Playing Your Bass Guitar By Slapping

May 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Most of the modern day rock bass players do the slapping technique when they are in concerts so thats means that isn't to hard to do it.

Xaviera Arata Editor of the  Learn To Play The Guitar  website -- http://www.LearnToPlayTheGuitar.tv -- pointed out;

“…Slapping your electronic bass guitar is a cool technique that will set you apart from other bass players…” Added Xaviera Arata

Are you a beginner in slapping technique? This article will help you learn the basic on slapping technique. You will be using your thumb in slapping and index or middle finger to pop.  

Keep your hand at right angle to the strings while your thumb at a 50 to 60 degree angle with the string you're slapping. You will need to have your arm at a particular angle. Think of an established scarecrow with firm upper arms. You will experience a little injury after a long period of playing, but you'll get used to it.  Take note, it's all in your wrist.  

In your basic slapping exercise, you can slap and pop an octave - an octave is 2 frets up and 2 strings up. Play an octave with your first and third fingers on your left hand.  You need to parallel your right thumb to the string.  Using your hitch hiker of flopping fish action, slowly bring down your right thumb and hit the string. When you hit the string and try and hit the bottom half of it, the lower of your thumb should end up for the next string. Keep practicing the slapping until you develop the style. After you mastered the slapping technique slowly try more speed as fastest as you can.

If you have a metronome, set it between 40 and 50 beats per minute, and slap and mute one note per beat. Start slow until you strive for faster speed consistency. You want a nice steady beat and a smooth mute. Another element of slapping is hammer-on. A hammer-on means you have to play a note with your fretting hand. This usually done after you have already played by using the picking hand. Place the first finger of your fretting hand on the third fret of the A string, and slap the A string.

Then, you should be able to firmly place the pinky finger of your fretting hand down onto the fifth fret, sounding a higher note. Start up the metronome again, and setting it to between 40 and 50, practice this slap and hammer-on until it is smooth. Don't bother muting this, let the notes ring. Slap the note on the beat, and then hammer-on half way in between the beats. Go for smooth and steady!

“…You will learn more in slapping technique if you watch the videos of your bass guitar player idols such as Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Les Claypool of the Primus, Fieldy from Korn, Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone, Bootsy Collins of the Parliament, Mark King of Level 42…” Added Xaviera Arata  

Further information, resources and reviews of the best learn to play the guitar guides you can get online by visiting: http://www.LearnToPlayTheGuitar.tv