AWESOME Thumb Trick to Play Slap Bass in ALL KEYS!

[@TheBassWizard]

Here's a cool thumb trick I learned from Louis Johnson that can help you when playing slap bass in different keys other than E. Want to learn more ==> thebasswizard.com/slap-bass-mastery-course

[@edoardofasiello9479]

The Bass Wizard what do you think about Randy Coven?

[@Crabfather]

It's played mostly in E because it's E-z

[@anotherchannel9928]

It's not funny but it's funny

[@esmiley3]

Louis Johnson introduced that technique years ago. But new and younger players may not know of this. Good job player!

[@Breeze_b_hard]

Yes, it's the Louis Johnson technique. I wonder why this guy never mentions Louis Johnson.

[@maxdavis670]

@@Breeze_b_hard He's mentioned in the pinned comment though.

[@maxdavis670]

The thumb over technique is very old, mentioned by Fernando Sor in his guitar method technique from the early 1800s and has probably existed for 1000+ years before that (I assume)... not for slap of course, just thought that'd be some interesting information.

[@SmittyGonBass]

I've seen a lot of folks mention the "default key for slap bass is E" thing but, for me, it's actually Gm. I also like Dm a lot. But not a fan of open strings at all when slapping. No clue why. Of course, I played bass for over 30 years before I attempted slap and I would never consider myself very strong in the style, so that might have a lot to do with it. --- As always, great video. Thanks.

[@Gallienkrueger1]

SmittyG on Bass I actually started with Gm, too. People around me were surprised I chose Gm over E. However, as I played around with E I saw the benefits of an open E. Now I try to avoid E, just to challenge myself.

[@captbuscemi]

Do is the saddest of all keys. It makes people weep instantly. I don’t know why.

[@samdoney6623]

I slap in any key major or minor, it's called practice slapping in DIFFERENT keys, regardless of how many strings you play, I go back and forth with my 4, 5, and 6 string

[@abstraddic0442]

Not. During your speed challenge, You stayed in E all way up 190 BPM lol...

[@TheMitchbassman]

No NO NO you didnt.. You shouldnt tell stories man.

[@jamesalfaro3155]

I’m not a “slapper” but it’s interesting to learn this kind of tricks. Keep on the good job. Thank you for sharing !!! 👍👍👍

[@Werkaholik261]

I do the same with the B string on a five string bass. You hit the nail on the head with the open note. E or B seem to be the main root of any scale while plucking, and it still sounds cool. PHAT!! Pretty Hot And Tempting. LOL

[@nukeman444]

Slap bass in the key of E is like playing the piano in the key of C. All easy white keys.

[@danadane2501]

I was 50 percent sure you were gonna bring up the Louis Johnson trick . Very nice !

[@j.r.zavala]

Excellent! One word, "awesomeness"!

[@billbrinkley6037]

BIG HELP Marc! This video helped my slapping tremendously. I'm still struggling though with unwanted string noise. Any tips on cleaning up my sound? Thanks for all your help.

[@billypoe3703]

Masterfully demonstrated. 5 & 6 string variations, actually, have opened an intricate, broader, and less boring bassification.

[@NRG2]

People play in E because thats what the guitar is tuned to... Which happens to be somewhat influenced by the way our brain interprets frequencies. Most folks really start to drop off lower then D or C Unless you've got some awesome low end pick ups or amplifiers. The other than ng that's really nice about playing on a higher route note is that you get access to runs that go below your route note which is always sexy af.

[@tigerscott2966]

Great video. Thanks...your playing style is very cool too.

[@FlamesAt1000ft]

All this said,...to each his or her own...style! I think you should have mentioned tho’...hand size!...some of these techniques are easily adapted by the relevance of the size of one’s hand thus,..that technique develops. Some are more effective & efficient by the “bar fingerings” and some with the thumb use. Bottom line is you need to PRACTICE to see what works for you! This is WHY we see and hear of famous various types of Bassist! Funk & Rock everyone!...🤘🏽🎶🎸

[@DaAlolanSnorlax]

RIP Louis Johnson always slapping with the thumb over technique

[@juansecar2]

Because in E we have with that bass open E, like you say, really fat and cool sounding, the lowest note we have on a 4 string. Also all of the other open strings are chord tones for E minor and A is the 11th or 4th, enabling us to gain quite a lot with those open strings sounding combined with the other notes on the fretboard. You can do it also to some extent with the key of A and have a pretty low open bass string. The other open strings are the 5th, 4th and m7th and you'd still have that open E to use in the A key. If you have a 5 string you have the 4th, m7th, m3rd, and m6th and a aeolian sonority just with those open strings... and with a 6string you get that extra C, giving you the m3rd of A, m6th of E etc... but i agree with you; this basic knowledge of how open strings relate is capital, to understand how and why these keys are used more and how to move on to more distant keys. Cheers and very cool vid.

