Free Beginner Slap Bass Video Lesson

[Vintagekieran]

is a 5 string bass a major disadvantage to this technique because im interested in a 5 string schecter stilleto custom?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Narrow string spacing is often a concern when slapping on 5-string basses. The Schechter 5 is fine (medium to wide spacing) and it has a 35" scale. However, you should try before you buy.

Generally, 4-string basses are easier to slap than 5's. But ... if you start on a 5 it will be no problem - because we easily get used to our first instrument.

Bass of Luck ... and congratulations in advance!

George

[Vintagekieran]

@BassLessonsOnline Thanks for the reply, it helps a lot and I think I am going to get it, unfortuantely I cannot try it because its an online auction purchase but being a schecter owner and reading a lot of reviews about the bass in particular I feel that its a worth while buy especially for the price. Thanks again :)

[MayGlitters]

thanks you very much! this is helping me a lot! :) thank you George.

[BassLessonsOnline]

That's great news! Thanks for posting.

George 

[allcatsaregrey333]

Thumbs up if you keep on adjusting your headphone/earphone's jack and then you just realized that you looked like a retard.

[isavedsuperman1x]

What size strings would you suggest using for slap?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Medium gauge is fine, i.e. 45 - 105. Once you fine tune your slap technique, you can adjust your string gauges accordingly.

George

[g4geetar]

hey, what am I doing wrong? My fingers hit the body of the bass or my hand touches the strings now and again.

[BassLessonsOnline]

Post a video for me to take a look and comment.

George

[kintzaza]

I like that very much

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thank you.

George

[arenobailey]

Thanks George great video & I was the 3rd guitarist but I'm loving the bass Cheers ; D

[ed4409]

Hey, so I have a question: What do you suggest for slap bassists that have Hitchhiker's Thumb? I am trying to learn, but it's really hard cause of my Hitchhiker's Thumb. Thanks! =)

[TheMorbidAsshole]

@ed4409 whats a Hitchhicker's thumb man ? can you explain it ?

[BassLessonsOnline]

You will have to keep trying different angles until you can easily slap the strings you want to. Using the thumb joint protrusion (the boney bit) should help. You could even try the "hanging thumb" technique. i.e. the thumb pointing downwards.

Bass of Luck!

George

[Rejito]

@ed4409 sorry, what do you mean by hitchhicker´s thumb/a( i know what hitchhike means i just don´t understand the slang) ?? is it too big or too small? I´m also having trouble with the slap, and i think my thumb is probably to big

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thumb pointing upwards is called hitchhiker's thumb.

The size of the thumb does not matter. We can adjust accordingly.

George

[ThePdiddles]

@ed4409 I have a hitchhiker's thumb also, but it actually helps me more lol.

[BassLessonsOnline]

That is actually the case with most slappers.

George

[kekekeven13]

this is helping me a lot i been playing for 2 years and now is the time a have decided to learn the slap and pop thing and how it works :)

[BassLessonsOnline]

Great - thank you!

George

[anubis45451989]

Stfu and show us how to slap geez next video

[TommieSissons]

Ive never really had the chance to ask this but Why did you decide to play the bass guitar instead of the electric 6 string guitar?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Interesting ... one could just as well ask "Why did you decide to play the electric 6 string guitar instead of the bass guitar?" or "trumpet instead of piano etc."

One of the most common answers (and this did apply to me too) is that there are 3 guitarists in the band and no bass player, so someone has to volunteer. (This was the case with Paul McCartney of The Beatles.)

Essentially, each person has a natural gravity toward a particular instrument.

George

[trikkah]

Thanks for this video! I liked that you explained yourself and it was thorough, I found it very helpful :)

[BassLessonsOnline]

Great - thank you!

George

[kenworthNH]

So helpful! I appreciate your relaxed style of explaining things.

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thank you for your observations and kind comments.

George 

[geofrito]

Great lesson. Thanks, George!

[BassLessonsOnline]

You're most welcome! Thanks for your input.

George

[MrKj3ll]

That was excellent!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thanks for your post. I hope I could help.

George

[plpamparius]

i cant do it :(

[a2r1v1i2s]

@plpamparius yes you can sir!  keep trying. Merry Christmas. ;-) also, it helps if your into a band that really plays this way. I recommend Primus. when I started playing bass I was a metal head. then I listened to primus and between them and rush I spent like 6 hrs a day just trying to figure their songs out note for note. sorry for the tangent. Just keep trying and literally SNAP you'll get it one day... it's bizarre. good luck sir!

