Here we are, welcome back once again
 
Today I wanna talk you about ...SLAP
EH...I know many of you wants me to talk about slap
Many would that everybody talks about slap...me too
I think there is always less talk of slap
which is a marvelous technique on bass
technique which was once in fashion,
around the 90s, while lately...it's losing a little bit of attraction
unless you are aspiring virtuosos
then slap is not considered much
and this is a pity in my opinion
and yet...and yet...and yet...
and yet today we are here talking about this
I address those who have always heard only slap
and never tried
or who is trying to figure out how it works
but...but...first was "but"..second " ???"
So let's try to understand how this beautiful and likeable works
First of all, what is slap?
Slap is a bass technique, of course ... we are here talking about bass
if we were here talking about soups...
it would be a culinary technique...
let's not go any further...
the bass technique of slap consists mainly in this thing
which is the thumb stroke on the strings
 
that allows us to obtain this kind of sound
and this kind of rhythms, which can differ quit  a lot
from "traditional" rhythms
played in pizzicato
The stroke of the thumb but also a very important sub-technique of slap
that is very important
is the "pull" of the string,
a matter of taste...
Well, Despite being practiced for many years, slap is still considered a young technique
and is still evolving
 
modern bass players play slaps with the addition of new techniques
we're talking about the double thumb
or the double pull,
inserting the tapping inside slap grooves
whereas at the beginning it was simply a stroke of the thumb
well,... not really "simply"...
Slap made the revolution, a revolution that is generally attributed to Larry Graham
It seems that the first bass player to play slap
was the bassist of Sly and the Family Stone
So go and listen to something of this band
trying to understand how it used the slap
and started a new world
Another bassist that is worth mentioning, not so much for what he did on the record
but to be the author of the first slap method
is Tony Oppenheim,
and method is "Slap it"
the book that is considered a small "Bible"
for all bassists
so, if you do not have it, get it
in the most recent versions, for the 25th anniversary
published, I believe, in the mid-2000s
you can find inside the tabs and further exercises
there is also a dedicated website
well, this was used to tell you that the slap had its evolution.
so, you can see, in the internet age you have material to deepen slap
This does not mean that, as I said in other videos, the possibility of having someone explain to you "how to do"
in my opinion, is still very important
So, let's start:  how to set up your hands?
Of course, someone can tell you: "I only need my right hand, because it's only her that changes!"
eh..wait a minute!...wait!
she certainly has great responsibilities, because of the thumb
this is the first thing you need to practice
to train yourself you must do this kind of exercise
give a "thumb shot" on every single string
First rule: how to give this "thumb shot"?
Remember to keep your thumb parallel to the strings you will hit
This is the movement
Imagine going by scooter...broom..broom...
then, a punch with the handlebar inside
it does not have to be a closed fist...ehhhhh....
the hand must be slightly open
here is your handlebar
this is the hand and this is the thumb
Where is the camera?!?!
Once you have your thumb in this way
the thing that you must remember well is that you do not have to command it
this is not it
you do not have to move this muscle you have at this point
I do not command the thumb but rather the wrist
your thumb will move only because it is attached to your hand
this is the right movement
try to make the..."dead thumb"
leave it free to soar in the air
leave it free...your thumb....
once you become familiar with this type of movement
move your wrist and your thumb is moving reflexively
now you can do this
...on a string
Start on the 4th string..
Why on the 4th?
First af all, because I say so... just for this reason you should do it
First of all, because 4th string is bigger than the others
and it could be a little bit easier for the beginners
it may seem like an idiocy, but when you arrive on the first string, then you...
" I can't! I can't shot it"...
So, be very careful, start from here
Secondly, the fourth string, unless you have a 5 string bass, which i do not reccomend for the beginners
4 strings bass does not have a string above
so it's a bit easier to take aim
and hit only her, without hitting the other 22 strings...
because, you know, bass has got 23 strings...
this is the right movement...
take a nice run, from a short distance
just to start getting used to it
move your thumb this way
or better, move your wrist this way
and your thumb will impact the string
as soon as you hit the string, you will move it
and let the string vibrate
trying to perceive this kind of sound
Now: typical sound of slap, the somewhat metallic one
when the string sounds bright, not so "buum"..."buum"...
typical of the double bass, for example
this kind of sound is usually generated by the new string
new strings produce this sound
Even the old strings, if they are of good quality, can produce a good  sound
consider that my bass has strings that were mounted by the Flinstones ...
you can say that they are a little bit old
but... the quality of string...
perhaps also because of how the instrument is built, something we will talk about at another time...
Consider that each instrument can be more or less suitable for producing the sound of slap
Moreover, the sound of the slap, like everything related to the bass sound in general, can be relative
Someone may like the metallic sound of slap, others may like a "softer" sound of slap
perhaps, a sound composed of a greater number of medium frequencies
These are all subjective considerations
The only objective thing is: how to set your right hand
this shot of the thumb that goes in this direction
Once I become familiar with the fourth string, I start moving on the other strings
Now: at the beginning the aim can be a real problem
So, let's start from a little earlier, let's take a step back
we start by blocking the strings that I do not use
you can do this as you prefer
this way...or this....Not important, now
It is important to focus on the fact that you can hit a single string
If you can not, you will hear this sound
Maybe it will not bother you, but you will immediately realize that you missed it
so, try again...
Until you can not get a precise and perfect sound
I repeat the same thing on all the strings
Warning! Beware of those who tell you to hit only the 2 lower strings
... Eh..no!
You must learn to hit all 4 strings
after which you can decide which ones to use and which are not
The important thing is: be ready to do everything
on every string
So, at first your thumb hit...
And then... famous "pull"
The "pull" consists of this thing
Tear off the rope as if you wanted to pull it away from the instrument
We emphasize the movement a lot
Move a lot from the keyboard, from the instrument
Always on all four strings
This is the first phase of our study
I did nothing but gain confidence
because they are new movements for those who have never done them before
I think they are quite unnatural movements
I do not believe that you, by nature, go around the streets to do this
I hope not!
Otherwise they might think very badly about you
So...in this first phase try to focus only on the....
mechanism
thumb and "pull" mechanism
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
