DOUBLE THUMB SLAP - how to really do it. w/Ian Martin Allison

So Vulfpeck guitarist Cory Wong calls and asks you to put down a bassline for his new album. What do you do?
In this week’s lesson you’re going to find out exactly what happened when Ian Allison took that very call and headed into the studio with Cory.
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott :)
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[@laurobass]

the greatest lesson here is that this guy probably have been playing for over 20 years and still feels very excited about it

[@mmolisc7798]

join his website, he's not excited he's an obsessive liar

[@Homanjer]

@@mmolisc7798 what?

[@lordundhimself1310]

@@mmolisc7798 lol wtf

[@IndigoBass]

M Molisc What?? 🤣

[@brandonmalone1893]

I've been playing for 30 and still do I live to play

[@rekindled3624]

Gosh that Fender jazz bass is beautiful...

[@valentinberges5490]

Fender Jazz Bass "Antigua"

[@rekindled3624]

@@valentinberges5490 Thanks man!

[@IanMartinAllison]

Thanks man - it’s my 1978 Fender Jazz in Antigua. Maybe my fav instrument I’ve ever owned.

[@stevebutcher6117]

My brother has this exact jazz bass. Ive been eyeing it up for years. My dad bought the 70’s jazz bass it in early 2000’s for £700 for his birthday I imagine its gone up abit since then.

[@kongandbasses8732]

@@valentinberges5490 Some call the finish "antiqua". Some just call it "pukeburst". Nevernind, I love those antiqua basses from the 1970's.

[@MrBasso69]

One of my favorite teachers on SBL at the moment. His use of effects is great. And of course his playing and excitement.

[@LeonardoParisi1]

For years I've been wandering how to master the double-thumb technique. I never "grab" it, never got how to make it work from the mechanic point of view, how to set up my thumb, how to pop the string without scraping the nail away. With this video, I swear, it took me 3 seconds to make it. Thank you Ian and Scott.

[@robbiesampson5399]

Totally agree .. Its now uncovered iv wondered for years how to do this

[@TheAiket]

My flesh just moves behind the nail completely when i m trying to pop with it

[@ThomasLoyd]

FINALLY! I'm glad he's giving all styles (fingers/thumbs-slap-pop/pick) equal recognition. That's the sign of a true professional. I taught myself all three and feel each style has its own place in music. Thank you Ian!

[@IanMartinAllison]

Gotta have all 3!

[@sp4gsus]

This is the best explanation of this I have ever seen

[@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally]

I can see why you speak so highly of this guy Scott. Great lesson and great feel

[@IanMartinAllison]

🙏🏼

[@kristofwynants]

He seems like an amazing guy who really enjoys what he does. What a player! Thanks, Scott. Could you do a video on Rick Danko or Rutger Gunnarson (ABBA's bassist)? Both were very inventive, melodic, in-the-pocket and very underrated players...

[@inber]

Unfortunately, Rutger Gunnarsson passed away a few years ago. Great player and a driving force behind a large part of ABBA’s sound. He did a few of the arrangements as well. I grew up with ABBA and just love his bass lines.

[@eyeofbass]

Totally love how much fun he's having... this is the way it should be! Don't be afraid to show your love!

[@What_The_Heal]

EPIC DOUBLE THUMB SLAP! APPROVED!

[@bewe_id9212]

Thats it the davie quotes...😂

[@rumpledxkn]

SLAP LIKE NOW!

[@laurentalvaro6187]

hahaha :D

[@creid1980]

EPICO

[@someonesomewhere8805]

BASSCOVERPH omg!,,

[@eidetecker]

Really enjoyed this. This cat is great - genuine enthusiasm that's contagious.

[@robbiesampson5399]

Luv that tutorial .. Looks like another grey art I need to learn! Gorgeous Vintage Jazz bass also. Thumbs up

[@implayingsomebass4753]

Ian is the man! I remember my old band gigging with his old 15 band years ago, he was killer then! He's a great vocalist as well!

[@IanMartinAllison]

What band?!

[@GrantFunkyFrabe]

That groove at the beginning is HUGE

[@troytolbert2005]

Sooo funky dope!! Thanks for the breakdown Ian! And thank you Scott, and everyone at the SBL staff!!👍🏽

[@Blakeadam52]

I want an antigua bass like this. That thing is CLASSY, and SO unique!!!!

[@devinebass]

It's a thing of beauty!

[@kickbiker7920]

This boy is very relaxed & enthusiastic on camera.

