Slapping Bass

Slap Technique
This blog will help you develop your slap technique. These suggestions will help you maintain an even

overall sound:

1.Be precise with thumb attacks.
2.Only hit the string you want to sound.
3.Muting strings is critical.
4.Muted thumb attacks should be struck with the same intensity as sounded notes.
5.Pull attacks should not be louder or more intense than thumb attacks.



In this blog, slap techniques are labeled as follows:

T: Thumb attack
X: Dead note (String attacked as indicated, but not allowed to ring. These are notated using
the open string on which they are attacked.)
I: Thumb-up stroke (thumb pulls up from under the string)

S: Slide

H: Hammer on (no attack with slapping hand)
P: Pull string with first or second finger
L: Lift finger from previous note to the note with the L above it

Slurs, show when notes are sounded without a right-hand attack, as in hammers, slides, and lifts.
Only the first note of a slurred group is articulated with the right hand.

Step 1.
Chord Slap Grooves
These examples are basic slap grooves. Listen closely to your attacks and your overall sound. One of the most challenging aspects of playing slap bass is maintaining an even, full, clear sound. Of course, you can do some experimenting with the sound by adjusting the control knobs on your
bass and your amp, but a good sound always starts with your hands.

Thumb slap. Use a down-stroke attack with your thumb. These are generally the lower
notes of a slap-bass line.


X: Muted, Use your left hand to mute or “choke” the note. These are notated on any of the open strings. You can play a muted note with regular fingering, or with a thumb slap, pull, or hammer
P: Pull, Use your index finger to pull up on the string and sound the note. Pulled notes are generally the higher notes of the slap line.
T: Thumb slap. Use a down-stroke attack with your thumb. These are generally the lower notes of a slap-bass line.

Example 1.
Tuning Notes: E, A, D, and G strings, each played twice

 Example 2.
E-7