A complete study of slap technique for bass free download as pdf file. There is enough easily usable information here to build your technique from scratch to as serviceable as any normal contemporary bass players slap technique needs to be in typical playing situations. Slap bass is the technique of whacking and popping the strings to get that percussive sound so characteristic of funk and also useful in other genres. Download my free beginner slap bass exercises pdf from this. Alexis is the author of the critically acclaimed instructional dvd, the slap bass program, and also coproduced fingerstyle funk, the instructional dvd by. Before we get started, make sure you grab a handy free pdf and backing tracks package that you can. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Its the technique used by famous bass players such as bootsy collins, flea, and les claypool. Take a look through the lessons below and get started with the basics of slap. Welcome back to my new column on the slap bass technique.
The samples are in pdf format and require adobe acrobat reader to be installed. This is a great groove for slap technique practice. Gleaned from years of teaching, performance, and listening experience bass players at all levels will benefit from studying the numerous exercises, grooves, and musical examples offered in this book. You probably wont sound like your slap bass idol the first time you play a bass. Technique lessons talkingbass free online bass lessons. Ok this is my opinion but i have looked at alot of slap books over the years and most of them suck ass. Funky slap guitar groove tablature pdfdap if you had fun playing this slap guitar groove, check out my slap bass course called slap bass funky fundamentals over on. Before attempting the double thumb slap technique we need to master the rest stroke. Feel free to play around with the timing slaps bass is using your right thumb if left handed then left to slap the strings. Here i will show you some examples of essential elements, which are used in funk slap, practical examples with notes, tablatures and studio recorded mp3 audio tracks. The only way outside of the matrix to develop your technique is practice, practice, practice. Some of the techniques presented are the left hand choke, use of the left hand thumb to fret notes, single string slappop, and paradiddles a. Youll learn everything you need to know about slap bass technique, enough to get you started in a matter of weeks.
Without mastering the funk slap technique, a bass guitarist cannot participate in modern music genres and play in a music group. My ultimate guide to slap bass technique will take you every step of the way from newbie all the way through to advanced pro. At beginner level, slap bass technique is mostly compromised of two key. How to slap the bass in 3 easy steps free bass lessons. If you love the groovy bass lines in popular funk and rock songs, you might want to learn how to play slap bass. If all instruction material was as solid as this, i would have 50100 booksdvds in all for bass, guitar, mandolin, not a or more. We wont go into any complicated techniques or slap bass lines. The standard tuning for a 4string bass is e a d g e being the thickest string or.
Last month we delved into the murky world of frettinghand slaps and learned how to add them into grooves based on open strings. Slap bass is a popular technique often used in funk music, but in reality, its just a different way to hit the string. This lesson will cover basic slap with the thumb, ghosted notes, muting, hammerons and pluckingpopping. Another free video bass lesson from mark j smith for. Ill show you all the standard slap techniques in detail, with closeups and ill also share secrets and. In this article, well give you a few pointers on getting started with slap bass technique, and finish with a more advanced exercise to demonstrate what it sounds like in a. Slap bass pdf, big funk text book slap, ebook with mp3. In this article, well give you a few pointers on getting started with slap bass technique, and finish with a more advanced exercise to demonstrate what it sounds like in a musical context. Were going to continue with this subject this month and focus. So many bass players have trouble getting a clean slap sound because they use the wrong hand position.
It is intended for bass guitar teachers instructors. Free slap bass exercises marks and symbols used in funk slap. By popular demand im starting a series of slap bass lessons covering the basic techniques. Twist your wrist and release the thumb after contact with the. This is a pretty advanced lesson, so if youre just starting out with slap bass you might want to save it for later. A short lesson on how to learn the slap technique on a 4string bass. Victor wooten is one of the main innovators of using this particular pattern.
The slap bass technique is used for the instrumental for theme song of the nickelodeon show kenan and kel. The only way to perfect the bass guitar slapping technique is through practice. In fact, you might not even sound like the pros in your first few years, it all depends on how much and how consistently you practice. In this slap bass lesson, we start working on the thumbhammerpluck pattern, one of the most useful slap rudiments i know. Listen and see if theyre using the same technique im demonstrating within the lesson. Its a full stepbystep system for playing slap bass.
I figured out the very basic rudiment of slapping on my own. Thus, even if youre already a great bass player, youll want to spend some time. Learn the 2nd most essential slap bass technique called the pop. E7 slap bass groove with open strings bass road bass lessons. Basic slap bass technique with play bass now learn what slappin da bass is all about as thomas risell from explains some of the basic. Funk studies for the electric bass was the first book to be published on slap bass technique now more than 25 years later, slap it. In this video lesson, learn how to play slap bass using the correct technique. This week were looking at classical study pieces and how theyre.
The 2008 film forgetting sarah marshall parodies seinfelds usage when the main character peter played by jason segel, who produces music for a tv series, inserts a goofy slap bass sample into a dramatic scene where dark and ominous. They have their hand pointing down so that the thumb runs across 2, 3 or even all 4 strings in the same way that flea does. This comprehensive book covers every aspect of the slap technique from the absolute basics through to advanced techniques such as double thumbing, open string hammerons and how to combine slapping with other techniques. If you want to play funk, youll need to learn how to play slap bass. The simple steps to slap bass course is a complete, stepbystep method for. I wrote this exercise so we can work on it together at a few different levels of complexity.
The ultimate slap course for bass guitar two volume course featuring video lessons, pdf workbooks and. The technique for slap bass differs from that of standard bass. The entire motion should be produced from your wrist tilting side to side while your fingers do their work. This course is my personal guide to slap bass technique and playing style. Free slap bass exercises marks and symbols used in funk.
The online course is a lifetime subscription that accesses more exercises and lessons. This is a quick slap exercise designed to maintain your thumb chops when low on practice time. How to play slap bass fundamental changes music book. Slap bass techniques, adjustments and tricks to develop. I introduce you to the different techniques thumbing, plucking, left hands slaps and hammerons etc youll need to use. Two volume course featuring video lessons, pdf workbooks and. Make sure to boost the treble and bass while cutting the mids. The basics 25 stepbystep lessons providing a solid foundation in the slap technique what is the simple steps to slap bass course. In this mouthful of a lesson ill show you how to play a quirky slap groove that incorporates some elements you might not be used to.