do any of u guys have slap technecs that could help a bassist that can only feel half of his thumb. i have seriouse problembs and am not sure if im slaping correct because of my handicap. ohh yeah the side that i cant feel is the side that i use for slap. and for some reason when im playing slap, i feel pain all over the other side of my thumb that i can feel
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slap
- Thread starter jubjub721
- Start date
giddy4geddy
Well-known member
Go lefty...
Ahh, just kidding. The only other way that I've used to "simulate" a slap (for lack of a better term) is to put your index, middle and ring finger together and strike the string directly on, thereby "slapping" it against the fretboard. This is not a good technique for speed mind you because one cannot slap with fingers faster than with a single thumb, but for tamed down thumping, it might work for you. I say this because I've never been very good at using my thumb (though I can feel all of it) to pop each string so I guess I just found another way that sounds similar.
Ahh, just kidding. The only other way that I've used to "simulate" a slap (for lack of a better term) is to put your index, middle and ring finger together and strike the string directly on, thereby "slapping" it against the fretboard. This is not a good technique for speed mind you because one cannot slap with fingers faster than with a single thumb, but for tamed down thumping, it might work for you. I say this because I've never been very good at using my thumb (though I can feel all of it) to pop each string so I guess I just found another way that sounds similar.
fifthorange
Well-known member
where do you slap on the bass?
5 StRiNg WiZaRd
Active member
Just off the end of the fretboard above the body where the strings arent as tight as nearer the bridge so theres more movement in the strings for slapping and popping.
(Was that a general question or one posed to jubjub721?)
(Was that a general question or one posed to jubjub721?)
fifthorange
Well-known member
no it was a question for you, but i slap im sorry, i don't know what i can tell you to fix it. i learned from a book called Funk Bass. it is very informative and it improves your technique very well. you might want to check on that stuff
Is it worth it????
Dude......is it worth it? I'm still stuck on the part that you "feel pain" That can't be good. If you're that dedicated to slapping then you'll eventually figure a way to do it without the pain. I would stick to fingering and maybe even use a pick. (Now everybody hates me for saying that but you asked for my opinion with your handicap)
Dude......is it worth it? I'm still stuck on the part that you "feel pain" That can't be good. If you're that dedicated to slapping then you'll eventually figure a way to do it without the pain. I would stick to fingering and maybe even use a pick. (Now everybody hates me for saying that but you asked for my opinion with your handicap)
First of all, hello forum, this is my first post here. And please xcuse my english, I know it sucks 
I don't think it's that important that you cannot feel that part of the thumb, there are a lot of guys playing with pick, and they cannot feel the pick either In my oppinion it's a matter of getting confortable with distances and movements, and all the guys have problems when they learn the slap. Maybe you can try some kind of plastic ring on the thumb, like Mark King
I don't think it's that important that you cannot feel that part of the thumb, there are a lot of guys playing with pick, and they cannot feel the pick either
In my oppinion it's a matter of getting confortable with distances and movements, and all the guys have problems when they learn the slap. Maybe you can try some kind of plastic ring on the thumb, like Mark King 
Hm... jub did mention that the otherside of this thumb hurts like heck when he does slap. I think some people are forgetting that. I can't think of any solutions to help with slap if you get that kind of pain when you do.
I agree with that xbass said, though. Try putting on a sort or ring or such. I know Flea used to put glue on his thumb, in the area where he generally used for slap, and wrapped it up with the that tape you see lots of people use to aid their joints.
But I don't want to encourage people who don't have the problem that jub has to start doing so - I always followed the belief that musicians should get the raw form down (in the case of slap, slapping with your bare hand - not with aids and such) before moving on to aids and such. Partly because I've never used stomp boxes, effects, etc., always sticking to the bare Bass->Cable->Combo Amp config, and partly because and I can't afford it.
I agree with that xbass said, though. Try putting on a sort or ring or such. I know Flea used to put glue on his thumb, in the area where he generally used for slap, and wrapped it up with the that tape you see lots of people use to aid their joints.
But I don't want to encourage people who don't have the problem that jub has to start doing so - I always followed the belief that musicians should get the raw form down (in the case of slap, slapping with your bare hand - not with aids and such) before moving on to aids and such. Partly because I've never used stomp boxes, effects, etc., always sticking to the bare Bass->Cable->Combo Amp config, and partly because and I can't afford it.
Man, it was not my intention to upset you. All I am saying is that there are some kind of nerves they are called in my language "proprioceptori", they are located in musles and tendons, and they "feel" the positions of the body parts. If they are well trained it's not that important that you don't feel with the skin. I don't know what to say about the pain... Maybe you can try the technique used by Tony Levin, with those sticks, the sound is amaizing.jubjub721 said:
Once again excuse my english, and keep up practicing, you will archieve anything you want if you practice enaugh.
