3. Slap bass lesson - beginner/intermediate

[SuperHeffler]

Hey Marlowe, When I mute my E string with my left hand, it doesn't make the slapping noise that your bass does, it just makes a bassy drone, why is that?

[MarloweDK]

@SuperHeffler Its because you press down the string, you should only slap it lightly and remove it instanly, like when slapping someone in the face;-) and the slap is with side og the fingers not the tips

[MarloweDK]

@MarloweDK it should be "with the side OF the fingers"

[coakdog]

How do you get that great tone with your left handed slap? High volume? High tone? Both? When I try, it sounds flat. Thanks

[mrr3000gt]

This guy is great with the wife beater shirt, cool accent, and killer bass chops!

[the12345joker]

You're a Great Player and a Great Teacher. Thanks.....

[910cadillacredd]

why can't i get my strings to mute?

[TheSonsofHorusx]

ur guy pratt i know u are

[sesionbmxteam]

puto

[simonlebon29]

Marlowe, I love what you are doing here...I am a very big fan of yours... Thank you for ALL your videos, you are the best on YouTube..Thank You Thank You Thank You!!

[Tranquillumgrooves]

Thanks for the posting

[monster6607]

I'm trying to place your accent. Convinced it's European, but may be wrong. Great lesson, btw.

[MarloweDK]

@monster6607 Danish;-)

[marcominoru88]

I think this is the hardest one to learn, specially how to get the same beat as marlowe plays. Am i the only one who thinks in this way?

[g4geetar]

@marcominoru88 yep me too. It would help if he sped up a little at a time instead of going from snail's pace to express train!

[TheSawman77]

what bass is that? looks like a samberg but not sure..

[RioDeVick]

@TheSawman77 it is sandberg,awesome baasseea

[KeepOutofTreble]

Cute bass. :-)

[Pudsy440]

you've probably answered this before Marlowe, but can you tell me how close roughly are your strings set up in relation to the frets, it sounds like you have them very close to the board. 1/32", 1/16th"?? Is there much of a curve in the neck or do you have the board set quite flat with the truss rod? The slap sound with the left hand just doesn't happen on this bass I have in my hands with the height the strings are at.

[MarloweDK]

@Pudsy440 The strings are pretty low and the neck have a very slight curve, its almost straight. Im not sure that curve or not has any effect on left hand slap.

[Pudsy440]

@MarloweDK Well if it was really bowed you'd have quite a string height at the center of the neck ... haha :) I generally play pretty hard, so I have kept my strings a bit high over the years, earlier fears of fret clack. Now that clack is in style hehe, I may experiment with seeing how low I can go. Different set ups are interesting. Experimenting with alternate tuning is something else I've never tried. Thanks for the reply. :)

[adaleon82]

thank you very much for the lesson

[vaxmarley]

Diggin' the pink Sandberg bass dude!

[LOYALB1986]

YOUR TOO GOOD

[JeetjeMJ]

Thank you so much for these lessons. I've been playing bass for a few years now, not at a very high level or something, but recently I got kinda down because I wasn't satisfied with my own playing and I was convinced I sucked ect. Your lessons helped me so much, they gave me back my joy in playing and make me wanna play all the time again. Everytime I finished one of your lessons, I can't wait to start the next one.Thanks a lot man, I owe you the world. 

[lonetheguitarhero]

thanks man, you teach great, valuable to me,

[iliketoeatwater]

your gay

[sebastianklima]

Hey, I have Fender Jazz base and when im playing poping and slaping, it does this weird noice especially on E and A string, i think strings actually touch the magnet on the pickup. Did u have similar problem anytime or not? I play quite dinamically, I am wondering if lowering the pickup would help. Thanks for any suggestion! Love your vieos

[nicolascastro]

this one is very hard xD

[honotron]

What i like about your videos is that you explain things clearly and most importantly slowly! thanks, im learning loads from you!

[Brozotheclown]

I PLAY WITH A PICK MOTHERFUCKER

[hinattauzumaki]

watch?v=CeRMEwRasxA

[xMuse240x]

How do you lower the action on a bass?