[@SuperDixxxie]

WOW this guy is amazing.. I could listen to him explain things and play for hours.. What a great guy. Shame i can't play a note really lol but loved listening to him anyway.

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

Really great video. Love his using double thumbing without loading on the pops. Really quite a different sound. Thanks.

[@JohnSmith-mi8zy]

I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this for years. What a great lesson.

[@bigbroiswatchingyou2137]

After learning double thumb, this kind of thing was what I loved doing the most - just imitating the pick by chugging muted 16th notes on one string. Love to see somebody else do the same

[@Op-ce3wh]

did it help you win the presidency?

[@FCdrums]

damn, i've been sleeping on Ian Martin Allison, wow great player

[@martinheath5947]

Love this guy! What an inspiration and some proper 100% BASS bass!

[@Igaveyoumyfakename]

09:12 This is easier than you think. He's correct: start with ONE NOTE to get the thumb motion and find the groove. (Maybe start with quarter or eighth notes instead of 16s.) Then add a note on the same string. Then and a note on a string above or below. Now you're moving it around and you didn't even know it. (Now you've got it.)

[@edmilsondossantos8605]

Pow!!!! Da vontade de não parar de tocar e muito bom essa técnica. Scott valeuuuu!!!!!!

[@wilfredferwerda780]

Never bothered to learn how to slap--now I'm suddenly inspired! What happened? Where did this guy come from? Also great example of being part of the hang and then ending up on a record.

[@davestarns]

Louie CK’s brother is a surprisingly good teacher!

[@ahmetcangokceer]

They sound exactly the same!

[@rocker816]

As for his technique , I also see that when he actually gets going he’s using thenar muscle and the first MCP joint with a firm stable wrist rather than just his arm. I couldn’t figure out how fluid he was making it sound until I noted that

[@MrDanilop45]

Great lesson thank you 🙏🏻

[@mikeuy5450]

I am currently on this course in SBL, I am absolutely inspired in his track with Joey Verskotzi - Blind. The massive tone and the sub bass. You cats who are not yet SBL members, youre missing so much. Edit: I also got a lot of vocabulary from this guy. Here in KZbin, they show the tabs but in the SBL course, its on a music sheet, which is way better than tabs.

[@IanMartinAllison]

Ah Mike CHEERS DUDE!!

[@adamscott1142]

What a cool dude, totally engaging and into it! Liked where he alluded to how "ridiculous" slap can sound and how to make it sound cooler

[@patrickmckinney5974]

My favorite tip was being able to play the same lick/riff/piece fingerstyle, plectrum, and thumb.

[@matgfunk]

Man that Jazz bass is beautiful!!

[@Phyoomz]

In a world of bass players making the stank face as their bass face, it's refreshing to see Ian's is a genuine smile. 👍

[@devinebass]

🤣👊🏻

[@xriswolf78]

Damn what a lesson ! very very very good Scott.

[@adamsawinski2015]

This will be my favourite course!

[@stramurto]

Great clip, love the dude. Looks all so simple, then I grab my bass and... Looks like I've got a lot of work to do.

[@Cr4zyD4vEe]

it's so funky and it's low volume

[@MFFunmaker]

Vulf 🤘

[@jonmuir13]

Scott! You need to show us that sunburst bass with the block inlays second on the rack!

[@khumomoruke9324]

I think he uses the double thumb technique kinda in the same way Bobby Vega uses a pick

[@brianpite0893]

That's the technique I am looking for! Thanks

[@zubrhero5270]

Toejam and Earl on the MegaDrive (Genesis) was one _helluva_ funky space adventure!!

[@CouZer]

I've learned myself and it took alot of practice but its really worth it

[@soundslikeben]

Great lesson. Love how he lays it out. Going to try and pull this together for my next vid.

[@MrVyrtuoso]

I ended up gravitating towards something more resembling Alain Caron's variation of the double thumb, which commits more of a slap in pop out mechanic, compared to Victor Wooten's slap down pop up. The difference is the plane of motion. The AC approach would move into then out away from the fingerboard, and to what greater or lesser degree being in between perpendicular and oblique to the fingerboard and resting on the fingerboard at the inward motion. The VW approach would more or less move parallel to the finger board or strings, resting on what string is below at the downward motion.

[@ahmetcangokceer]

When I do this, I immediately make it swing. Working on keeping it straight.

[@jackill2611]

Extremely cool video! Thanks Scott!

[@ThePosrein]

He’s also an extremely well read bass player.

