How To Play SLAP Bass The Right Way - What You MUST Know

Get the full beginner slap bass course here: / charlesberthoud
This lesson shows you how to play slap bass in the most efficient way possible, so you won't have to unlearn bad habits later and you'll start your journey towards becoming a slap bass master. By the end of this lesson you'll have a grasp of basic slap technique and you'll be able to play Red Hot Chili Peppers' Higher Ground bass line!
Special thanks to AhLun, Sugabeat, Timothy Gabrielson, Jason Hedlund, Colter Fike, Cpt. Marley, Sid Stenersen, Turpid, Janniken Kløvstad, DebisU, David Geschke, Dario Cimmino, Edward Quinn, Divine Atah, Wanderley Moura, Griffin Lesher, James Oldfield, Cody Pecot, Marc Forand, Mortal Konbat, Björn Lindner, Abel Nelms, Brandon Dickey, Sebastián Labbé, Martin Andersson-Næset, Rossables, Phillip Scuderi, Zachary Amsden, Soho Phil, Pyroluem, James Ansell, Mark Roberts, Rob Nack, Eric Jordan, Shirl Walker, Risvan Vlad Rusu, Tony Jacobs, Michael Forrester, 949 Designs, slatibartfast24, Cpt. Marley, Nil N, Kelly Henderson, 游鎰駿, Zachary Gidwitz, Vladi Mun, Joe Norsworthy, Štěpán Emmer, Michele Marletta and all my other Patrons and members!
#basslessons #bassguitarlessons

Пікірлер: 253

  • @BassCampOfficial
    @BassCampOfficial9 ай бұрын

    Get the backing tracks and tabs for these exercises, plus 4 more full lessons at the beginner slap bass course here: www.patreon.com/CharlesBerthoud

  • @petrerasov7013

    @petrerasov7013

    9 ай бұрын

    how do you arrange songs?

  • @numetalforchrist

    @numetalforchrist

    9 ай бұрын

    But I don't have money

  • @Chrislarkin70

    @Chrislarkin70

    7 ай бұрын

    I'm really interested in signing up for the slap bass course - but confused about the payment system. It says we pay according to how many videos you release in a month. Is that all and any videos? Sound's like it could get pricy. Basically I'd like to sign up for the slap bass - and some other courses (like theory) - but want a clear idea of what it'll cost me ...

  • @user-ju7qq4xl1r

    @user-ju7qq4xl1r

    2 ай бұрын

    My bass don't sound like your's why?

  • @femymusik

    @femymusik

    Ай бұрын

    hello

  • @CharlesBerthoud
    @CharlesBerthoud9 ай бұрын

    Incredible lesson, keep it up!! 🙏🏻

  • @rodrigopatino3382

    @rodrigopatino3382

    9 ай бұрын

    This guy is coming for you let me tell ya!!

  • @20minutespast

    @20minutespast

    9 ай бұрын

    chad

  • @Tekkerue

    @Tekkerue

    9 ай бұрын

    No way! I wasn't expecting to see you here! 🙃

  • @pablovalencia9611

    @pablovalencia9611

    9 ай бұрын

    Bro responded to himself thinking we wouldn't notice 💀

  • @slappbassnow

    @slappbassnow

    9 ай бұрын

    Bro casually complimenting himself

  • @phipshido2742
    @phipshido27427 ай бұрын

    is it just me or is slap the hardest thing on earth ?

  • @davidethridge5748

    @davidethridge5748

    3 ай бұрын

    Just practice it for 15 minutes everyday and you should get it down in about a year

  • @nathanmoore7120

    @nathanmoore7120

    2 ай бұрын

    Less than a year. I was slapping quite well after a few months….. having said that, I have ADHD so I was playing between 8 to 10 hours a day from the moment I got my first bass. This was coupled with 2 lessons a week. I believe someone who is has natural perspicacity and practices all day could learn to play the bass competently within 3 months. If I started learning the bass, now. I would use Victor Wootens technique.

