping and Plucking which was Started and Named by the Godfather of Funk Bass Larry Graham when He and His Mother had a Gospel group back in the 50's and they Didn't have a Drummer so Larry started Thumping and Plucking to keep Time. When did they Change the Name of this Great Technique that was Invented and NAMED by one of the Greatest Bassists of All Time!
I couldn’t tell you when ‘they’ changed anything @tonymickens8803, but a quick poke around the internet will tell you that this is commonly called slap bass. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapping_(music) ) Does it have other names? Definitely. But from what I’ve seen, slap bass is the most common.
That's what I mean, I've been Playing since 1974 and it's Always been called Thumping and Plucking Per His Highness the Inventor Mr Larry Graham, We Old Heads in the Funk Community Never called it "Slap" and it Comes from the Funk Community so What Happened?@@BecomeABassist
I don’t know what to tell you @tonymickens8803 other than language evolves, just like the music does. It’s rarely one person that ‘decides’ these things; it just happens over time.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Slap Bass Technique Guide [7 funky exercises]](/img/1.gif)
Yours is the first video that is close enough to the bass that I can clearly see what your fingers are doing for the techniques-thanks!
No worries at all @Donna Frazier - glad I could help
Finally someone explains clearly and straight to the point how to slap. Best online teacher ever. Thanks Luke!
I love how well you described everything, but especially playing parallel and through the string into the next string. I was bouncing too much and accidentally hitting the E and D strings when trying to slap the A. Thank you!
Thanks so much Luke, youre the only instructor to show me how the slap motion is a run through the strings not a bounce off, I couldnt get my slap sounding right and this was the problem, I noticed the difference immediately
Thanks Luke, a well designed lesson for beginners or inexperienced. You're a very knowledgeable teacher and skilled at efficient presentation of the lesson.
Cheers @Paul F - really appreciate it.
This video came up next after another slap tutorial I got linked to. This is THE best beginner tutorial I've ever seen!! The explanation, demonstration, and most importantly the observable finger movements are excellent.
This is the first time I've ever felt I might be able to figure this out!
Can't wait to watch the remaining 8 minutes! 😄
playing through the string was key here , thank you
great explanation !! many teacher that want to show how smart they are but they dont't teach nothing just self celebration, you are a great teacher
The tip to slap through the string was a real lifesaver I was very confused on how to get a solid sound thanks!
2:20 Thank you so much for this explainaton. I was trying to "hit" the string like a piano hammer hits a string. I couldn't figure it out until now. It's more of a strum than a hit.
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I have seen many bass slap tutorials and I hearby announce to the world that Luke is Da Man. He is making non slappers, so so slappers like myself, and even good slappers better slappers. I salute you brother. Thank you.
Thanks!
Thank *you* @rogerengland8547 - I really appreciate the generosity!
I watched a lot of slap tutorials and this one really teach me how in just 2 mins
Thank you. This makes sense. It's like the rest stroke technique, but with your thumb. I'm going to work on it
Great lesson as always. Thanks a lot for making slap looks so easy and simple. I'm a self taught bassist for the last 3 years and half and I have seen numbers of videos but never was slap explained so simply and clearly. I have a request though. I see in many videos that many bassist end any improvisation with harmonics and frankly it sounds beautiful. I wish you make a video to teach us the basics of harmonics. Thanks a ton again and please take care in this special time!
I have a whole bunch of harmonics lessons here: becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-all-of-your-notes/
becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-4-ways-to-get-a-great-sound/
becomeabassist.com/bass-harmonics-left-hand-technique/
@@BecomeABassist Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. 🙂👍
Too easy @Cyrille I A!
So clear, calm, organized and detailed! Lot to learn from you sir! Good work 😀
i love it! so clearly thank you sir luke God bless you sir!
Excellent! Thank you for this vid.
For months I couldn't get a good bass slap technique and have hitch hikers thumb. When I bounced off the strings my thumb looks weird and not straight like flea. When I tried this technique of landing on the string below it sounds cleaner and can sustain longer. Think I will keep trying this style oppose to the bouncing style. (Though the bouncing style looks cooler to me haha).
What model of bass did you use?
In this video, I'm using a Spector Euro: The Banana Bass Edition (jks, there's no banana version, but it is a Spector Euro)
“You’re more than welcome to slap the D.” 😂
now that my immaturity is out of the way; the lesson is great. Really appreciate the illustration of how it’s done, and how it’s not done.
Thank you!
