Tuesday, November 19, 2024

27 thoughts on “The 5 Levels of Slap Bass (Beginner to BEAST)

  • Hi, which 5-string bass is better, in your opinion, for slap? And what are the main technical characteristics that a bass should have to be as easy as possible to slap like a beast? If I have a thinner handle for a female hand?

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  • Larry Graham was the inventor of double thumb too! Not enough people acknowledge this! "Release Yourself" title track! 1974! Legit double thumb, he plays this on that old instructional video too!

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  • I think i'm close after 18 years to playing Hair by GCS correctly… almost… He does play it on the instructional vid so you can see some of the right hand clearly but its actually quite tricky and subtle and his technique, even though he's the OG, is quite advanced and unique. What's slapped and what's popped is somewhat unclear mainly I think because he slaps (sorry.. thumps) very hard and aggressively. Nobody Ive seen yet has convincingly played it correctly (he definitely hits that low G, not a hammer on). He also shifts between D and E on the A string and the Dstring for the first 2 notes. thumps the A and plucks the D. You can hear the difference if you're paying attention. I think he uses more the D pluck especially later but starts with an A string thump. He does pluck the notes that are slid into (G#, high D). but again the aggressiveness might make it unclear. I go back to Hair like once every couple of years and would always find some subtle nuance that I missed or some slight flaw in the way I was playing it. Didn't mean to write a essay but you guys might be the only people who might understand and appreciate this!

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  • I was right now years old when I realized my left hand slap is my best slap. I’m actually killer at it… pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-pok-et-e-

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  • Hey, slap blokes, with regards to the mechanics of slap on the instrument side – against which fret a string (is supposed to) bounce to create the slap sound? Is it bouncing near the nut (/fretted one), or at the last fret (e.g. 20nd/24th)? Setting up a 'problematic' bass. Raising action, leveled/crowened dead frets, still buzz on 1-5th frets. Please let me know. P.S. Ian is the main asset of this show, simply stellar, simply the best. Also: Flat. Victor.

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  • Get Bill Gould on! He’s all about serving the song and not being flashy but is obviously a slap-rock beast. Pleeeeeaase! He seems like a friendly chap and loves bass chats. Have I said please?

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  • IAN!! LOVE the new color on the IMA4!! I have been in constant contact with Spencer, and I'm hoping I can pick up one of the new IMA4's when they are released in the next run. You guys have created a Magical instrument! Can't wait to get my hands on one.

    Just curious… What strings have you found to be the best for that bass? I have used DR High Beams for decades, now. I am a retired professional bassist from Nashville. I'm living the Beach Life in Panama City Beach, FL. But, I still perform 3-4 nights a week. Please let me know. Thanks man!

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  • Ian is just the cutest. Between the warm vibes he gives off, his dastardly chops, and his enthusiasm, he's indispensable!

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  • I find it easier to pop with my middle finger.
    Is that ok, or is it a bad habit that I should try to change?

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  • Ian, where did you get those Super Polished strings? They sound perfect for my preferences, but I can't find them for sale anywhere.

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  • I'm not remotely interested in slap. It's not something that's ever used in the styles I play. I'm literally just watching this video because I love Scott and Ian's chemistry so much.

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  • I've done the Slap Accelerator three times and went from 'there's no way I'm gonna get this' to 'double thumb is the only proper way to play bass'. I'm an American expat in the Philippines and I'm 74 years old.

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