4 Double Thumbing Mistakes To Avoid (Slap Bass)

This video will show you how to avoid 4 basic double thumbing mistakes that I've seen bass students make over the years.

The double thumbing technique, popularized by Victor Wooten, is a great tool in any bass players bag of tricks. It can be used for impressive pyrotechnics, but double thumping can be used more with more musical subtlety as well.

Any time you learn a new bass technique, it's important to get started correctly before you develop bad habits. Watch the video, learn the common double thumping mistakes to stay away from, and have fun!

[aryentripping]

Dude, I've seen this technique explained by Wooten, Marcus, etc ... and yours, is by FAR the best explanation ... You've earned another happy subscriber! Big Thank You!

[iarguesemantics]

I was having a lot of trouble with my double thumping technique before I watched this video. THEN I got a banana tattoo. My technique has never been better.

[popstopolus]

"If you assume something's going to be hard than you probably clench up" something I think we can all relate to, joking aside this is a really top video Josh!

[mookie]

I've been playing bass for thirty years, and this is probably the best double thumbing guide around. I really like the way Josh gets to the point, and it's not about his wisecracks or ego (unlike many others...)

[eaf]

I wish you'd told me I didn't need the banana in the beginning... I already put one on my arm. nice video sir.

[waawaaweewaa]

Good vid, Marcus Miller was talking about this technique in another video and made a great point; if your action is too high it's way harder to do this technique.

[SlavSquatSenpai]

I've come back to this video, yet again, as I dropped learning it after like an hour, and started again and have been doing it for a whole month now.

That slight thumb angling REALLY helps. I've been doing everything you suggested, except for the slightly angled thumb. Adding that allowed for resting the bottom of the thumb more easily against the next string. It's kind of like the plucking equivalent of using a ramp or playing over the pickups... less digging in.

[Bateman]

I really practiced this learning Evan Brewer / Victor Wooten. When I finally sat down and did chords while double thumbing (for a few hours and blisters), I realized it is almost like using a pick. That being said, i found it easier using a pick on guitar then double thumb on bass, but the actual concentration and timing practicing double thumb made me better using a pick on guitar! In my opinion, if you are trying to cram as much technique as you can, its not for the faint hearted. The blister I received from double thumbing swelled twice its size and poped at work.Very painful, but damn if it wasn't worth it. Thanks for making this video. I was just checking if i was doing anything wrong, but i believe i learned all the faults through experience.

[SlavSquatSenpai]

"Start slower than this... please."

Lmao.

An actually serious, and very important tip that is. Thanks for the help, Josh. I honestly didn't realize there was so much more to the slap technique. I just started learning this technique, and I was doing most of my motion at the wrist..

[IzakLast]

Headed out for my afternoon break, taking the bass and giving the double thumb technique a try. Thanks for the great video Josh!

[julianthesmooshyhusky]

Man you were totally right, I assumed this was loads harder than it was. Getting past the psychological barrier and keeping the movement from the elbow really did the trick!

[bartoszfalkowski]

First tip is so much important. I've needed it bro!

[coreygreaves]

Great lesson. I haven't attempted double thubbing yet because I thought it would be to hard. But this has helped me get past that. Thanks.

[Jim-H]

Nice to see you’re playing a Cirrus. The Cirrus neck is like no other. I was sold the first time I played one. 35” scale too!!

[AnonymousCowardX]

Thanks a lot. Your work is very much appreciated.
Unluckily, I tought myself the old school Mark King (Level 42) way of slapping throughout the years, trying to convert into double thump technique now.
Quite difficult.
And I manage to play two up and down strokes and index and middle finger plucking for disco-ish octave kind of stuff, but I am quite lost in more subtle rhythm patterns with triplets etc.
Guess I'll have to teach myself more ryhthmic stuff etc.

[cameron]

Yeah I found it very helpful to start off just by doing a slow and simple double thumb on the e string the first day so you can get the feeling of what double thumb is. Then after that first day try transitioning between different string. Nice vid :)

[hadcrabbio]

Thank you very much! I have been having a few issues with double thumping and this will definitely help.

[michaelanthony]

God bless you, I just started trying double thumbing and I’ve been making EVERY ONE OF THESE MISTAKES !!! Thank you, I just subscribed and liked, of course !

[rey.z]

Honestly, the most helpful video so far of learning the double thumb technique 👍
Thanks

[GDGET]

Believe it or not, I learned a life lesson from this video as well as how to double thumb. Thank you.