Top 10 Slap Bass Riffs for Beginners

Of all the things that remain most important to beginner bass players, like writing catchy bass riffs or playing perfectly in time with the drums, there's one technique that fascinates more than most – slap bass! In today's video, I breakdown the 10 slap riffs that every beginner bassist needs to hear. We're also giving you a FREE PDF workbook where we've added all the tab and notation!

As always, see you in the shed…

Scott :)

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz)
04:17 - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Sly & The Family Stone)
06:34 - Just the Two of Us (Grover Washington Jr.)
08:17 - Jungle Man (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
10:19 - Take the Power Back (Rage Against the Machine)
13:08 - Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
14:04 - Treasure (Bruno Mars)
15:42 - Dark Necessities (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
17:14 - Tell Me Baby (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
18:20 - Panic Station (Muse)

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[devinebass]

Hey All!
Some of you alerted us about a notation mistake in the workbook ('Just The Two Of Us' had the same notation as 'Fly Away'). Thank you so much for doing so!
We've fixed the workbook, so feel free to grab it by tapping the link at the top of the description!

[Gadzooki]

As a drummer who has played for 35 years an am now learning bass, I apologize for anything I ever said to you guys.

[PhilipAshcroft]

As a guitarist my fingers are hurting from just watching you strum the bass on that last song. Only recently discovered your channel but loving it, getting a bass has been in the back of my mind for a while but it's now front and centre.

[jonthecomposer]

So many people play Higher Ground wrongly and simply play the last tripolet as TTP instead of TPT. Good job in being precise and making sure people hear it. I know it's something small that probably wouldn't make much (if any) of a difference to a listening crowd, but the devil is in the details. And paying close attention is what ultimately separates players.

[ApolloCochrane]

Yo Scott, there's also a 3rd technique for the slapping hand - thumb up but with no plucking (neither up nor down). It's usually used by players like Mark King who wear the bass high up, almost on the chest, which gives you a great position for fast, melodic slapping as popularized by Mr. King. This surely deserved to be included in this lesson.

[edwinrivera]

Gosh man, I stumbled upon your videos 5 years ago at a time when I had no instrument to play after losing my '75 Fender Jazz Bass to a friend I trusted. 😥 I had lost a lot of desire to play Bass again at that time but I kept bumping into your videos and this has kept revitalized my interest again. You helped to keep my heart for music alive Scott, and I think we can all appreciate how important that is to anyone who has picked up a Bass guitar. That kind of stuff is priceless. Hoping to get my hands on a Jazz Bass in the near future! Many thanks!

[JalenRawley]

One I used for slap lessons was "Alright" by Jamiroquai. Nice comfortable tempo, simple root/octave line that evolves and gets more complex as it goes along.

[mr.sandman]

Finally someone covering jungle man! One of my faves to play!

[lynnturman]

You can bounce with the thumb up. You don't HAVE to play through the string. Also, a good way to learn to slap is just play songs you already know. Except force yourself to play the notes by slapping them with your thumb instead of plucking them with your fingers. When you're comfortable with that, then get your wrist movement going & start popping notes with your index finger.

[isajesu]

Panic Station is really fun to play, I love it. Chris is genius.

[underthebridge]

I was not expecting him to go all Good Eats on us like that 6:10😂

[captbuscemi]

Love it! Badass decision to do a slap lesson using a P-Bass with flats…

[themuin]

The replayability of this video is unmeasured! You're a genious!
Thank you for your service Mr. Scottboss <3

[Franbass]

Your finger tone is amazing, but the tone of that P bass is also great! Thumbs up dear Scott!

[tombzwork]

I just want to say thank you. I'm a working stiff without enough of myself left over to enjoy what I really want to do and you provide actual useful quick videos I've been able to learn from and apply. You're the best. Hit me up if you're ever in Utah and I'll buy you a beer. Or 12. Or a bunch of delicious Utah things. I don't know what you like. But I feel like I definitely owe you. Thank you.

[darrylbiggsuk]

The workbook is amazing! I'm getting stuck into this before I start the Slap Accelerator in three weeks time.

[Bassist]

One thing I've been asking myself lately is "which is better? Bass or guitar?" I think I like bass better, tbh, I just love the percussive aspect of it and diversity

[matt]

I been winging it on and off for 18 years. Actually learning (theory) for 2 years. Always struggled with slap bass. After watching this video, my slap/pop is starting to spread its wings (yet still early days). Cheers for this Scott. Will get on your course very soon ✌️

[jonnymac]

as a beginner its crazy that the first slap im guessing late 60s early 70s was created thats a lesson in itself just think 75 years ago someone created it. just knowing that give me a wider field of view love you scott il be back on the course soon my man

[book]

Ok ok.. after 40 years I'll try slapping. I guess i had to eventually.
This video makes it too easy not to get into it.
Thanks Scott!