[@MrKournias]

wohhh...!!!! never thought this lesson ever excisted.I am amazed.

[@rhondapatty936]

Major shouts to "Thunder Thumbs". Gone but not forgotten.

[@baSsDiaRy01]

great sound🙏😍

[@fliguy4]

Would it be possible to show how to tune the amp for crisp tone like youre rockin?

[@donh5794]

Just bought a bass and slapping is a bit hard to do. Maybe the action is too high. What should be the string action?

[@Idontlikethisever]

You are a great guy love your advice and knowledge.

[@PlakbandArmband]

I tried both methods and I preferred the barre method, the one you disapproved of. I can play more cleanly and solidly if I don't use that wraparound method.

[@TheBassWizard]

I didn't disapprove of anything, just offering options my brotha. Do what works for you.

[@PlakbandArmband]

You kinda presented it like it was the only option though. I love Louis too, but my hands are too small to wrap my thumb around haha.

[@TheBassWizard]

I was speaking from personal experience and what works for me, thats why it came off that way. The fact that I call it a "trick" should be an indication that it is not the only option. Rock on my brotha.

[@Theladrion]

There's one thing to be done about the difference in the sound of the open string. I've got meself a Yamaha BB1024x, and it has a nickel silver nut, so the open strings sounds fretted. Kinda strange to get used to after 20 years with bone, plastic and graffite nuts :-)

[@01frugalbassist85]

Q;What is so attractive about playing slap-bass in the key of E? A: I've always thought that slap-bass in the key of E was just the default, by nature of the 4 string standard bass tuning,(A 440) and by it being the key of the lowest string, the most percussive and easiest to strike with the thumb. In other words, the lowest of the 4 strings just happens to be in the key of E, if tuned standard, and not necessarily because of it's tonal qualities, or any inclination or preference to write music that key.

[@jeffkrebs]

I started to laugh very hard in the first minute. Yes the key of E! Now I'll watch the rest of the video

[@jeffkrebs]

JL B. I just rewatched the video and wanted answer his 2nd question about why the key of E. My answer is... "Because I suck.“ Now I will watch the video a 3rd time and try to suck less!

[@michaela2776]

You’re an amazing bass player man.

[@samuelobregon5521]

Hello Marcelo, wanted to ask wht brand of strings you use, Amo and if you use effect pedals. By the way I like your videos.

[@bassman1ism]

Really good lesson

[@markbass354]

Sounds good Marc , nice trick with the thumb '

[@stevenscott9983]

Very good, I love Louis too.

[@renatolaia3676]

Hey! Which Fender JazzBass are you using?

[@MrBombom25]

Thanks for sharing✌

[@ErikRave]

Hi there, thanks for always sharing usefull tips & tricks. I'm notecing that your string action is really low, can you please tell me how low (hopefully in millimeters) :) ? Do you use different string actions when playing slap or fingerstyle? Do you hear your strings buzzing while playing, if so, can you hear that via the speakers foh? Hopefully you'll find some time to answer my questions, or perhaps feel inspired to create a nee video :) Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@TheBassWizard]

It's low, but not so low that you hear buzzing while playing fingerstyle unless you play super hard. I have no idea what the exact measurement is, but I can ask my tech, he might know.

[@ivanperezmontes7647]

Thank you

[@MultiScoffer]

176 thumbs down? I suggest that those 176 whoever they are (probably aliens?) use those "thumbs"down to slap their bass, and show us if they can do better? Keep up the great work my man!

[@kingdeedee]

Those dislikes are all from 5 string players (which I am but I didn't thumbs down lol). The thumb thing doesn't work too great with a fatter neck and a honking B string in the way. It's still some what useable but nowhere near as fluid

[@mobius1bc]

Thanks you for video so much...excellent..!👍👍👍👏

[@waiheke109]

F sharp minor slap pretty sweet

[@fabianwiley3580]

Very helpful thank you

[@tricepticonron7599]

Yes that's a great trick and yes I already use that trick

[@mikeswartz1523]

Awesome, thanks!

[@Aztahs]

what kind of strings do you use on that marcus miller bass?

[@victormorrone1308]

Happy Memorial Day. Your advice is very beneficial so keep doing your thing

[@Leandrewz0r]

These reasons are true but they are consequences of the real reason. You chose to play in the key of E ("key of E" does not talk about mode, so it can be major or minor modes) beucase of the tonal atraction of the E note; you want to rest on E and having it as the lowest note brings a sense of tension release and "resting". Having it sounding while other notes are being played, or before or after, highlights that note, and it being the tonic is a really really important matter for this. The lowest note in a harmonic path guides the harmony, the ear perceives all the notes in relation of that lower note. When a composer is chosing a tonality - in tonal music; serialistic music, the field of my studies, are quite a different matter, but even in that context the low E would play a big role most of the times - he choses the tonality based on the instruments range; it is not a matter of "color". With tempered instrumentation there are no different colors for different tonalities; people may talk about synestesic stuff, but that is never taken in consideration, the instrumentation is the most important part, and chosing the key accordingly is important in order to get the most out of the instruments. In the case of the electric bass, having the tension being released in that note is very significant, and after that all the possibilities, as listed in this video, come into play. It is not about the sound of the low E itself, but the sound of the low E along the other notes of the instrument, hence the key choice.