[@MaartenvanSchaik]

Kind of reminds me of for the love of money from the O Jays just as much as ToeJam and Earl 👍🏻✌🏻

[@Bassdriver]

Whoa, that tone! And that groove! I totally dig it! And man, an Antigua Jazz Bass, I want one!!! But I'd prefer one with a nicely aged maple board ;-) I think Antigua's getting a lot of bad rap, many people call it ugly - I call it "slimeburst" myself but I absolutely LOVE it!!!

[@enricoleite4220]

Holy crap amazin video I'm adding all of this to my practice

[@guillermolandaker7805]

nobody gonna talk about the fact that This dude got a whole ass Noble Bass Amp

[@kongandbasses8732]

Phaenomenal tone and playing. I actually like the "pukeburst" finish on Fender basses.

Hey scott. Better make a compilation video from your educators like basstheworld bass chops.

[@Sludgepump]

Such a useful video. Thanks guys!

[@Spritsailor]

Ian is Scott's brother from another mother.

[@martinbulmer1868]

Ever seen them both at the same time?

[@Spritsailor]

@@martinbulmer1868 I once saw Scott holding an Ian dummy. Does that count? LOL

[@eucesarmachado]

the brother who knows how to slap

[@donut4ever983]

I just need to know more about this jazz bass. I love that body color!

[@KhalilImani]

77 Antigua if I'm not mistaken

[@paulhetheringtonvoice-over]

A super helpful video - many thanks Ian. Is the bass tuned up a half-step? When I play the G major scale you demonstrate, it's G# major on my bass.

[@aarondavis4341]

I like this dude playing,(I'm horrible with names) he has his thumb rest angled like I do mine,not to mention he's crazy good

[@MarkGerardBottomLine]

Best tutorial ever

[@nicktucker4916]

Fantastic groove! Oh, and more George! !

[@matthewb8229]

OH my God, I love that Portaflex in the background!

[@GDawg2K2]

Wow, he's like a Tim Pierce for Bass..

[@MountainSh33p]

Ian just gave me Groovid-19. Highly contagious!

[@ShazShaun]

Well, with a Noble Amp... makes everything sound better... beautiful stuff

[@humblegeorge]

Thank you I loved it !!!!

[@carriersignal]

Out of all the talk here, the only part that talks about "how to really do it", as the title says, is the 50 seconds from 7:50 to 8:40.

[@daftnord4957]

going to see Cory Wong in Minneapolis this friday!

[@Jason-kv7cm]

Dang enjoy!

[@daftnord4957]

@@Jason-kv7cm it was the most epic 3 hour adventure I've ever seen/heard. Yes 3 hours and a 20 minute intermission. Insane energy, even though i could tell Mr. Wong was absolutely knackered from touring. I'm still in post show depression, it'll be tough to see an equivalent performance

[@ChazJazzNY]

You say you don't thump much but you surely do it good.

[@jeffroberts_tunes]

Well call me a little black rain cloud but kinda underwhelmed, given the warm up, even though all your videos are well worth a visit. But a useful minute or two for someone who's never done this before and a completely sympathetic guy. The funny thing is that the bit Ian does at 6:20 (one of 5 Ian's in the US?) is really funky and gets a Larry Graham vibe going. And somebody teach that boy Dance to the Music in G, and do it all the way up to G-F on the 1 of measure three, which is so cool. If he learns it right *that's* what he'll be doing all day. Continuing in nag mode, sorry, there's a huge difference between "funky" and funk. You didn't call this Funk but IMO there's a huge difference that really informs how you play, and it would really be worth a look in a video series. There are so many young players making popcorn on the frets with amazing technique but they don't know the deep funk (sounds like a Kung Fu movie plot right?) Vulfpeck is funky as all hell and they're tremendous, but they ain't Funk. Funky is cute and bouncy. Funk is nasty, and when you listen to a classic Bootsy line there isn't a lot busy-ness--it's the tone and crucial timing of select notes to the kick along with his trademark slides. Listen to RumpofSteelSkin by Parliament (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZOsiXWmitqdeLM be sure to hear 3:08) or the Doug Wimbish line on George Clinton's Hey Good Lookin (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJO4amaon6aZja8 gotta overlook the 80's production).

[@IanMartinAllison]

Jeff Roberts Thanks for checking it out and for the great funk recommendations Jeff 🙏🏼

[@scarab944]

At first, I was going to disagree about the funk vs funky, but then again, I guess it's a similar difference between a blues song and a rock/jazz/etc song with a lot of bluesy licks. This is going to lead to plenty of blurred lines, imo. Interesting to examine further, though.