[somebassdude]

Hello MarloweDK. Should I lower the action on my bass for this? I have to hit it damn hard to get a slapping sound from my left hand

[TheDillerBoB]

haha han er så meget dansker !!! xD det så tydeligt på hans engelsk udtale ! xD

[JacobBassCovers]

@TheDillerBoB yea! xD

[TheDillerBoB]

@JacobBassCovers men det fedt nok ! xD 

[dannoir09]

exelent teacher¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[nextbest47]

stranger danger

[MrSnickerdoodle234]

It's been a dream of mine to play slap bass, and you're helping me make it come true :D Thanks bro!

[cheerskiwi]

He sounds like Zoolander

[bruggetje]

TOMORROW THIS VID IS ONE YEAR OLD ! WOOHOO

[thejjsband]

Great Vid!Does anyone know what kind of bridge is on that bass?

[mplaitano]

Is there something behind the nut of your pink Jazz? It looks like there is.

[effedieffedi]

GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!



[isomikieee]

funkiest bass ever!

[guitaroplayer]

Du må være dansker!

[LowRagg]

nice pink bass man.

[czgibson]

For some reason I can't get that left hand slap to work at all. Lots of background noise, and I end up just hammering notes instead of getting the percussive sound. Maybe my left hand isn't strong enough yet. How hard do you have to slap down onto the strings with the left hand?

[MarloweDK]

@czgibson Not hard, just dont press down the string, its kind of a slap in the face, the hand bounces of rigth after hitting

[czgibson]

@MarloweDK

Thank you for the quick reply - I'll give it a try. I really love your lessons!

[PyjamaTed]

@czgibson Try raising the action maybe :)

[JerrardGruszecki]

@czgibson lower your action that way you can lightly slap the strings. your looking to get the sound of the fret , when the action is to high you hit it harder and create a mashing sound over the light snap of the fret.

[jw2113]

@czgibson think about one hand clapping dosnt need to be super hard

[Aggmo]

Not only did you help me with my decision to start learning bass, I'm also gonna include the combined pink bass and white tanktop into my stage outfit. :D

[xCherryCharLyTVx]

Pink Bass ?? LoL!

[brockingtonk]

@xCherryCharLyTVx lol even though its pink it doesn't look as bad as it sounds for some odd reason

[murdockqotsa]

I never do a left hand slap. I learned how to slap decently and then tried to jump a few steps. This is really helpful. It's pretty hard for me though, my fingers are completely not used to this. Also I have a 5-string... and that 5th B is hard to hit without getting a slight noise out of it? Anything to change for a 5-string? Or... just practice?

[msboygenius]

thanks you

[tinozza]

GREAT TEACHER

[TurnipSandwich]

@MarloweDK Wow, fast reply! Thanks I'll look into the Fender Jazz and maybe try out a few others at the Music Store.

[TurnipSandwich]

@marloweDK Hey Marlowe I love your vids i have learnt so much from them I can confidently slap now. :)

I dont actually have a bass of my own yet as I have been using my school's one and I was just wondering what a good slap bass guitar would be good for as cheap as possible?

I am not a complete newbie though as I have been playing guitar for three years :) I would be forever grateful if you can help.

[MarloweDK]

@TurnipSandwich Basically you can slap any bass, but a Fender Jazz bass type of bass is always good

[AmericanDeathHead]

@MarloweDK The option of active pickups or use of an active preamp is vital to slap bass as quoted by the bass master himself Ed Friedland. So model and brand is personal, but pickups are vital for slap n' pop.

[rhythmnationband]

Ha ..... I like the 1 sa ancy 2 sa ancy etc,...sounds groovier,.. I am gonna use it :-)

[AlexKalicinski]

And Delano Ftw.

[AlexKalicinski]

You have the coolest bassist.

[rhythmnationband]

What the syllabuls who use to count 16ths ,... is it 1 sa ancy 2 sa ancy ...etc ?

[MarloweDK]

@rhythmnationband Lol, its kind of wrong because Im danish, the correct english syllables are : 1 e and e 2 e and e... Found it out after making the video:-)

[darm1920]

@MarloweDK Hey, is it ok if I play the slap with my left hand as the same time that I do it with my thumb, it´s very difficult if I do the left hand slap, just with my left fingers, I can´t get the sound that you do

[aandrayp]

@MarloweDK

Great great great stuff , great teacher, really cool guy .. u can tell

Just a comment on the correct English syllables : it is:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a ... and not 1 e & e 2 e & e ...

don't want to seem clever or anything, just to help in a correct way!

marloweDK rules!!!