I heard that part and immediately stopped the lesson and went straight to the comments to make sure I was not alone!! 🤣🤣🤣
WOW first guy I've ever seen in my life explaining the old school pinch. I did it by accident years ago and found it quite easy ( I'm 99% EG/rhythm )
Awesome tutorial! Thanks!! (starting to learn to slap these days! )
You are the first one to show actually how to do the slap. For the longest time I thought you were supposed to bounce off the string, not play through it as you have shown. Hey, now it WORKS. Supper, thank you so much.
You *can* bounce off the string and plenty of people use that kind of technique. Flea for example uses that kind of technique when he plays 'across' the strings (as opposed to being parallel to the string). That was the way I originally learned, then transitioned to the technique I show in this video.
Great video and I love your bass!! Thank you!!
This is the first video that makes me understand what was meant by turning a doorknob motion. :)
Haha! Glad it helped @Jonathan Boisvert
Thx as always Luke, great lessons you are a natural teacher. Question re the 5 Beginner slap bass lines - I dont know all the notations, P is Pop, T is slap thumb but what is H and X please?
Good question! H = Hammer on and the X is just a muted note. No specific note, but with that rhythm!
Thank you Luke, this has really helped!! 😀👍
thank you! i always thought you had to land on the string not slap through it
Can you slap a hollow/semi-hollow bass?
Is the string suppose to bounce off the fret ?
Luke, I play like this(string through) after watching your (which helped a lot) and others videos. But it's hard to do it with my 5 string bass. String spacing is narrow and I keep hitting other strings. It's too narrow and I can't get a clean sound. Idk how to solve this. I love my bass unless I try to slap it...
Hey Luke, love your lessons. So I had a question- You demonstrate going through the string (one being slapped ) and landing on the string below( positionally not musically). I have also come across a ton of people who sort of bounce of the string and don't really follow through and land on the string below. So, I'm still a beginner when it comes to slap and my question is moving forward which method is more technically sounds because I want to have solid technique as a base so that in the future when I start playing some of the more complex slap bass lines I don't end up having problems.
Thank you
Great question @Abhishek Misra! Bouncing off the string is a totally valid way of playing slap as well. Heaps of players do it - like you've noticed - and it's not like one way is 'correct' and the other is 'incorrect'. It's just that they're different.
The reason I primarily show following through the string is so you can more easily learn to double thumb (a more advanced slapping technique) later on. If you don't really care about double thumbing or you'd just rather use the bouncing technique and it feels more comfortable to you, that's totally fine too.
No matter which one you use, just make sure you stay nice and relaxed. Tension is the enemy when it comes to this stuff!
Ive found that sometimes bouncing off the strings can mess with the lower frequencies. Its a very precise way of slapping, but if you are supposed to be holding down those bass tones, I have found that going through the string allows for a much thicker low end. But then again it might also just be my setup... be wary and use your ear.
I have been waiting for you to do this video like for ages now... Thanks for reading my mind... I hope more videos on slap bass technique eventually pop up
Awesome to hear @Ndi Chia - I definitely have more slap lessons on the way!
Can you tell me what kind of bass that is? It’s very cool looking..
I think that's a Spector
Thank you.
A clear explanation finally... thank you 👍
Haha! No worries at all!
Please tell me the couplet /refrein and middel peace and the end. Sorry for my English is not so good. Greathings R-K
hey man, i love your videos and have just started playing the bass so i wanted to try this out. i am having a problem though because every time i try to slap all you can hear is the string hitting the metal frets. you just hear the metal and no like actual notes. any way you would help?
Did you solved the problem yet?
I hope you didnt give up!
I had that problem! I just rose my action and it helped! Some others said that lowering your action helps as well
thank you Luke
Thank luke for this tuto. It's very helpfull. God bless you 😊
Always happy to hear the videos are helpful @francisco javier - thanks so much!
This is such a helpful video, thanks! Can you do a tutorial on the bass in RHCP's Can't Stop?
I never knew it was supposed to be on the board i thought cuz i saw a vid that said you slap under the board also keep in mind i still barley know how to play but i wanted to try it still cuz well you know slap is amazing
what bass has best slap tone
I have a problem wiyh the clicking
sound, and it's not the pickup, I also tried to put the strings higher but it didn't help
Really great video, very well presented. What type of bass are you using?
In this video, I'm using my Spector EuroLX - great bass!
Ive found the best lesson ever.
Use the force.
And also love your dog
Loving the random dog incursion! 🐕
Hi Luke, sometimes the subtitles hide your right hand. I wonder if it´s better to show them on the upper part of the video.
The subtitles are placed by RUclips @MICHELINE RICHUISO - not me. But you can just turn them off if you want: support.google.com/youtube/answer/100078
ever hit the wrong string and ruin everything haha me too
Haha! Don't we all...
Great video... for the beginner or if you are an advanced player, like myself. :)
Thanks @Dave Lennon-Copeland.