[@jeffroberts_tunes]

@@IanMartinAllison some majorly tasty lines here --nice to hear you stretch out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIKrl4t9dtSVl5I

[@joaquin3768]

Scott can you do some equalization tips for basslines recorded by direct line to pc?

[@warrenosborne1539]

Dude, thanx, at 67, I just got hired into a working band,, always been a finger picker, but slapping does help to get the girls on the floor. Dancing chicks,, love to watch them groove to my bass licks,,,,, Booty on the floor,, after all,, this is what I get paid for right? Thanx Mon ???????????????????????

[@garryyoung8945]

Wow Nice to see that Antigua finish, I’ve got a 77 P bass in that. Nice

[@Terrible_Peril]

Said Tj&E was on NES. Scrap the video and start over! 😂

[@IanMartinAllison]

TerriblePeril Ugh I KNOW!! 🤣

[@Zigarius1123]

as soon as he said tj&e I heard SSSEEEEEEEEEGGGAAAAAA.

[@erikengvall]

Good tone

[@benjamin_rys]

This. Makes. Me. Smile. Nothing. But. The. Funk!!

[@davidziegler436]

That was great!

[@nick.valente_bass]

7:00 "I don't know if I'm playing that right". You're not, but you're still an awesome bassist!

[@kickbiker7920]

He looks like a morph of Scott Devine & Jeff Schneider .... Great clip!

[@nhylia6515]

You're so amazing char! We like you

[@doublebass]

his left foot keeps better time than my metronome.

[@robroy4058]

Toe jam and earl is Sega Genesis....NES....hahaha

[@eggy68]

Guacamole Jazz Bass!

[@bobasquid3339]

Its the player. I'm not taking anything away from him. BUT instrument matters. The set up on his bass is solid. Extremely easy playable action, obviously . A good set up (and good instrument) will yield a very different sound. It matters greatly with tone. You can pick up a $3,000 fender bass and it could feel and sound like crap all because of the action.

[@scarab944]

Right on. I feel like this is something often overlooked in these technique videos. Even something as clearly explained as this should also come with the caveat that an instrument's setup (action, string spacing, eq) is going to significantly influence the application of this and other techniques. No doubt someone like Ian, Vic, Graham etc could pull this stuff off on almost any bass, but for someone starting to delve into the thumb world, how the instrument feels and sounds will affect your ability to become proficient.

[@bobasquid3339]

@@scarab944 Exactly. I learned the hard way. Lot of trial, error and confusion. The instrument and set up matters greatly, to a point.

[@AltarParssoy]

what a surprise... didn't know louis c.k. can play bass like this.

[@IanMartinAllison]

Altar Parssoy dang gotta get to the gym

[@SandroSanchioni]

There is a big "Money" vibe here... :)

[@sabaamorim5186]

Minhas primeiras videos aulas do you tube kkkk foi as suas kkkk

[@dariusscheider311]

Awesome pocket groove!

[@Osckii]

What type of bass is this Ian . I love the color and sound.

[@DrumRoody]

So it's like alt picking with the thumb? How can something so simple be so musical?

[@Zigarius1123]

sound my friend it's beautiful! same thing in a way using a felt pick over a plastic one or rubber one.

[@jane2141]

This is next level Terry Lewis!!

[@scarab944]

Wow, it does sound like ToeJam & Earl. Also kinda sounds like Anthony Jackson's immortal intro from "For The Love of Money".

[@spothra8862]

was just gong to say it's very similar to The O'Jays - For The Love of Money

[@timhutchinson8485]

I love this! Ian is one of my favorites. The octaver kinda got lost in the mix, though :(

[@1313warwick]

You should check out the bass player from los Bukis. They call him el Chivo. His name is Eusebio Cortez

[@leethebassplayer4902]

Great vid! Quick question Scott, what is the relic bass with the block inlays you have in the rack behind you? Haven’t seen that one before.

[@brandonmiles8174]

Victor had me trying to learn this years ago, when I was much less dedicated and obsessed with playing music. I even learned it from him personally in a small group lesson. I think it's time to try again. It almost feels wrong picking it back up after not learning what the guy taught me though.

[@ralphwest8156]

aaaah Antigua J Bass ...straight back to 79

[@leonardoramirez4863]

Almost first. Nice paint job on that Jazz Bass!

[@vernontrend]

This bass sounds awesome

[@bclark3842]

I can’t help bouncing my head and foot to his playing lol.