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. 😓

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

Not all heroes wear capes sometimes they wear Stevie wonder shirts

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.

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.

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.

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

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

FINALLY someone mentions the action!!

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

i appreciate the mighty boosh reference more than you could possibly imagine

I've been slapping with my thumb down for over 10 years now, and I'm starting to study with the thumb up since I recently got a 5 string jazz bass, and it seems I can get a much cleaner tone that way. oh man how HARD it is to develop technique the other way around, yet exciting!!! thanks for being so rad, keep up the great work, Josh!

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!

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.

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

It's great to see an upload of someone teaching proper slap technique as I learned the hard way by being self taught & I sat listening to vinyl Singles & Albums of particular bassists bass lines relentlessly & I wouldnt stop until I'd nail the whole bass line & the style used... Regards myself & no doubt many other bassists it came natural & I just practiced day in & day out on all various techniques on the bass guitar that I felt I might use within the overall band musical style & input... Other styles I thought would be easy were in fact more difficult & again that's where practice & feeling come into play... I dont know why but many people make comments on KZfaq that they liked various finger techniques/tapping/muting et al but when it comes to someone slapping on the bass many comments I've seen for year's on KZfaq is why ruin the Demo (of certain a bass) or someone playing their own work or covers by playing Slap!.. I think many people out there think that's the all & be all that all bassists want to aspire to & learn that slap style... But it's not the case but if you do learn it it'll add another element into a bass player's toolbox of overall techniques... Personally I absolutely loved & still love the slap style even though I only used it rarely within a band environment... There seems to be a slight misconception that all bass player's want to learn slap & play that style & that's just not the case... As " Its Each To Their Own " but it helps if your proficient in as many different playing styles as possible on any instrument. .. If you want to progress with your overall playing style it's best (in my opinion) that you at least try as many or even All Of The Different Styles of playing on the bass as you never known when a specific style fits perfectly into a certain section of a song that's been written or you may even stumble across by accident a new way of playing the bass guitar... As I've said I love slap style but when I played professionally I rarely used that style but it's great to throw it into the mix & see what happens... And I'll stress that you should just take your time & enjoy it... If it's not going well at the start don't beat yourself up about it, especially at the start, & you'll eventually start to play slap technique with ease eventually.... But I will stress under one rule & that's the rule of: Practice Practice & Even More Practice... Even though certain styles come to certain players a lot easier than others that doesn't mean that those people should forget to practice/hone & fine tune their overall technique as I've never met any musician(s) yet who hasn't put that all important time in to play as good as they can & continue to practice on whatever instrument they play.. It's also a good idea to switch styles in between slapping by using finger work/typing et al & making sure you mute/play dead notes & mix it all up as slap is about hitting & muting between both the left & the right hand & that's were your percussive side comes into play... Again I'll reiterate that yes you should practice even if a particular style comes easily but the main thing is to Enjoy what your playing & " FEEL WHAT YOUR PLAYING " & the rhythm your projecting across on to the Electric Bass Guitar will sound even better... Literally " Feel What You Play " on any instrument is more than half the battle & if you've got plenty of feeling & you put the time in you'll play slap style quicker just like any other style... If there is no feeling to what your playing then what's the point as that will come out in your playing... Practice/Feel The Rhythm & make it fun or you will not want to do it as it's not just about a style but enjoying playing that or any other particular style & feeling what your playing... Enjoy... In light of the coronavirus Take Care & Stay Healthy... .....

This was a great quick review of the slapping and popping principles discussed in Josh's Beginner to Badass course. The course is truly exceptional, and I HIGHLY recommend you look into it if you've been learning bass by yourself for some time and aren't seeing the improvement you want. Pretty much guaranteed you'll grow by leaps and bounds :) Also, listening to Josh make playground equipment jokes at 50% speed is the best part of this video.

I loved this video for two reasons. The breakdown of the teeter-totter technique is so helpful for getting the mechanics down when you're new to this style. I've never seen it explained quite like this in any other videos. The Jamiroquai riff is also a great beginner exercise. When you're new and playing along with videos using open strings or scales, it makes all the difference when you have a killer riff to play. It makes the level of engagement in learning instantly go way up when you have real music to play. It's also a perfect bass line for adding in ghost notes to practice that as well.

The "king" of slap & pop. Hi, from Portugal. You all guys are fantastic! Thank YOU!

I struggled with exactly this when I started slapping, awesome video!

I lowered my bass saddles a few months ago and it made all the difference! You really need a good setup to have fun. I love the instrument a lot more now. I also got the intonation spot-on by using my tuner and plucking a 12th fret note then adjusting it until it was correct.

Bro you opened my eyes, i was doing the pop really wrong until i saw your video Thank you VERY VERY much, +1 sub

I can't tell you how glad I am to hear someone give some love to Ryan Martinie, listening to him on Mudvayne's L.D. 50 is basically the entire reason I decided to pick up a bass for the first time.