[magikmusic1]

that was brilliant! thanks

[BassLessonsOnline]

I am happy to see you liked this video too.

Thanks,

George

[TheLouiedaniel]

ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY EARPHONES WORK, NOOOOOOOOOOO

[BassLessonsOnline]

Probably not true. This video was an experiment in hard left/right separation. I speak on one channel and play bass on the other.

Kind regards,

George

[TheLouiedaniel]

@BassLessonsOnline no, i mean i sat on them last week, so one side is literally broken, but thankyou for your interest

louie

[eltotoX]

@BassLessonsOnline Keep the stereo effect low, it's kind of tiring. Thanks for the videos!!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Sorry, this was an experiment. The "success" of the experiment is that I don't record like this anymore.

Thanks for your appreciation.

George

[AdSaminT]

I really hope you have a good health for teach us in many year next!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thank you for your well wishes. The best for you too!

George

[Supergear100]

tbh i dont have a bass just wanted to see this technique :)

[NikSh19]

Thanks a lot!!!

[BassLessonsOnline]

You're welcome. Thanks for your post.

George 

[rayvenfear]

. Bootsy is different from Victor... everyone does it differently. I have not perfected it by any means but I do appreciate the fact that everyone is unique.... so that's my penny's worth. I like the way this fellow tries to educate musicians. and I have to say, I actually took something away from this. There is your true measure of a teacher. :-)

[rayvenfear]

Just a brief comment about the other comments... anyone who seeks out slapping should seriously remember that there are hundreds of different techniques.

[rayvenfear]

I meant that truly... there were a few things I never thought about

[rayvenfear]

there were a few things that were so basic that I never thought of them. THANKS!

[Xactualize]

have you ever heard of evan brewer?

[snowturtle911]

AH! i only own an acoustic bass. THIS IS HELL!!!

[walkingupsidedown]

i love the free lessons, thanks

[BassLessonsOnline]

Very good - thanks for your post.

George

[acdcparkour]

LOL He Slaps His G-Srting!

[mettalideth01]

Thanks. Thins actually helped

[BassLessonsOnline]

Very good - I'm happy about that!

George

[Sheldog871]

Everytime i try to learn how to slap I get mad then quit, why cant i perfect this! like i just cant, im a wicked bass player but i cant slap for the life of me!

[BassLessonsOnline]

When I began learning slap I was already a professional bass player. I practiced slap daily for about 3 months until I got reasonably comfortable with it. Perseverance is the key ;-)

Bass of Luck!

George

P.S. I do have a 3-hour step-by-step video series on slap, available via the link in the Description box above.

[ItsHellasNotGreece]

when i pop the string ... it sounds A LOT louder than when i slap .. what should i do ???? sorry for my terrible english ;)

[BassLessonsOnline]

It seems as though you may have to increase your slap intensity and accuracy. Review this video - you may find the answer.

George

[Burton411506]

Im afraid that ill break the string if I pop it too hard.

[BassLessonsOnline]

Then don't. Find a sensitive, useful balance between input and output.

George

[Medhivus]

When I slap, I dont ever make the string vibrate, it just makes a sound like it's muted. Am I not striking hard enough? Also, when I try to slap with different chords/notes, the sound doesn't change. Help please

[BassLessonsOnline]

It seems like you are leaving your thumb on the string too long. Please review this video and if you don't find a solution, post a video of your playing for me to take a look and comment.

Thanks,

George

[csmorgan]

You have the best explanation for the pop ive ever heard

[BassLessonsOnline]

That's great news! Thank you.

George

[littlebitcountrygirl]

The BEST instructor ever. I'm absolutely loving your videos.  Thank you so much!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thanks, June. I'm happy to hear your message.

George

[Dgrindz]

my left ear loved this video

[BassLessonsOnline]

Hello and thanks for your comment. This video was an experiment in hard left/right separation. If you have a mono switch on your system, please use it.

Kind regards,

George

[1y9b9b]

@Dgrindz

my right ear!

[IonsAgo]

I don't understand the popping part

[MIKEGALAXY17]

your a good teacher, and you sound a lot like george harrison!

