Slapping (music)

Not to be confused withDrum stroke.

Slappingandpoppingare ways to producepercussivesounds on astringed instrument.They are primarily used on thedouble bassorbass guitar.Slapping on bass guitar involves using the edge of one'sknuckle,where it is particularly bony, to quickly strike the string against thefretboard.On bass guitars, this is commonly done with the thumb, while on double bass, the edge of the hand or index finger may be used. Popping refers to pulling the string away from the fretboard and quickly releasing it so it snaps back against the fretboard. On bass guitar, the two techniques are commonly used together in alternation, though either may be used separately.

Audio example of slap bass with drums.

BassistFleaplaying bass with slapping technique

Demonstration of the slap technique on a 6-string bass

Overview

On thedouble bass,the technique was developed byjazzbands inNew Orleansin the early 1900s, and later spread to other genres, includingwestern swing,rockabilly,and other offshoots of those styles. On the bass guitar, the technique is widely credited toLarry Graham,an electric bassist playing withSly and the Family Stonein the late 1960s. The technique quickly spread to thefunkanddiscogenres.

Slapping is a technique also adopted by acoustic and electricfingerstyle guitarists.John Lennon is seen slapping his guitar in the first two measures of the song "Get Back" in Peter Jackson's documentary "The Beatles: Get Back".

Double bass

On double bass it refers to the technique that is a more vigorous version ofpizzicato,where the string is plucked so hard that when released it bounces off the finger board,making a distinctive sound. A percussive sound can also be made by smacking the strings with some or all of the fingers on the right hand in between the notes of a bassline, usually in time with thesnare drum.

The earliest players of this technique in American music includeBill Johnson(1872–1972),Theodore "Steve" Brown(1890–1965),Wellman Braud(1891–1966),Pops Foster(1892–1969),andChester Zardis(1900–1990).

Slap bass was used byWestern SwingandHillbilly Boogiemusicians. It became an important component of an early form of rock and roll that combined blues and what was then called hillbilly music—a musical style now referred to asrockabilly.Bill Black,who played withElvis PresleyandScotty Moorewas a well-known slap bass player. The technique inspired theGeorgeandIra Gershwinsong "Slap That Bass".

Jimbo Wallacefromthe Reverend Horton Heatis a slap bass performer

Slap bass continues to be used in the 21st century, as it is widely used by modern rockabilly andpsychobillyband bassists, includingKim Nekroman(Nekromantix),Geoff Kresge(Tiger Army),Scott Owen(The Living End) andJimbo Wallace(The Reverend Horton Heat). Kresge's rapid slapping ability is all the more remarkable given that for much of his career he was an electric bassist. The top rockabilly and psychobilly bassists have developed the ability to perform rapid triplet slaps at the same time as they play a walking bassline.

Bass guitar

Onbass guitar,slapping usually refers to a percussive playing technique most commonly used infunk,disco,soul,R&B,jazz,country music,rock,and many other genres. The style sounds much morepercussivethan regular plucking of notes with the soft part of the plucking hands fingers, and is also usually louder (although on an electric instrument, the volume can be adjusted with the volume knob or through compression), brighter, and more distinct than the sound of a bass guitar played with the usual plucking or pick techniques.

The slap sound comes from the combination of two elements: slapping, which involves striking the string with the side of the bony joint in the middle of the thumb, a harder surface than the pads of the fingers (used in plucked fingering); and intentionally allowing the vibrating string to come into contact with the metalfrets,producing a "toney" or buzzing sound that is normally avoided in plucked/fingered bass.

The typical position of the slapping hand

In the slap technique, the bassist replaces the usual plucking motion of the index and middle fingers with "slaps" and "pops". In the slap, the bassist uses the thumb to strike the strings (usually the lower E and A strings) near the base of the bass's neck. In the pop, the bassist will use the index or middle finger of the plucking hand to snap the strings (usually the higher D and G strings) away from thebodyof the bass, causing them to bounce off the fretboard; this produces a prominent buzzing tone with a sharp attack and more high-frequency vibrations than present in plucked bass.

The bassist can play many notes quickly by rotating the forearm, alternately slapping and popping: during the pop, the hand moves away from the fretboard, "winding up" or getting in position for the next slap. The slap and pop techniques are commonly used withpull-offsandhammer-onswith the fretting (usually left) hand, to further increase the rate at which notes may be played.Ghost notes,or notes played with the stringdamped,are also commonly played in slap bass to increase the percussive feel of the technique.

The invention of slap on electric bass is generally credited to funk bassistLarry Graham.Graham has stated in several interviews that he was trying to emulate the sound of a drum set before his band had found its drummer. Graham himself refers to the technique as "thumpin' and pluckin'".

Variants

There are numerous variants of the slapping technique. Some bassists use other fingers of the strumming hand to achieve this sound, such as bassistAbraham Laboriel, Sr.,who uses his thumb to pop the strings, and his other four fingers to slap the strings. BassistVictor Wootenuses a double thump technique which is like a slap, but uses both sides of the thumb for all the strings, fast enough to produce the equivalent of a drumroll on the bass guitar.

Funk fingersinvented by progressive rock bass playerTony Levincreate a similar sound by using a hard surface to strike the strings and intentionally cause string contact with the fretboard.Spank bassdeveloped from the slap and pop style and treats the electric bass as a percussion instrument, striking the strings above the pickups with an open palmed hand.

The slap technique bears some resemblance totambour,a percussive technique used inflamencoand classical guitar,although the tonal quality produced in this technique is quite different from that of a slapped electric bass. Japanese musicianMiyaviis well known for creating a unique slapping style of playingelectric guitars.Tosin Abasi, guitarist for progressive metal band Animals as Leaders, is also known for a slapping and popping technique on electric guitar, which he uses for both melodic and percussive effect.

External links

• Slap Bass Audio & Video Samples from FunkyChops
• Free Examples with Audio and TAB from Slap It!
• Free Slap Bass Video Tutorial
• Slap Lessons from BerkleeShares
• Music Man Stingray audio and photo
• How To Slap Bass Beginners Guide