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.

This helped a ton! I learn pretty fast after years of guitar practice coming to bass but this technique was the most difficult for me and I knew I just wasn't getting it. At the end of this video I could play along and it sounded good so thank you.

I love your clear explanation on all your vids. And those tabs you've shared helps me alot. Thank youuu

Just finished Beginner to Badass today. Josh, you’re the best! Thx for the Wilhelm Scream in this video! Always makes me laugh.

Thank you for the lesson Josh, I don't have my bass yet but as soon as this Covid-19 goes away for good I will get one, I'm starting to hate Gaming and I barely play.

you are good teacher man. thanks for the lessons.

Appreciate your lessons! I didn't realize I had a habit of sometimes doing what you talk about at 6:00, which was definitely tripping me up. I pop most easily with my ring finger and sometimes with my middle. I'm awful at it with my index finger! It may matter that I play left-handed on a right-handed bass. The technique definitely ends up having to be modified with the strings reversed!

Thank you, Josh! I hope you and your family and mates are safe in this crazy situation. Love your vids.

This was actually very helpful. No one ever actually explained this good how are you supposed to move your forearm. When the time comes to pop, I'd usually move my forearm in a way that makes only the fingers part of the hand move, but the thumb would stay still closer to the E string. That way I'd always have trouble with faster BPMs. So thank you for that. I've never been into slapping at all, so I never bothered into researching how to properly doing. Between songs while practising, I would slap for some minutes just to get some tension out and also rest the fingers I use to hold my pick, which after two hours of so they get kinda tired. tldr; this was very useful. Thanks for the tips. Keep up the good work.

Bloody hell. I have been playing for years but I could never get the slap pop technique down and always ended up with a sore arm. I put it down to being left handed and playing a right handed instrument but this has opened my eyes. I have been practicing this and already I am noticing a huge difference and a lot less effort. Thank you for posting this.

Hi Josh. Great channel. I watch your videos for the comedic aspect as much as the bass instruction! That, for me, is what sets your channel apart from the other great bass related channels. Looking forward to your next lesson. Cheers!

just daily 3am practicing bass thanks to you! 😂 forreal learned so much from these learning at a remarkable speed!

Any lesson coming from Josh is a great lesson. When it involves slapping, it's a happy day. Thanks brotha!

In May I'm getting my first bass and I can't wait to play! I know I'll be following your Beginner to Badass course and I really can't wait

iv been playing for 8 months now, always had trouble slapping U MADE WONDERS MAN I PLAYED the final part 2nd try :OOOOOOO

Hey, another great video. I've watched it several times and with the practicing I do my slap and pop techniques are improving. Thanks.

Thanks for the lesson, I was struggling to even get a good slap, but after this method, I have progressed more in 5 mins than I have in half a week of doing the same slap over and over.

Great video addressing the most common and prohibitive slap issues, pay attention kids!

Lowered the action on my bass. Now feel easier to slap and pop. All these years having a lot of problems with this technique. That's why I never was able to really learning it and discouraging continue practicing. :) Thanks!!!

Best slapping tutorial I have ever found. 👌

Now I know why I’m a rubbish slap pop player. Teeter totter for my practice now, cheers 👍

Magnífico. Voy a seguir tus consejos!!! Saludos desde Buenos Aires Argentina.

The best explanation so far.

Oh my Josh, I thought He was about to order us to actually pull up the string. Mindblowing!

Im more thumb up and have always used both my index and middle finger for pop. Awsome video

Thank you my friend. This vastly improved my slapping technic. Oh on my electric guitar.

I read somewhere to leave a little "daylight" under (press down less with) your fretting finger so the increased buzzing gives your pop a FUNKIER, more abbreviated sound (musical term *shiznit-zicato* ). I agree, but be warned: it's a fine line between sounding funky and not sounding at all...

Finally a proper video on this topic! Thanks!

I used to be a thumb down slapper, took long enough but I forced myself to learn thumb up technique, good video !

Another great lesson! Man your a great instructor clear and concise.

I've always liked your lessons Josh , very clear and on point . God bless you Josh.

i swear, your videos never fail to make me laugh, no matter what subject you're teaching! LOL this one was no exception! I would say you're the most humorous bass teacher on KZfaq. :)

I learned a lot from you Josh! I can't wait to get my first bass and put all those things into practice.

Great choice of song ..it introduces right hand muting completely under the radar as it's a consequence of that teeter-totter thing.. I never got it before. Thankyou!

Mind blowing delivery... crystal clear explanation

This is exactly what I needed. I’ve been watching a bunch of tutorials but this explained exactly what I was struggling with. Thank you!

You're GREAT teacher! Thanks for your contribution to Worldwide Bass Community! Make BASS great again and again!

i love ur way of teaching, always puts a smile on my face! 🤣

Started playing bass yesterday and this really helped me start off with slap and pop! Thanks so much!