  • @spikedalizard3114

    @spikedalizard3114

    2 ай бұрын

    ⁠​⁠@@nathanmoore7120same i could play advanced slap bass in a month because I have ADHD and was practicing like from when I got home from school to when I had to go to bed

  • @joyfadele3104

    @joyfadele3104

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@nathanmoore7120what is victor Wooten technique Im haveing the most trouble with finding slap songs that are easier enough and also ear training

  • @user-zb6uf3us1w

    @user-zb6uf3us1w

    Ай бұрын

    It’s just you😂😂😂😂😂 Kidding it took me a long time to get that clean slap tone the key is to practice and practice unfortunately no short cut

  • @AlexVonCrank
    @AlexVonCrank9 ай бұрын

    Not only is this man a freak player, he's a great teacher too! What can't he do?

  • @olivierlemarois9620

    @olivierlemarois9620

    9 ай бұрын

    Play accordeon

  • @Brett-yq7pj

    @Brett-yq7pj

    9 ай бұрын

    Cant stay out in the sun too long probably ha haw gingerbread boy

  • @thomasobrien4707

    @thomasobrien4707

    8 ай бұрын

    Get girls

  • @AlexVonCrank

    @AlexVonCrank

    8 ай бұрын

    @thomasobrien4707 you see that ring on his left hand, right?

  • @AlexVonCrank

    @AlexVonCrank

    8 ай бұрын

    ​@Brett-yq7pj hahaaj soooooo funny... is that your original material? Pure genius.

  • @KainePamela
    @KainePamela9 ай бұрын

    I recently bought my first bass because of you and Davie, hoping to get the BASSics down soon!

  • @BassCampOfficial

    @BassCampOfficial

    9 ай бұрын

    Congrats, have fun!!

  • @daddy-bstudios2895
    @daddy-bstudios28954 ай бұрын

    After 35 years of playing modulair synths i started to play the bass. I never could figure out how to slap on the bass. Picking was easy but slapping it (for me) wasn't easy. Now after 13 years of playing the bass and seeing your video, i finally learned how to slap. Thank you for this video. It really changed the way of playing the bass. ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @pablovalencia9611
    @pablovalencia96119 ай бұрын

    This guy has to be the best bass teacher on the platform

  • @toaonosoa8872
    @toaonosoa88729 ай бұрын

    Yo Charles! these videos are really helping my bass playing! Please dont stop making videos!!! You inspire me to practice my bass whenever a new video comes out and these videos are way more helpful than any other ones on youtube! God bless you bro from New Orleans 😀

  • @BassCampOfficial

    @BassCampOfficial

    9 ай бұрын

    That's great to hear, don't worry I'm not stopping any time soon!

  • @toaonosoa8872

    @toaonosoa8872

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@BassCampOfficial Yayy

  • @mirialbagonzalezlopez5322
    @mirialbagonzalezlopez53228 ай бұрын

    Thanks so much! I'm a total bass newbie and not overwhelmed by the info you are sharing and its progression. Awesome!! Working in this already. Muchas gracias!!! 😎🎶🎵🎸🎵🖤

  • @benheld1247
    @benheld12479 ай бұрын

    Hey Charles, thank you for this lesson. I had a student today and we did pretty much exactly the same thing today. Some hours after our lesson you uploaded this video and I recommended it immediately. :) perfect timing

  • @kentlofgren
    @kentlofgren9 ай бұрын

    Charles, your tutorial on slaps and pops for bass is absolutely fantastic! Your technical expertise and expressive playing style make it easy for beginners like me to grasp these techniques. The structured approach you've taken in this video is incredibly helpful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and talent with the bass community. Looking forward to more lessons from you!

  • @thebassgum
    @thebassgum9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the lesson Charles! Waiting for the next lesson 🎉🎉🎉

  • @Matthew-vh4ce
    @Matthew-vh4ce9 ай бұрын

    Hey Charles, loving the exercises. One for arpeggios would be awesome!