[stebbieranch]

Slapa da bass mon

[dedelruf]

Thanks man awesome lesson! Nice job :D

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thank you very much. Its a pleasure!

George

[JimJimJimNL]

Are you ment to let the strings hit the frets or not?

[BassLessonsOnline]

You don't have to hit hard enough for the strings to hit the frets.

George 

[JimJimJimNL]

@BassLessonsOnline

yea but to is the purpose of slapbass to let the strings hit the frets? I am very new to this.

[kibbles1053]

@JimJimJimNL You don't HAVE to, but you probably will, since the strings are really loose at that part of the neck.

[JimJimJimNL]

@kibbles1053

Ok thanks! It has much influence on the sound tough

[trigea]

In Soviet Russia bass slaps you

[aradhyasxn1]

2:28 voila! i saved so much of ur tym! : )

[SoulshatterEvolution]

anyone knows what can i do if my bass's neck is bent due to the tension by the strings?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Yes, the truss rod needs to be tightened.

George

[TheMASDrummer]

how can you dislike this video?

[theonlykoolaidman]

This helped A LOT!!! Thank you!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Excellent - thanks back :)

George

[vidonja2]

I'm a beginner and have a five string bass... Can you help, please, I'm oftenly hitting the B string aswell as the E string when I try to slap -.-

[BassLessonsOnline]

Get your thumb to come more perpendicular to the E string.

George

[bommerdome]

@BassLessonsOnline

Parallel? perpendicular seems like it would be hitting the B string more...

[BassLessonsOnline]

Yes, as described in my video, the thumb should be parallel (to the strings) too.

George

[sketchanderase]

I just posted a response with my playing, i just learned and was wanting an opinion. I watched your video and got to work right then and there. Thanks! Very helpful.

[aadams22]

In Soviet Russia, bass slaps you.

[EliSexyton]

you have a familiar accent

[FreshhStyleZ]

how do you tune your bass for slap bass??

[BassLessonsOnline]

The same tuning as normal.

George

[SpreadLoveLikeSex]

@BassLessonsOnline Every time i slap, i get a nasty noise. Like my string slamming against my fret board. I'm barely slapping though and i still get that noise. It is my bass, or am i still just hitting the string to hard?

[BassLessonsOnline]

There could be numerous reasons for this effect:

Maybe your bass neck is not set up correctly

Maybe your string action is too low

Maybe you are not bouncing off the string fast enough (this is the most likely cause)

Maybe you are hitting too hard

Good luck!

George

[xMyNameIsMike]

I play guitar, and I find slapping quite difficult.

Not bass. Any tips?

[ZestyNumNums]

@xMyNameIsMike You trying to slap the guitar?

[xMyNameIsMike]

@ZestyNumNums Yes. I know it's possible, I've seen it in person. It's just tricky.

I think my strings may not be heavy enough.

[PandaShippoChan]

Thanks for helping! :D

[BassLessonsOnline]

You're most welcome. Thanks for your post.

George

[DeathbyChristmastree]

I can get the sound on the e string, but cant quite get the aim right on the others

[BassLessonsOnline]

That's exactly the experience most people (including myself) have in the early stages of slap bass. Practice is perfect.

George

[arlolockheart]

36 people dont have a thumb :)

[Thebudgeismetal]

anyone got any song suggestons witch incorperate this kinda style?

[R0K1NN1C0]

Thank you, great and very helpful video!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Excellent - I'm happy you found it helpful.

George

[RDHZAL]

My right ear is lonely..

[BassLessonsOnline]

Yes, mine too. When I recorded this video, I was trying out channel separation. I don't use that technique any more.

Kind regards,

George

[2k7Roni]

@RDHZAL i dont get it?

[GooeyBastard]

@RDHZAL My left is lonely o0

[BassLessonsOnline]

My apologies - mine too :-(

This hard left/right stereo was a failed experiment.

George

[GooeyBastard]

@BassLessonsOnline Doesn't matter. I love your lessons so keep going! :)

[truebeatlesfan8]

thanks for posting George, i am going to a performing arts high school for bass and my jazz band teacher, whom i hoped would teach me how to slap bass, unfortunately didn't. so i now know the fundamentals of slap bass thanks to you!! it helped a lot, you rock!! and i will make sure to check out your website :)

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thanks Katie - Bass of Luck with your Jazzing and Slapping!

