Bass Lessons: Slaps Bass For Beginners Bass Tab

Author: Nicole
Tab ID: 158697
Tab Rank: #3
Posted: Jun 9, 2006 Source: BassMasta.net
http://www.bassmasta.net/b/bass_lessons/158697.html

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Slaps Bass For Beginners
Bass Lessons

Heres something I wrote to help everyone who has never played 
slaps bass
or is having trouble playing slaps bass. I did NOT copy this out
of a book. Although I set it up like a book. If you still cant play 
something right ask me. Tell me what you think and if it helps 
or not.
It sounds better if you play the first bar twice then play the second
bar twice.

Slaps bass is using your right thumb (if left handed then left) to 
'slap' the strings. To slap use your right thumb to hit the string. 
Try and do
 this close to the fretboard. Twist your wrist and release the 
thumb after contact with
the string. This is one of the methods used to play slap bass. 
Do not hit
the string with force, it will only make background noises and wont
have a clear sound. Make sure that your slapping is accurate 
and firm.
Slapping is represented with an 'S' or a 'T'

Exercise 1

------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|-0-------0-------0-------0----
0-------0-------0-------0-----|------------------------------
S       S       S       S       S       S       S       S        

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 2

------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|-0-------0-------0---0---0---0
0-------0-------0---0---0---0-|------------------------------
S       S       S   S   S   S   S       S       S   S   S   S

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Ghost notes or dampened notes are notes that have no distinguishable 
pitch
and are shown with an 'x' This is rythm techique or is used to stop 
a note 
from ringing. You place your left fingers lightly over the string.
This should not produce any ringing sound. Be careful not to 
hammer-on 
either

Exercise 3 

------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|------------------------------
------------------------------|-0-------0--------------------
0-------0-------x---x---x---x-|-----------------x---x---x---x
S       S       S   S   S   S   S       S       S   S   S   S 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 4 (with sixteenth notes)
--------------------------------|--------------------------------
--------------------------------|--------------------------------
--------------------------------|-0---x---0---x---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
0---x---0---x---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|--------------------------------
S   S   S   S   S S S S S S S S   S   S   S   S   S S S S S S S S

1   +   2   +   3 e + a 4 e + a   1   +   2   +   3 e + a 4 e + a

Popping is a techinque used in slap bass. Using your index or 
middle finger pull
the string you are popping then release it. The string should 
snap back.
Slapping and popping should be done in one movement. The popping 
should
sound clear and loud and in time. Popping is shown with a 'P'
  
Exercise 5
------------------------------|---------2-----------2-------2
--------2-----------2-------2-|------------------------------
------------------------------|-0---0-------0---0-------0----
0---0-------0---0-------0-----|------------------------------
S   S   P   S   S   P   S   P   S   S   P   S   S   P   S   P

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 6

------------------------------|----------2-----------2-------2--
--------2-----------2-------2-|---------------------------------
------------------------------|--0-0-0-------x-x-x-------x------
0-0-0-------x-x-x-------x-----|---------------------------------
S   S   P   S S S   P   S   P    S S S   P   S   S   P   S   P

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a   1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a  

Hammer-Ons are notes that you dont pick. You use your right hand 
fingers to strike the 
note. Pull-Offs are the same only they are in reverse. Hammers 
are shown with a 'H' or 
h then the note. Pull-Offs are shown with a 'PO' or p then the note

Exercise 7
------------------------------|----------5-h-7-----------7-p-5--
--------5-h-7-----------7-p-5-|---------------------------------
------------------------------|--7---7-----------7---7----------
7---7-----------7---7---------|---------------------------------
S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

The following exercises are played using all the methods above.

Exercise 8
------------------------------|------2-------3-------4-------5--
----2-------3-------4-------5-|---------------------------------
------------------------------|--0-------1-------2-------3------
0-------1-------2-------3-----|---------------------------------
S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +    1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 9
----------------2-------------|------------------2--------------
--------2-h-4-------4---2-h-4-|----------4-p-2-------4---4-p-2--
0---0-------------------------|--0---0--------------------------
------------------------------|---------------------------------
S   S   S       P   S   S        S   S   S       P   S   S 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +    1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 10
----------------------------------|------5h7---------5h7------------
------5h7---------5h7-------------|5---7-------5---7-----7-x-7-x-7-x
5---7-------5---7-----7-x-7-x-7-x-|---------------------------------
----------------------------------|---------------------------------
S   S P     S   S P   S S S S S S  S   S P     S   S P   S S S S S S