  • @We_Rugged_Family
    @We_Rugged_Family9 ай бұрын

    Nice and straightforward. Excellent video

  • @ASAPFos
    @ASAPFos5 ай бұрын

    You honestly just taught me how to slap bass properly and I’ve been avoiding it for years. Thank you so much!

  • @andreasantilli9764
    @andreasantilli97649 ай бұрын

    A great bass player...and now a great bass teacher too!!! Very clear, very rational and well structured. Keep on teaching,! 💪👍👍

  • @nod-
    @nod-9 ай бұрын

    I play a 6 string electric guitar and don't even own a bass, yet I'm here

  • @jacobparker5042

    @jacobparker5042

    3 ай бұрын

    Go away your kind aren't welcome unless you mean a 6 string short scale piccolo bass

  • @josephmweze158

    @josephmweze158

    2 ай бұрын

    Me too😅

  • @jubeikibagami3840

    @jubeikibagami3840

    21 күн бұрын

    Me three lol

  • @franckdebank

    @franckdebank

    18 күн бұрын

    It's actually harder to play it that slow.

  • @DJBre
    @DJBre9 ай бұрын

    Awesome to get started! Thank you Charly

  • @AnthoRock27
    @AnthoRock2725 күн бұрын

    Thank you Charles!♥

  • @williamrobinson7435
    @williamrobinson74359 ай бұрын

    Really great, thanks for posting! ⭐👍

  • @ingrid7277
    @ingrid72774 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this amazing lesson was fun to try to play along 🤩

  • @nitro4014
    @nitro40145 ай бұрын

    I had a random urge to learn slap one evening and I had little to no experience with that style. This video was very helpful and I was able to combine my guitar playing with the new techniques I learned from this video. Super helpful!!!!!

  • @selrockredguy9487
    @selrockredguy9487Ай бұрын

    I've been trying to learn slap for ages you broke down what I was missing, and it's the very easiest first step

  • @user-xg2np6gu5t
    @user-xg2np6gu5t9 ай бұрын

    I started learning slap not that long ago, and you have been very inspiring.

  • @flamewraith
    @flamewraith9 ай бұрын

    excellent video! thank you so much as a newbie to bass this is extremely good to follow along. After watching a lot of bass videos this is the first one that clearly explains how to slap to a total noob

  • @ortegaman
    @ortegaman7 ай бұрын

    I liked very much this lesson, I’ll try it asap.

  • @iloveska1
    @iloveska19 ай бұрын

    Awesome, will practice later!

  • @haroldgonzalez-pm9hg
    @haroldgonzalez-pm9hg6 ай бұрын

    I keep trying to slap the A string but i keep hitting the damn E string🤬

  • @antoniodacir3275
    @antoniodacir327516 күн бұрын

    Thank you so much Sir..big help as I'm a beginner

  • @ChrisLT
    @ChrisLT9 ай бұрын

    Nice to see a basic breakdown.

  • @BassCampOfficial

    @BassCampOfficial

    9 ай бұрын

    Glad you found it helpful!

  • @hayatotheninja

    @hayatotheninja

    9 ай бұрын

    You mean... BASSic. 😎

  • @ChrisLT

    @ChrisLT

    9 ай бұрын

    ​​@@hayatotheninja Yes, thank you for the correction. Anyway, this channel's already been a revelation. Looking forward to seeing it grow. 20+ years of guitar, and this'll be a nice way to ensure I'm not just playing bass like a regular ass electric.

  • @junked5214
    @junked52148 ай бұрын

    Bless you for these free lessons from the best player in the world

  • @samuelnascimento827
    @samuelnascimento8278 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the class from Brazil teach!