[@tannerscois4202]

Leandro Sukevicius wow dude you sure are smart I'm impressed

[@moonpewp2256]

Pffft nerd

[@alohakikadude]

Thepeople to ask are Larry graham and Ouislouis johnson

[@MrKrampyHands]

Leandro Sukevicius this is cool man I’m always thinking about this and trying to find comfortable ways around it

[@charlieburns1385]

Thanks👍🎶

[@groovydjs]

You could always use a MIDI bass and do the "Seinfeld" thing and get that groovy sound on all open and fretted notes.

[@arnoldvigh]

Can I ask you what kind of compressor is this on your bass?

[@cliftonreid61]

i love what you are saying

[@kelumperera........]

thank you❤❤❤❤❤

[@onzkicg]

That’s clever! thanks

[@graceandpanic9281]

What’s your bass rig set up?

[@lynyrdsolis514]

What Bass Effects do you used in this video?

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Cool! Thank you for the tip young Nuno of the bass! I say that because in this video you kinda favor a young Nuno Bettencourt.

[@TheAngryGeezerYT]

Ummm there is Coolidge gadget call a capo they work on bass too open string in any key

[@martinindrianfirmanfirdaus389]

nice man.. i like it..

[@dornelli1]

amazing lesson, I've learned alot in few moments

[@johnnycanamaso9361]

When wrapping your thumb around the fretboard, what if you're using a 5 string bass and are trying to get to the low E string?

[@TheBassWizard]

You need a 4 string for this one...

[@johnnycanamaso9361]

The Bass Wizard Aw damn. Thanks anyway.

[@denisbatalha7622]

Parabens... Slap bass love my... Denis, brasil.... Show theat

[@user-mo9mt6yu8y]

Because it sounds so good, when you slap that open E

[@Activation1111]

Very cool video. But it would be great if he would’ve explained all the other notes in the lick,, slowly.

[@emmanuellopezhernandez7376]

you played bass with mitchel musso?

[@jamesbenitez360]

What about 5 strings? How do you do that?

[@eliseudasilva4734]

That's good

[@TobitsTrue]

Dude! You look a lot like Danny Rexon, lead singer of Crazy Lixx!

[@alwoo]

yeah that's a Louis Johnson trick

[@leandrocastillo8811]

One reason: Because the e string its the most easy string to play with slap or any other technique

[@TheBassWizard]

What makes it easier? That statement requires a more elaborate answer. An open string can actually be harder to control (especially muting wise) with many techniques, but I'd love to hear other opinions and points of view :)

[@jeant0521]

The Bass Wizard I think the answer to that is that by easier it's more comfortable. The thumb technique you demonstrated in this video is something that's "against the norm" usually taught by music teachers. At least for me when I was young and started learning guitar (before I was a bassist) my teacher told me to have my thumb behind the fretboard and not showing. I've learned now recently that it's okay to have your thumb show and that many musical greats use their thumb, like John Frusciante in RHCP songs, Louis Johnson on Get On The Floor by Michael Jackson, and even the great Hendrix use this (nearly impossible to play some of his songs without the technique) That's one of the reasons at least for me I could come up with

[@TheBassWizard]

Killer response! Someone buy this man a beer

[@tamidis5500]

@@TheBassWizard After all said and done, slapping on A was what came natural to me. I'm only just learning, by this video it's E for everyone else.

[@Xianpaul0523]

I'm a bass player but I'm always wondering why is it that my bass won't make that same exact sound you make when you slap. My bass still has that full bass sound even when I'm slapping and popping it hardly, Is it on my strings or what? My bass doesn't sound funky no matter what I do. If you're familiar with the bss part of the song Santeria , thats the kind of sound my bass produces even when slapping. I'm using Yamaha bass

[@Ckabf]

Allen Ballesteros turn the bass down and treble up facing opposite ways and experiment with the mid (on ur amp) and turn the tone knob on ur bass up. plus new harder strings will pop cleaner ^_^

[@reyhanmahafizh3494]

its fender marcus miller man, treble on that bass is so bad 😁😁

[@FclefDweller]

A compressor PEDAL will help.

[@yourunclehank1]

What model J is that?