Your teaching style is so clear and simple! Just awesome! Thank you

Dude, i have learned so much from your videos. Keep up the great work! Awesome content!

2:28 holy wow, The Mighty Boosh? I remember that show, I loved it so much.

Thanks for differentiating between a good and bad slap technique! We need more of this kind of content on KZfaq 👍. Keep it coming🎶🎸😊

I am a thumb-up slapper and have always felt most comfortable popping with my middle finger. When I first started slapping, I was a thumb-down slapper and used my index finger. But when I fixed my technique when I got into double-thumbing, my middle finger felt more natural.

I like these videos, even though I was never truly a bass beginner (I played guitar for 2 years before realizing the glory of *BASS*) almost all of this comes naturally to me because of the past experience with guitar but its very nice to keep my bass-ics in check :)

I slap parallel to the neck and on the last fret. Slap down through the string and back up to double thumb, single/double pop as needed

Damn bro, looks like my friend is telling you about my struggles as a beginner bassist. For serious tho, thank you, I really like your teaching style

Love the bit at the end!! Love this guy.🤘

Ok, so I ordered my bass yesterday and signed up for Beginner to Badass today. Now I can't wait for Thursday

Underrated channel

Been playing guitar for 12 years, done shred and jazz and theory and classical and have essentially mastered my technique, but I've been feeling so gravitated towards bass lately and really want to focus on learning it properly with all the chromatic grooves and slap/pop (mostly thanks to Davie504) and this was a huge help. It's a little frustrating to basically start from scratch, but this video helps a ton and I'll just have to be patient and practice like I did for the other instruments I play. Excellent video, dude, thank you so much.

Thank you for this video man, it's totally changed the way I look at the instrument! Such a simple technique but the best one you could teach us! Thank you 👑

I like how the video is timed into parts :D Thanks for the details and honest eyes. Thats a dealbreaker through my filter of ignobliss.

When I first switched to bass back in 2001-2002 to play in band with college buddies I never really watched a lot of videos or books. Mainly watched funk bass players. The teeter totter kind of came naturally. My thing is I love slapping all 4 strings and trying to find different sounds. First song I learned as a slap bass line was Lenny Kravitz I Want to Fly Away.

This is helping fix my slap that I havnt work on in a while

Interesting. I was taught to follow through the string and land your thumb on the next string rather than bounce off. Seems more efficient to bounce off but opens up more fill options if you follow through.

Thanks for helping me with my popping, I've finally got the hang of that teetering and tottering style

this feels like masterclass

0:07 is that Meshuggah playing in the background for like a second? It sounds like it could be from the intro of new millennium cyanide christ, maybe i've just been djenting to much lately...

Josh, you’re too funny! Thnx for making bass lessons enjoyable.

this really clarifies what Flea is doing on the intro to Higher Ground.

Great! Now you've learned the essential part of Slapping & Poping. Next, learn Tommy the Cat and play it at full speed.

best lesson ever on the topic!!!

Just found your channel and I'm instantly obsessed! Thank you thank you thank you

Excellent tutorial! Now, I can begin playing slap bass, too! Thank You!

You'll get a better sound with fresh strings. Old, dead strings sound like slap bass balls.

woah i was just watching your first slap video last night wondering when youd post a follow up... nice timing man :D

Thanks for this! I have to learn how to slap and pop, and then how to play Aeroplane in two to three weeks! Awesome! I'm kidding, it's gonna be hell, but... I never say no to a challenge. (It was an honor to learn from this channel. Tell Laura I love her...)

Finally.. after watching Davie504 slapping and Charles Tapping, some extreme bass tutorials came in! Finally finally... This is what ive been waiting for. Hello Bass world lamaooo checkmate guitarists

This channel helped me to improve at bass a lot. I tried to play emergency on planet earth but i have extremely small fingers so its really hard for me

Nice lesson and well presented. Great to see the building blocks shown and some history on their development. Be careful though talking about Louis Johnson not having efficient technique. The funk gods will come for ya. Lol. He was one of Quincy Jones main choices for bass and you don’t hang out in those crowds if you are sloppy. Nobody drops a fat slap on the D and G strings like Louis and fast heavy thumbing of the higher strings takes great precision. Also the downward angled thumb with the middle finger popping and the index acting as a pivot is a Brian Bromberg concept as much as Flea. Flea came to the technique because he wears his bass low enough to cover his junk and can’t do thumb up from there. Lol. Bromberg worked it out from a body mechanics perspective. And the thumb up shown here is sort of thumb angled up which is the “American” style slap Marcus Miller forward while true thumb up is a “European” approach used by Jonas Hellborg and is driven by the bass being worn/strapped high on the chest with arm wrapping around butt end of instrument.

Clap, Clap, Clap!!! Best explanation out there, super fine detail!! thanks