George

[teken1000]

thank you very much, i just got a 5 stringed bass, and trying to learn how to use it with style, thanks to you i just might do that :D

if you like music you can check out my channel, i'm gonna add vidos of me playing music, i am a pianist, and i have one video up now of me playing an arrangement of one of the soundtracks from the pirates of the caribbean movies, enjoy :D

[BassLessonsOnline]

Thanks for your post. It certainly helps to be a versatile musician.

George

[suxdudemungus]

Hey George when i try to hit my E string I hit my A string, does that have to do with my aim? What can you suggest to help me fix this problem?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Make sure you hit perpendicular to the strings. Either that, or rest your thumb on the adjacent string after hitting at an angle.

My 12-part Slap Bass Series explains and shows all this in detail.

Kind regards,

George

[divinecry]

ew... sound?

[mgsBicycleO9]

youre a nice man :)

[METALLICAturnedto11]

THANK YOU <3

[BassLessonsOnline]

You're most welcome - thanks for posting!

George

[endederzivilisation]

I don't know, if this has already been asked, but when i'm triying this I'm hitting all the other strings. What's can i do?

[BassLessonsOnline]

This issue (the aim) is addressed in this video (and addressed more comprehensively in my Slap Bass Series).

George

[joseguitarizt]

for slapping is there a particular mode or setting that your amp has to be on in order to slap?

Please Respond!!

[BassLessonsOnline]

Not necessarily. It comes down to our personal taste.

If you slap exclusively, then some settings may change (compared to a "finger-style" sound).

George

[MattySP34Ks]

@BassLessonsOnline I can only really see one foreseeable issue, in the fact that my upper right arm seems to be getting quite painful (lactic acid) and I think this may be cause I think I'm doing it wrong, if i send a video of how I'm doing it can you give me some feedback?

Thanks :)

[BassLessonsOnline]

Sure, please upload a video of the "occurrence" and I'll take a look and comment.

George

[hinattauzumaki]

watch?v=CeRMEwRasxA

[x9koketa]

could you make another video like this but wit a 5 string bass

[BassLessonsOnline]

The concept is the same.

Bass of Luck!

George

[EnhancedNation]

George I just have a quick question just to clear things up but when you pop the string your basically pulling it up?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Yes, as I say in the video "upwards and outwards".

Kind regards,

George

[Skitlus]

@EnhancedNation

You pretty much pull the string up with your index (or middle) finger, then let go of it so it bounces back and hits the fretboard. :)

[TheFussProduction]

i dont get it...

[probstanator]

What kind of strings do you use?

[BassLessonsOnline]

The strings on this particular (and very cheap) bass are the ones that came with it - so, I'm sorry, I don't know.

George

[bigbosssauce7]

This guy looks like Jim Lahey. Good videos man

[Syn94]

@bigbosssauce7 Holy FACK! You're right!

[XxAFIRINSDExX]

@bigbosssauce7 Hes not hammered enough tho

[TACOCHEESESAUCE]

i slappa de bass

[kentam999]

thanks man for having all these videos...

just wondering as a completely new bass player who don't even have a bass nor an amp, do u have any good suggestions for good sound quality vs price?

Thanks

[BassLessonsOnline]

Generally we get what we pay for. You can get quite good cheap basses, but not very good cheap bass amps. If you want to play with a band (and not just practice on your own) you should get as many watts as you can afford in your bass amp.

Let me know which brands of bass and amps are available in your area and in your price range. I can then recommend based on availability, your preferences etc.

George

[flyleaf290]

@kentam999: i don't know if my opinon will amount to anything, but if you start with a crap bass and start getting really good and having a really clean sound, despite the complications of the crap bass, when you get into good basses when youre better, sense these tend to hide your mistakes you've already fixed your mistakes, versus not even knowing that they're there.

[rob825]

Any good suggestions on easy slap lines I can play along to?

[BassLessonsOnline]

My suggestion is to type "easy slap bass lines" into your search engine to find the ones you like and can play.

Bass of Luck!

George

[AmandaRootBeEr]

thnx

[BassLessonsOnline]

You're welcome - thanks for checking in.

George

[DWarrior4]

Thanks for the video. I wasn't sure if I was doing it right but it seems like it. Just going to take a lot of practice

[BassLessonsOnline]

Yes, dedicated and focused practice is the key.