[@syzcoxlopez8365]

THANK YOU FOR DROPPING THOSE PEARLS ON US ............. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT REVEAL

[@Generalbas1972]

@Syzco X Lopez lol if you didn't know about this you need to check out some more Louis Johnson he's been doing it for years (RIP)

[@PrimusPete]

top tip

[@UndecimeBeatitudo]

1:02 I bet that's because we root our basslines around slapping open E string UPD: Basically I was right

[@miladbgn]

(absolutely beginner)When I slap the strings hit the frets. Is it ok?

[@TheBassWizard]

Not sure what you mean by that, but if it sounds ok, then its ok.

[@AbhiBass96]

It has to hit the frets or else it wouldnt make the percussive slap sound. The slap is basically the bass drum and the pop is the snare.

[@jeffraborg7753]

Your timing is off between your left hand and right hand...its a feel thing. It will improve all by itself. Keep jamming

[@joekao192]

How to slap on any key? Just learn those key! ! I also know that all the slappers knows why we like to play E key!! The first trick….we already knows when we saw Louis Johnson !

[@AleksP1987]

I always play in E flat !

[@zay7554]

What strings?

[@mansshshjshs4099]

nice

[@sionglinsoo1144]

when you are trying hard to improve, there is always a band member or two to criticise on your style..to the extent they slowly back off and avoid playing wif you...these type of person(s) are no worthy than a can of garbage

[@Strawhat-BJJ]

It’s easier to use the open E for the slap effect

[@kanthor7670]

is it practicing

[@RR9D]

Is that the Marcus Miller signature bass??? 🤔😱😱😱

[@lorenzoluciani7391]

And what about slapping in a 5 string bass ? no matter what, is much more difficult to do, beacause you have also problem or resonance of other strigs. it's a nightmare to learn how to properly slap in 5 string. ( not considering the 6 strings)

[@sherwinchia8114]

Lorenzo Luciani it's really just a matter of practice and the inherent string spacing on your 5 string. I had a 5 string that had 16.5mm spacing once and that was HARD. After switching to a 19 or 19.5mm spacing 5 string, it's not stressful anymore. Precision is the name of the game

[@dennisosullivan1057]

Mr. 'BW' Hey, I liked your video i.e., you....your presentation, etc. Don't worry, I'm not looking '4' a date! I'm '66', began plyin' @ '12', & was working every weekend in a '5' piece act, before '13' yr. of age...Started $2.50 a gig up to $7.00 -$8.00 buck. '3' pieces, sax drummer, front man, were '17, '18' '19', guitar at Wurlitzer piano player ( didn't call keyboards ) also pre Fender Rhodes. When near '15' & still '14, I stopped playin'. Then picked up the Bass after Military service when '22'... Played Jammed, got a job in music company, went to college to take a Music Theory course... Became indoctrinated as " Classical Music Major. Analyzed Johann Bach , became Theory Composition Major, studying '4'part writing as well. Also an applied Classical Bass Major. Played dinner theater as House Bass Player, with DC national guard....lots of gigs. Once played in a Band that played so well we, played the MD School for the Deaf. lol true story. All to mostly become an Itinerant Saloon Minstrel, working '6' night a week, '50' weeks a year. Had a lot of fun... The whole Point is, I think that makes me qualified to say your GOOD, and I think a pretty Great Teacher! Dennis O

[@jeshdcruz]

Slapping is a technique?

[@toasty9670]

That compression though

[@douglashorton3075]

Cool trick but my hand is not big enough to place thumb and use fingers at the same time.

[@lamontarnold1612]

ok thanks

[@Hagledesperado]

This is the only reason why I sometimes want a 4 stringer. Doing the thumb thing on the E string across the B string is a real PITA, sometimes not even viable.

[@eyelovekilka3166]

So obvious, but try it with 5 string :3

[@johnnyrossi5891]

This is the first time I ever heard someone say G# instead of saying Ab

[@jandzluvly]

Well, if you're in the key of E already...

[@MrDanilop45]

Jimmy Hendrix did this for probably the same reasons

[@dbass9767]

Basically because its an open string

[@sekoubunch680]

Timing is more important than slapping!!!!!!

[@donepearce]

Nope. Never heard of defaulting to E before. And since when did the bass ever determine the key a song is played in?

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

donepearce sooo true dude!!!

[@Ema-pfit]

Intenté poner los subtítulos en español, pero no puedo...💔

[@zayzaya.8820]

What if you play stand up bass 🤔😂

[@nickdurfey2312]

Wrong* you can simply use a capo to play slap with open strings in other keys

[@Mi4mi_joe]

How about on a 5 string? :'(

[@TheBassWizard]

This one is 4 string only... :(

[@RH-xs8gz]

I think a capo would solve the problem.

[@darkstar4494]

How can any bass player not know why so many bassists slap in E? Obviously using an open string frees up your left hand. It’s the same reason so many rock songs pedal off E (or A). This is basic stuff.