[MarloweDK]

@aandrayp Thank you (also for the correction):-)

[ThePunk62]

what bands do you know where some good slap bass riffs are?

[edgar669966]

hey im having problems with my right hand slapping, sometimes when im slapping the A string the tip of my thumb touches the E and it makes an awful noise, what technique should i use to prevent this?

[acaros55]

Hey Thomas great vid as always I want to ask you something. I just bought a Sandberg bass and I want your opinion on the action when you first got em. Did u change it cuz it feel a little low especially for the "Abe laboriel" approach to slap, somehow I feel like I'm hitting the neck pickup when I pop the strings with my thumb and I haven't had that problem with my other basses. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

[MarloweDK]

@acaros55 Yes the action is by default a little low and Sandberg put on light gauge strings 40 - 100 on their basses.

Change it to gauge 45 - 105 and you will really hear and feel a difference

[tbass130]

Ya, technique is very important. and it could be a pain to switch your thumb position but its definitely worth it to learn the right way. because eventually you will want to double thumb and thats only possible if your thumb points to your left shoulder and not the ground

[OoOKasienkaOoO]

Ten ziomek jest czadowy...ja gram slapem 3 miesiace ale nie moge sie jeszcze polapac z kciukiem

[zdef01]

i learned a lot in this vidz...plz teach us more!!!

[nastrix19]

this video is amazing! what brand of single coil pickups do you use? did you use any enhancement pedals to make it sound as brilliant as this one?

great tone!

[FlaKey511]

Your videos have now enlightened me into the world of slap bass, your explenations are fantastic and easy to follow. Thank you for uploading these videos!

[SuperScorpion101]

oh my word! ive been doin the left hand slap all wrong! thank you!

[bahrwiz]

oh . :( i just realized something...the way i slap is wrong..i thought i had it right..but the tilting of my right hand is different/my thumb points down..damn..really appreciate the videos marlowe....i owe u big time...Im so embarrased.. :( thats y i was having such a hard time following the advance slapping covers.. damn

[MarloweDK]

@bahrwiz Relax, there is NO wrong way, just diffferent - Flea and TM Stevens slap downwards, because their basses hang low, its their STYLE, just find a way that works, That said - its easier to hit a single string precise with the thumb up

[bahrwiz]

@MarloweDK

Wow. Thanks. Actually, I was having a hard time following the lick for "advance double thumb" the one with the Victor Wooten style. I can't seem to shift as fast enough to double thumb the 2nd string after slapping the 4th string. I always get left behind with the tempo. Darn lol. I'll try both styles..thanks marlowe..

[MegaHotDiggityDog]

@MarloweDK Yessir, there's hardly ANY wrong way to play a bass at all is there? beautiful...

First, TOTALLY RIGHTEOUS pink bass!! favorite instrument + favorite color.

I was wanting to know if you could tell me something. Could you some up EVERY way you touch the bass to make a noise? there's the thumb slap, pop, hammer on, finger strike, could you name me any more? and explain to me the techniques in which to apply it to bass playing? and how you could alternate or maybe combine them? thx :)

[bahrwiz]

@MarloweDK

tnx! :)

[satriageta]

omg thank you so much!

[chetanarjun]

Grateful to you for sharing so much....

[och70]

The pink bass just makes it that much cooler. And we all know that our beloved bass teacher, Mr. MarloweDK, couldn't possibly be any cooler. Rock on, brother!

[flubno]

I've played bass for 16 years. I've never thought about hiting the strings with your left hand and counting it as a slap, but it works. I thought to slap and pop you dig your hand under the string, lift it up and pop it, with both your thumb and finger. Never thought of just hitting it with the thumb and calling it a pop. But that works too. My slap & pop always sucked and know I know why. I was doing it the hard way. popin the strings with both thumb and fingers. no wonder i sucked at it.