Kind regards,

George

[SeBassIronMaiden08]

hey George,how are you? ,im glad to see a great teacher like you,i dont speak enlgish,but i understand you at all,it's awesome,i just have one problem whit my right hand...can't find the rigth way to take a decente velocity,honestly,when i gona pop the string,sometimes i lock my hand and break the beat...sorry for my horripilant english ....

best wishes!

Cheers

[BassLessonsOnline]

My suggestion: Practice away from the bass until your hand feels loose. Then try to transfer the same feeling to the bass.

Bass of Luck!

George

P.S. Thanks for your kind comments.

[SeBassIronMaiden08]

@BassLessonsOnline thanks a lot! your suggestion really help me,that's wonderfull the bass secrets!!

i'll keep learning with your videos

just one last question,maybe it's a dumb question ,but anyway....the thumb should be very rigid, or rather with no weight?

(again,sorry for my english)

bass of luck for you too haha

[BassLessonsOnline]

There are not really any secrets. It is just knowledge that we eventually find and apply.

As explained in this video, the thumb is loose during the slap approach, then becomes rigid on the bounce-back.

George

[bitchderf]

this guy looks exactly like jim lahey from the show trailer park boys



[MeatsOfEvil93]

This video helped me so much!

Does anyone know the best strings for slapping?

[MrDevilius1]

Oh, and, also, I tend to accidentally hit the body of the bass with my knuckles of my other 4 fingers.... Thanks for the help!

[MrDevilius1]

I'm having trouble having both the note sound and the metallic "hitting the string" sound... It's either one or the other... Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[BassLessonsOnline]

Possibly. First, you may have to review this video a few times and make any corrections you find useful.

George

[profalconey3]

have you got hungarian origins?

[BassLessonsOnline]

No, they are Polish.

George

[GriefMachine]

This video actually helped me a lot. I've been playing bass for about three years now, but I've stuck to mostly metal and hardcore. Always wanted to pick up slap bass because, well let's face it, every bassist loves the sound of a funky slap bass solo. This video helped me pick up the technique and the tips for practicing the movement without my bass. Thanks a lot, subscribed

[BassLessonsOnline]

That's great - thanks for your post!

George

[Nipon76]

hey man..i've been playing the guitar for about ten years now and i am currently playing the bass on my new band (got kinda bored with the guitar. lol), what kinda lessons would you recommend for me to try first for a guy in my situation right now? thanks man..

ps: i just subscribed

[BassLessonsOnline]

If you want to get detailed step-by-step bass lessons (because bass technique and the role of the instrument is different to that of the guitar) check out my online course, available via the link in the Description box above.

Possibly even better would be for you to get an assessment from a qualified bass teacher in your area.

Kind regards,

George

[Nipon76]

@BassLessonsOnline thanks a lot for the quick reply. your lessons helped a lot and thanks for the great advice man. you're a good teacher by the way. :) hey, can you help me with one more little thing? i'm gonna get a new bass guitar, so what would make a good bass guitar? anything that you would recommend? i play metal mostly.

[BassLessonsOnline]

There are so many options. They begin with what attracts you visually to a particular bass, then the sound, the features, what your idols use etc.... and your budget.

Let me know what basses interest you so I can comment on your choices.

Happy searching!

George

[Nipon76]

@BassLessonsOnline i really would like something that is noticeable on stage.. i admire guys like fieldy from korn (because i love watching him slap his bass)..i'm not very sure on what kinda sound i really want because i've only been playing bass guitar for a few months and haven't found a bass that i really want..my budget would be around 500 us dollars..thanks george.

[GriefMachine]

@Nipon76 Hey, sorry for butting in on this but I just wanted to say that I own a Yamaha RBX374, and it's a damn fine instrument. I would imagine the quality is the same on the RBX375's, so I just wanted to pitch in my two cents in case you still had trouble deciding. Of course, I'm not telling you to go for the Yamaha as each musician has their own tastes, just throwing in a little testimonial

[Nipon76]

@GriefMachine it's ok.. i appreciate your input man..thanks.. still haven't made my decision yet though..but i'll test a few basses while i'm saving up to buy them.. :)

@GriefMachine hey, is cort any good at making basses? cause my first guitar was a cort x-11 and it was just magnificent.