A brief history of slap bass including the main figures in the style and different techniques.

1. Origins, Players, and Technique

2. Larry Graham
 Developed slap bass while in
a band with his mother.
 Due to a lack of a drummer, Larry decided to slap and
pop the strings to simulate the percussive sound of a
drum set.
 He calls slap, “Thumpin’ and Pluckin’”

3. Sly and the Family Stone
 Larry Graham joined Sly and the Family Stone which
gave slap an outlet to be heard.
 The song “Thank You” was the first song recorded with
slap bass.

4. Other bassists who adapted slap
Bootsy Collins
Victor Wooten
Mark king
Level 42 Parliament Funkadelic Bela Fleck and the
Flecktones

5. Other bassists who adapted slap cont.
Les Claypool
Flea Marcus Miller
Red Hot Chili Peppers Primus Solo, Various Studio Recordings

6. How slap is played
 Bass guitar is typically played with the plucking hand
resting perpendicular to the strings.
 Slap bass keeps the hand in the same position but fists
the fingers and sticks the thumbs parallel to the
strings.
Standard fingering Standard Slap

7. Two main variations
 There are two general ways of playing slap that have
become popular.
 From each technique there are many different
variations.

8. Funk Slap
 The thumb is pushed through
the string that is being
slapped and the index or
middle finger hooks around a
string and is pulled back to
snap the string, creating a
pop. This technique produces
Larry Graham a prominent slap.
 This style is the most used.

9. Rock Slap
 This style only differs in
how the thumb is used.
Instead of going through
the string like in funk slap
the thumb acts like a
hammer; the thumb hits
the string and bounces off.
This produces a louder
pop.
 Flea from the Red Hot
Chili Peppers is popular for Flea
using this technique.

10. Double Thumb
 Double Thumb is a variation on slap that is credited to
Victor Wooten.
 This technique uses the thumb to simulate a pick by
following a slap with a thumb hook on the same string.
 This can be used in succession with popping to create
some interesting lines and can simulate rolling on a
drum set.
 Classical Thump

11. Abraham Laboriel Sr.
 Abraham Laboriel Sr. plays slap bass in a very different
way than either funk or rock slap would allow.
 He reverses the functions of the hand and has the
fingers slap the strings while his thumb plucks.
 The use of the thumb to pluck the strings is very
similar to the method that Victor Wooten uses to play
the double thump.
 Abe Clinic (5:13)

12. Using Slap Musically
 Slap can be used in solo bass compositions to add a
needed percussive effect.
 Slap can be used in a band setting with the drummer
to create either a solid cooperation (slap coincides with
the bass drum; pop with the snare) or a nice
syncopation.
 Syncopations are really cool but the most solid grooves
are attained when the drummer and bassist are in
unison.

13.  Slap bass is a young technique.
 Learn from the bassists who have helped to develop it
into what it is today and take from their additions.
 Make your own style and see where you can take slap!