[flavius4god]

man you are awsome

[newsiemen4u]

Marlowe i have learned so much since watching you! I want to thank you! you are my favorite Bassist but I don't understand why you arent in Hollywood or much wider known! Just remember that I am a fan as well as a student!! Again thank you!

[MarloweDK]

@newsiemen4u Teachers dont go Hollywood;-) Thx anyway:-)

[WinsomeJohnny]

Great lesson! ..Simple but amazing at the same time!...thanks so much!

[fufish]

Wow, my left had is KILLING ME after this lesson. Love it, keep up the great lessons! Thanks for putting this out.

[BiGGPP77]

Thank You sir.

[BiGGPP77]

@ MarloweDK I'm having trouble slapping on with my left hand because I keep playing the notes like a hammer on. Any way to fix that?

[MarloweDK]

@BiGGPP77 Watch lesson 1 and 2 in this series

[naedsukram]

some drum rudiments would come in handy, like from the paradiddle family of rudiments, doubles. : ) great groove DK.

[00irregolare00]

Nice bass colour, ahah :)

Thanks for the lessons

[nondescriptman]

thanks for the beginner/intermediate slap bass lessons. they are much appreciated (and much needed ;-) )

[NielsUHP10]

Meget dansk accent :D

[JEVentrillon]

what bass guitar is that, it sortof sounds like a fender but more likeable(to my ears anyways) plus i really liek the vintage look its got, and hot pink absolutely great!

[MarloweDK]

@JEVentrillon Its a Sandberg California JJ model, a german brand

[nondescriptman]

@MarloweDK I tried one in a shop the other day... I don't understand why Sandberg went with a 14" radius fingerboard on a jazz bass !?! as Marcus Miller would put it, it's flatter than a piano!

[lusklasse]

@MarloweDK Pretty sure I saw this one and the J/M Sanberg you've used in a couple of vids in a store in Copenhagen, Are you endorsed by Aage, or something?

[MarloweDK]

@lusklasse No by Sandberg, but i picked up the bass at Aage, and it was the basses you saw:-)

[DESMYTTER]

Your work is FAN...TASTIC ! AlainD

[fmuler]

Thanks a lot!!!!!

[mrdarking]

Thank you man ! Great explanation .

[thebrokendeck]

sandberg sounds great ;)

[wandbzh]

un grand MERCI MarloweDK



[scaz38]

Sounds like part of the main riff to Almost there by Level 42. Nice explanation btw

[empabaghera]

When I try it out, my left hand slap produces a tone instead of that percussive sound you get. Is it only a technique issue, or does the instrument and how it's set up matter?

[MarloweDK]

@empabaghera I thought i was explaining just that?? Watch the video again and this time pay attention;-)

[empabaghera]

@MarloweDK You are absolutely right, the explanation is there. It's clear. I just underestimated the amount of practicing that goes into such skills.

[MarloweDK]

@empabaghera No problem, and I had to yank your chain:-)

[clockworkwar]

Go funky head bobbing brother!

[WestCoastHermanek]

yea, left hand slap making miracles ;)

Marlow, when Im very inspired and this kind things Im also mutin E string (or other, dont matter) with my right hand pre arm. This motion gives me a percusive sound, when 16th is very busy ;)

This stuff is great, greets and keep playn

[MarloweDK]

@WestCoastHermanek Yes I do that right forearm muting too:-)

[sidez81]

Go muscles lol........ Yo the Sandberg J bass kicks ass... Marlowe man ive been playin for around 12yrs now, i learnt on my own for the most of it and watching your vids has shown me alot that ive missed so thank you very much for your lessons, guidance and inspiration to keep pickin up the bass.

So do like we bassists do, Keep it in the deep end.

Thanx!!

[metalabyss1]

Bass looks like its seen better days. Nice Vid.

[liejam]

It gets tricky to break it down, When you play it naturally without even thinking about it:)

Nice lesson as always!

[Squabenphlaben]

Jeg liker at du retter deg selv når du sier feil. Takk for god veileding på slapping!

-Norske

[kelthanius]

Still have the pink bass, eh?

[pjongjang]

I remember you giving a similar lessen a long time ago. It was a 2 part video about slap. It was really useful. It really got my slapping up a level back then! Thanks =)