I gotta bring attention to something here; I remember years ago when I watched Scott's earlier slap lessons his right hand slap technique was VERY different. He had his thumb pointing down and didn't have anywhere near the same note articulation he does now. Now his sound and technique are on a whole other level! He's doing the double thumb stuff more, and notes come out beautifully. I can tell it was a lot of work changing up how you play when you're already as insane of a bassist as Scott, but the improvement is clear as day and it's inspiring to see. Kudos to you Scott!
I think Ian pointed out the disadvantages of downward thumb slapping to him and he changed it up after that. I did the same years ago until I wanted to figure out double thumbing, and realized why i had to change. Unfortunately, I didn't have the great minds of Scott and Ian to point that out and make it easier for me back then.
I don't think I've ever heard slap played with flatwounds before, but it sounds super cool! You should try it with tapewounds and see how that extra "clack" from the coating fits in 😅
So I found SBLs years ago and had a lot of fun, but for some reason left and went away for several years. Somehow the youtube algorithm brought SBL up again and these past few weeks with Ian on set with Scott, I have an all new appreciation for these lessons. Subscribed now. This vid is so cool having Ian and Scott both on set with Fender Jazz instruments. I just got off the phone with my local Fender dealer as I am looking for a Mononeon bass. Now I have to go back through and find the funky videos with Scott and Ian to make sure I hit the like button.🎸🎸👍
Great sensible tips! Regarding strings... I'd add that for some (like me) lighter gauge strings also help with slapping. It's easier to get lower action and requires less effort on the thumb, again...for me. YMMV
What about strings sizes!? 😁, at least to me, does make a difference! the thicker the harder, of course it depends on your hand-fingers sizes, but I also looked up what some of the great slap players use. I ended up with 45-65-80-100 for example, seems to be the sweet spot for me! love to hear any other recommendations 😎
Another tip I wish someone had told me years when I started is how much the bass itself matters. I was going for that Marcus like tone with a Warwick corvette… not going to happen is the short answer! Even though it was jazz pickups, active circuitry, fresh strings, good enough technique. It’s not a fender type bass so there were a lot of pieces of that puzzle missing!
Thx for all those slap lesson. when i try slapping i always get this super loud clack sound. the sound in the video is so clean. i dont know what i m doing wrong…
I dig it! If you want to hear the funkiest of the funky, listen to what Larry Graham does on the fire escape in Mike Gordon's Rising Low documentary. The funkiest stomp you'll ever hear! It's a little after the 22 minute mark
The down thump is just easy when you start cause you can rock back and forth between thumb and side of hand pinky... Like clickidy click. .think korn... the side to through, to up 3ven has so much more control
Is it me or does Ian look like an American Scott? Or does Scott look like a British Ian? Or I'm just crazy... Either way, great video guys and great chemistry!
What's your take on string gauge for slap? I recently bought a bass that came with lighter gauge than I usually play and I've found it great to slap on.
Moment of nerdery: in terms of imperial measurements, 2 mm is closest to 5/64". 1/16 is about 1.6 mm. Other than that, keep up the good work; these are great tips.
This reminds me…. I’d like to see some segments about effects. Particularly, some great examples in songs broken down. Not so much overdrive as that’s common. But fuzz, chorus, phaser etc. What do do with your fuzz pedal (besides make crazy noise)? Good idea?
Also check whether the other instruments fit with the sound of the slapped bass. I have learned that it is really hard to match slap bass to heavy, distorted guitar sounds in a way that you still get the percussive groovy effect of the slapped bass.
Great Stuff as Always, Love da Channel! Just Curious...... Is that '78 that U guys just purchased @ Da Shopping episode? and Is That '74 AVRI in Olympic White? And Flat wound Precision is Custom Shop?
I find the thumb down technique easier to play standing up, feels to me like it requires less thumb placement precision and therefore works better for me in this case
I have to disagree with the tip regarding flatwound strings vs. roundwounds. I bought a used Sire Marcus Miller V3 recently on eBay and the seller had already had it strung with flats, though they were of a lighter gauge. After playing the bass with just the flat strings on it, I discovered that slapping was no problem and finger style was more comfortable on my finger tips than if it had round wounds. Round wounds really eat my fingers up and these strings took that burden away. I'm going to shop for more flat strings exactly like the gauge that came on the Sire.
I understand why you can play thumb down, it’s a killer sound bot mostly it’s a more natural feel if you want to go from thumb to finger style, there’s not wrist movement needed up strokes on double thumb is the most difficult for me these outros are gems!! Scott’s wife beater 😂 sitting there like they are casting in “married with children” 😂
Any advice for someone with massive hands? I’ve always struggled to slap (especially playing through the string) because the popping finger is always too far away. Generally I can slap the E string and pop the G string, but that leaves octaves out which is difficult
2 millimetres is more like 5/64 ths. of an inch. 1/16 th. of an inch is 1.6 mm. Cheers. 2mm under the string at the 12th. fret is not a very low action. It is a good sensible height.
LOL Ian says don't slap so hard man, I was slapping a buttload. Yeah, enough is enough and it's time to settle down. No more breaking my D, thank you for the lesson.
So, a couple of questions. I didn't quite follow the strings bit. I just started playing, and was given a bass with strings attached already (for once it was better than "no strings attached"). OK, that was horribad, but never the less. I have no idea about different strings. Can someone gimme a couple of examples form a store? Second, what do you mean by action? you said two millimeters, but I didn't quite catch what it was you were referring to. The gap between string and fret? So basically tune the bass an octave lower or something?
Dunlop Superbrights are a good example of strings you could probably find in a guitar/bass store! The action is the distance from the string to the fret when the string is held down at the first fret, and no you wouldn't tune the bass an octave lower! Hope that helps!
I love that Timmy C has only played slap bass in one song with RATM, but Take the Power Back was so good that he’s seen as being on the same level as Flea in Scott’s eyes lol
lol thank you for this 126 gallons worth of information! I'm definitely struggling with double thumbing - feels like my thumb is too frail for it or something
I've always respected the approach to playing whether its finger style/slap & both but when I started to see bassists play slap with their hand angling downwards it just because an instant thought of , yes they can slap that way but they are seriously hindering any chances of playing different techniques that have become almost a taken for granted way of slipping down & through the String & then , as it says on this clip , pulling you thumb back up the string , which can completely making a bass players approach & playing become even more versatile but it's a case of Each To Their Own & I respect everyone's opinion on how they play their bass guitars parts & thats when I don't agree with their approach... It's one thing having our opinion on how something should be played but you can't force my or other bass players approach to how they play & they'll know IF what they've been doing has now seen the style almost becoming defunct because they played a certain way & for many they are fine & still want to playing in a specific way but IF other players want to have a go at the various ways that a bassist can play by using their thumb differently & many bass players that play through & back up the string , can do so much more but they aren't really playing something that's too difficult to do but instead it became a different approach that sees bass players adding that style of plsying with theirs... I always think of late great bassist from " Chic " Bernard Edwards , as he could get his bass playing to sound like he used a plectrum & many thought he did , but it was his style that eventually went on to be named as Bass Chucking & Bernard played similar to how modern day bassists play their bass guitar which is similar to Bernard's bass chucking style & many musicians trylu thought he used a plec but it was instead his style of getting more notes but using his thumb like we've been seeing & hearing for many years now... Bernard was always a bassist other musicians & fans loved for his bass lines with " Chic " adding in that he basically did this style decades before it became the next in thing to play like... Bernard Edwards sadly passed away but will never be forgotten & he's still showing others that his playing style was miles ahead of everyone else & ahead of its time & we Thank You for this... Bernard Edwards RIP .....