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a  1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a


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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques

Add Comment


matt n00b!	#1 by matt korek at Jun 10, 2006 at 8:59 AM EST
	what does x means i see it alot

dave n00b!	#2 by dave masters at Jun 10, 2006 at 4:26 PM EST
	it means mute..(JUST INCASE you dont no what that meant its where you put you finger over the string so it dosent make a sound when you playe it)

Black n00b!	#3 by Black Bass at Jun 13, 2006 at 7:49 PM EST
	nice job

Adam n00b!	#4 by Adam Brubaker at Jun 15, 2006 at 10:05 AM EST
	this is really cool, its helping me alot! thanx

No Picture jake n00b!	#5 by jake ;lkj at Jun 17, 2006 at 11:12 PM EST
	Hey im just learning to play the bass and im wondering whats the point of using the mute like whats its perpose well thanks for the help i actually understand this.

Jaymz Average	#6 by Jaymz Lemaitre at Jun 18, 2006 at 1:38 PM EST
	Thanks alot :D

Nicole Average	#7 by Nicole at Jun 18, 2006 at 10:33 PM EST
	Well its like a rythm techinque so it sort of keeps it in time and it sometimes stops a note from ringing. It sounds really good if you can get it right, I thought I should add it in because most songs or basslines that have slap bass in them will have them in it.

Cameron n00b!	#8 by Cameron Asher at Jun 20, 2006 at 1:27 AM EST
	Thanks heaps. I didnt really "get it" before but this sorts out a few things. thanks

[.Mr. Tom.] n00b!	#9 by [.Mr. Tom.] Jones at Jun 22, 2006 at 12:55 PM EST
	why thank you nicole, helped loads =]

Eli n00b!	#10 by Eli at Jun 23, 2006 at 5:55 PM EST
	This is areat job, you put even mnore to this lesson, still havim some trouble with the ghost notes but ill get the hang of it. other than that nice job!!!

Jordan Average	#11 by Jordan at Jun 23, 2006 at 7:05 PM EST
	** this faggoty tab its gayer than **

Hayden Average	#12 by Hayden Martin at Jun 24, 2006 at 12:07 AM EST
	f* u jordan its awsom who agrees nicole is my friend so F* u man love u nicole xoxoxoxxo from hayden

john n00b!	#13 by john badiel at Jun 24, 2006 at 10:47 AM EST
	Nice job those exercises really helped to build up my technique.

Ben Rhythm Player	#14 by Ben Gibson at Jun 25, 2006 at 2:29 AM EST
	i dunno about this style of slapping it doesnt really seem unique but i guess its a good stepping stone for people wanting to learn it

Kristofer n00b!	#15 by Kristofer Read at Jun 25, 2006 at 3:56 AM EST
	thanx a lot 4 the step by step guide really helped my technique :)

dan Average	#16 by dan worgan at Jun 26, 2006 at 10:20 AM EST
	dats a real good lesson, its alot better than my excercise lol

No Picture I ♥ Ibane Wanna Be	#17 by I ♥ Ibanez at Jun 26, 2006 at 11:57 PM EST
	****. you totally owned the one i wrote. dammit

Jay n00b!	#18 by Jay Tavarez at Jun 27, 2006 at 1:36 PM EST
	Thats some good stuff, a real hit for beginners and experienced players alike

Andreas n00b!	#19 by Andreas Larsson at Jun 27, 2006 at 6:43 PM EST
	i dont really get how to do hammer-ons guess my english suck, everything else is clear as new fallen white snow! really great guide

mark n00b!	#20 by mark alderson at Jun 29, 2006 at 4:46 AM EST
	Whrn playing slap bass do you strike the string with your knuckle your nail or what im a little confused other than that tho great tabing mark

Nicole Average	#21 by Nicole at Jun 29, 2006 at 5:04 AM EST
	with slap bass you are supposed to hit the string with side of your thumb. You are supposed to hit the string where the joint in your thumb is, where the bone sort of sticks out. You sort of turn your wrist out then strike the string. I hope it helps or sounds a bit more clearer now...

No Picture Nick n00b!	#22 by Nick Lowe at Jun 29, 2006 at 7:17 PM EST
	it means that its a dead note..kinda just..rest your finger on the string not like doing harmonics or anything