Q&A for How to Play Slap Bass

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Question

What makes playing the bass difficult?

Nicolas Adams
Professional Guitarist
Nicolas Adams is a 5th generation musician of Serbian Gypsy descent and the lead guitarist of the band Gypsy Tribe. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nicolas specializes in Rumba Flamenco and Gypsy jazz and playing the guitar, Bouzouki, Balalaika, and piano.

Nicolas Adams

Professional Guitarist

Expert Answer

One of the harder things is keeping your focus and not losing your place when dealing with different strings. Also, learning different patterns can be difficult such as different walks, runs, and structural patterns on the baselines. It also wears on your hands a lot more than any other guitar because it's heavier. If you don't have a callus, you'll definitely develop one.

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Question

How do you recommend people maintain their guitars?

Nicolas Adams
Professional Guitarist
Nicolas Adams is a 5th generation musician of Serbian Gypsy descent and the lead guitarist of the band Gypsy Tribe. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nicolas specializes in Rumba Flamenco and Gypsy jazz and playing the guitar, Bouzouki, Balalaika, and piano.

Nicolas Adams

Professional Guitarist

Expert Answer

Avoid leaving it out. Always keep it in a case or covered with humidity control, especially for guitars without a truss rod. As far as physical appearance, avoid sunlight for long periods of time, which will fade and damage the guitar. Avoid severe heat, severe cold, and severe moisture. Keep it in that perfect temperature range of around 68 degrees to 72 degrees. As far as dust and dirt and oils go, make sure that the guitar is cleaned properly before putting it away. Wipe down all the strings. Make sure there's no oil from your hands or other things on the face, top, or sides of the guitar, which can get into the guitar or damage the varnish. There are whole kits that come with everything such as oil cleaner, wax, and fret polish. It's important to clean in between the frets, where dirt and grime can go because those can wear down the frets faster.

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Question

Could you explain the tablature? I am new to bass.

Community Answer

Tablature, or TAB, is similar to staff paper, in that they will both show you what notes to play at what time. However, as staffs will notate it in musical pitches, TAB notates it by frets, and is organized by strings. So staff paper will say, "Play an F, then A, then C," whereas TAB will say, "4th string 1st fret, 3rd string open, 3rd string 3rd fret," etc. It's just a different form of notation.

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Question

Are the strings supposed to hit the frets?

Community Answer

Yes, it enhances the percussive sound. It is barely visible, though, so if it sounds all right, don't worry about it.

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Question

Is my right hand supposed to be on the pickups? Where is my right hand exactly supposed to lie?

Phillip Skawinski

Community Answer

That's a matter of comfort. Ideally, it's best to position your hand just slightly ahead of the pickups, so you can project a clean sound when you thump and pluck. Putting your hand on top of the pickups will make plucking a bit more uncomfortable due to the lack of space.

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Question

I play a 6 string bass; how difficult will it be for me to learn slap bass?

Community Answer

Slap bass isn't too difficult, but I would recommend starting slap bass on a 4 string bass instead of a 6 string.

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Question

Do you have to have slap strings to play slap bass, or do they just sound better?

Community Answer

Yes. Slap bass is a technique that requires you to slap the strings. If you simply pluck the strings, this is normal bass playing.

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