I have one question, heavy gauge or light gauge strings? I'm beginner so I need as much help as possible
I'm a beginner too, I use heavy gauge. Bc if you learn it with the heavy gauge, the light gauge is easy.
Awesome.
Way don't you give also the akkoord schema with it. So G /Bm D7 for a assemble. Greathings R-K
superb.
Thanks for checking it out
Great!
Would you ever play slap on a fretless bass ? (Love your lessons Luke....)
Hey Peter - it's definitely possible to slap on a fretless, but the sound won't have the same attack or definition. A lot of the slap sound comes from the strings hitting the metal frets, but obviously you wouldn't get that kind of sound on a fretless when the strings hit the wooden fretboard.
great lookin bass
Who let the dog out?
Great into to slap bass - thank you.
I love ur dog haha
He is objectively the best dog. Lol
Thanks Luke... what is the make of your bass guitar in this video
Can you also make a video about the Flea style?
I just uploaded a video about that on Friday! Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/Gy8yzUQ0ONo/видео.html
Luke from Become A Bassist thanks!
The PDF never arrives in my email. How do I get it?
I think you’re a great generous teacher. It’s also good to see another Aussie on RUclips
9:00 A DOG!!!
His name is Arnie and he is objectively the best dog. Lol
@@BecomeABassist 🙂
😂@@BecomeABassist
Did anyone else notice the dog?
Love his Luke's pup. He makes guest appearances from time to time
Yes! I was looking for this comment 🙂
No. Only you 3. No dog here. None what so ever.. Nothing to see here. Check your eyes...
now it might just be me, but this is just plucking with less consistency and more steps, could just be me, but I get the same sound as plucking or pick no matter what version of slap bass I do, this included, and I'm just more likely to hit the wrong strings, does anybody know what's up
Slaptastic!
Slaptastic
“you’re more than welcome to slap the d”... sorry 😅😅😅
I suppose I’d rather someone slapped it than popped it 😂
Brilliant tutorial though, really helpful. Thanks for this
Hey - whatever floats your boat man! Haha!
Who else notice the dog walking trough at 9:00 ? :D
Nobody else notice the dog come to jam with Luke !
I have to hit the strings with some force to get the sound otherwise, it's like normal playing :(
Sounds much better when your bass has active electronics and a nice compression pedal. Kind of need to do a few adjustments if you have a passive bass.
Hello sir my name is Benedict
And I want to learn bass guitar and i don't know anyone to teach me I don't know if you can teach me please sir
🙏🙏🙏
Let me guess, Help Is On The Way was the first song you learned?
I didn't learn that one until way later! The first one was Fly Away because the terrible high school band I was in wanted to play it. Help Is On It's Way is a total banger though.
@@BecomeABassist
I guessed that because LRB is Aussie
What the heck appeared around the 9 minute mark???
It seemed like a ghost or a shadow 🙃
Welcome, slappers!
Lesson one. Don't slap 'Thumb down'
That depends @gup1973 - slapping 'thumb down' is a legit way of playing for some people, but it does have it's drawbacks. I talk about thumb down slapping in this video: ruclips.net/video/Gy8yzUQ0ONo/видео.html
If you don’t bounce on the strings, the slap tone is weak and very not “slap”! Just ask Louis Johnson! Or Mark king .
huh?
eh?
Davie 504 is proud if you
I wish only to serve Davie504. lol
This is Not "Slap" Bass, Slap Bass is done with the Open Hand on an Upright Jazz Bass, what You are doing is Thumping and Plucking which was Started and Named by the Godfather of Funk Bass Larry Graham when He and His Mother had a Gospel group back in the 50's and they Didn't have a Drummer so Larry started Thumping and Plucking to keep Time. When did they Change the Name of this Great Technique that was Invented and NAMED by one of the Greatest Bassists of All Time!
I couldn’t tell you when ‘they’ changed anything
@tonymickens8803, but a quick poke around the internet will tell you that this is commonly called slap bass. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapping_(music) ) Does it have other names? Definitely. But from what I’ve seen, slap bass is the most common.
That's what I mean, I've been Playing since 1974 and it's Always been called Thumping and Plucking Per His Highness the Inventor Mr Larry Graham, We Old Heads in the Funk Community Never called it "Slap" and it Comes from the Funk Community so What Happened?@@BecomeABassist
I don’t know what to tell you @tonymickens8803 other than language evolves, just like the music does. It’s rarely one person that ‘decides’ these things; it just happens over time.
Too much talking - too less actually showing. Too much „Check my other videos, check the links check this check that.
Heaven forbid an instructional video contains...instructions... lol