Slap & Pop Bass - Bad vs Good Technique (Beginner/Intermediate)

Are you killing your slap with bad bass popping technique? Not anymore, after you fix your slap & pop essentials and nail the mythical Teeter-Totter Technique.

In this video I’ll show you:
* The core essentials of popping, for thumb up or thumb down slapping
* How beginners kill their slap with bad pop technique
* The “Teeter-Totter Technique” that all pro slappers use to keep their slaps and pops flowing easily, even at crazy speeds

Then we’ll cover bass popping technique basics - how the ‘pop’ sound happens, which part of your finger to use, and how to get the force to snap the string. (hint: it’s the same as with slapping)

I’ll also walk you through a quick exercise to make sure you’re not popping too hard, and dooming yourself to extra blisters.

You will still get SOME blisters… but it’s worth it to kick ass at slap bass, right?

Once we get your basic covered, I’ll go into detail on the Teeter-Totter Technique, which is a silly term I made up to describe something that every pro-level slapper is doing. (whether they know it or not)

Using this technique, slap and pop become two halves of the same motion, which gives you the kind of efficiency needed to play the slap lines we all wanna play.

We’ll wrap up by using your new popping skills in context, first with some basic slap and pop exercises, and then we’ll play part of Emergency on Planet Earth by Jamiroquai. (featuring Stuart Zender, slap master)

#slapbass #basspoppingtechnique

[BassBuzz]

What’s your favorite way to work out your popping technique? Could be a song, an exercise... or just your coping strategy for the constant blisters. 😓

[IberianRocket]

I like how he can't play bad so he puts all that cat noise to communicate the bad technique.

[raspberryjuiceentertainmen]

Not all heroes wear capes sometimes they wear Stevie wonder shirts

[RebornThroughHate]

I've played for about 30 years now, but just wanted to say that you and Scott's Bass Lessons are the two best learning channels on here. You have a great way of communicating and showing how it's done. A terrific bass channel.

[mejsjalv]

Slap n' pop is definitely something that should be practiced with an amp or headphones.

And it sounds way better with roundwound strings and a fretted bass.

From the guy who's been practicing slap n pop with a fretless bass, flatwound strings and no amp.

[ivanreiss]

This channel feels like life deadline to learn the bass. If I can't learn from THESE videos, I might as well just give it up.

[y]

Follow-Up video idea: Viewers send you short clips of them slapping and you review the technique and suggest improvements.

[scarlet]

"Tuck your popping finger in without the g-string getting in your way."
Amazing

[DamianSabre]

"You WILL get blisters"
The greatest sacrifices require the strongest wills.

[AzuriteCoast]

Thank you so much for adding the bit about it taking months, and how that's okay. One thing these lessons rarely teach is reasonable expectations, and that screws up so many musicians, myself included. Thank you for fostering patience through your lessons.

[samcro]

I like how I found so many comments on youtube regarding slap bass of how people are unable to slap even with 2 years of having the instrument....and i just learned it in a week thanks to bassbuzz. SUBSCRIBED!

[MatteoAntonyMistretta]

I can't believe how much progress I'm making thanks to your informative and funny videos, Josh.
You're turning us from zero to hero!
Thank you so much <3

[KeatsIT]

Decided to pick up bass again after years since Covid quarantine will take a shitload of time to get over with. Your lessons are just pure gold <3

[FrederickTSchurgerDC]

Lighter strings. That's probably the smartest thing I've learned in slap/pop technique. It's less tension, which leads to easier working around the strings. Also applicable to upright bass slap technique, which is a whole other bass channel

[dreaminginnoother]

you are good teacher man. thanks for the lessons.

[puckandlayjay]

Well, this certainly was the video I needed, today. I don't know how often you hear this, but when you say stuff like, "It could take months to get this really good" it's incredibly comforting for a beginner who wasn't immediately 100% awesome at it on the first go around!

[Thebigperson]

One thing I love about your channel is you aren’t using some fancy $5, 000 bass like many bass/guitar/instrument channels in general use. Using accessible equipment when recording tutorials is imperative because 90+% of your audience won’t have access to incredible nice/expensive instruments that may be easier to play than the typical budget instrument.

[SixpageStories_YT]

Thank You Josh Really Helped me nail my slap and pop

[cleemckinnis]

You are the most useful bass teacher I have ever had. After 12 years of bass playing, I feel like I've found a great bass sensei. Thank you.

[koji]

i’m not even a bassist i’m a guitarist this guy is just so interesting to watch lmao