  • @ameliamccullah7261
    @ameliamccullah72613 ай бұрын

    By far the best slap bass lesson ive found on here

  • @Crambo2
    @Crambo29 ай бұрын

    Here from patreon! Looking forward to the full glory of this channel!

  • @jonhall3151
    @jonhall315121 күн бұрын

    Thanks, Chuck!

  • @shadowfromsparksnv3253
    @shadowfromsparksnv32539 ай бұрын

    Thanks for that info I'll check it out

  • @andflyaway
    @andflyaway8 ай бұрын

    Awesome stuff! 🤘

  • @PhillStone
    @PhillStone9 ай бұрын

    great lesson!

  • @DeeterPlays
    @DeeterPlays9 ай бұрын

    Literally wearing my Slap Bass University shirt as I watch this. Also, side note about that shirt, some people see the shirt and they somehow mentally remove the "B" and think it says something totally different.

  • @rogerioserra9912
    @rogerioserra99126 ай бұрын

    Excelente! Muito obrigado! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @RachelGerrard
    @RachelGerrard9 ай бұрын

    BRILLIANT thank you!

  • @danpost4755
    @danpost47559 ай бұрын

    Great explanation!

  • @assambamichel6959
    @assambamichel69598 ай бұрын

    Hello Charles Thank for this course. l will slap bass right now

  • @lie5578
    @lie55789 ай бұрын

    Tanks charles for ur lesson

  • @myopia73
    @myopia738 ай бұрын

    have a bass for years but never slapped, this was the easiest one to follow, thanks!

  • @bobshortcut6950
    @bobshortcut69503 ай бұрын

    You got a great technique. It is evident you were trained professionally.

  • @guahsu
    @guahsu9 ай бұрын

    Yeahhh !! Thanks a lot !

  • @shawnalove5050
    @shawnalove50503 ай бұрын

    Dam, I thought you were gonna show me something I didn't already know, lol. You're the bomb though! I love your stuff!

  • @zadokmotorfreight2423
    @zadokmotorfreight24235 ай бұрын

    Excellent!

  • @goggigruggari
    @goggigruggari7 ай бұрын

    Amazing! Thanks oyu

  • @eileenfabri5497
    @eileenfabri54979 ай бұрын

    Thanks brother! Thanks so much! You are truly incredible bassist.

  • @threed7
    @threed72 ай бұрын

    I play guitar I actually quit playing around my year 3 into it and haven’t really practiced in like 2-3 years. Like I play sporadically. But I never actually sat down and practice. But I’ve been working on a project recently that made me kinda get back into music. I actually bought my bass like 2 years ago or something. And only played on it like 10 times at most. And it’s just been collecting dust at my mothers. I picked it up last week and I’m trynna learn it. Trynna practice a bit more with both bass and guitar. I’ve always thought slapping was just so cool so I’m trynna learn!

  • @trebm
    @trebm9 ай бұрын

    Thank you, great video. I started slap bass a couple of months ago because of your videos, still building the technique and your advice will help a lot.

  • @amosmattu508
    @amosmattu5088 ай бұрын

    That helped a lot 👍🏽

  • @FanuGidaboo
    @FanuGidaboo4 ай бұрын

    Thanks man

  • @LordEradicus
    @LordEradicus9 ай бұрын

    Great video. I admit that I'm a little bit self-conscious because I really don't pop anything other than the G string. I dunno, I tried a few times to pop the D string, but I just kind of prefer the brighter sound I got from the G. I think I just always liked a very high contrast between my slaps and my pops.

  • @nikodempeszko8171
    @nikodempeszko817112 күн бұрын

    that was very helpfull in my slap adventure :>

  • @ace-ofspades
    @ace-ofspades9 ай бұрын

    omg tysm this helped a lot and i can already see that im improving :)))

  • @mitchj6245
    @mitchj62459 ай бұрын

    I really appreciate that you don't talk while demonstrating the sound, so we can actually hear the sound of the guitar ✅️

  • @DC-ei9vl

    @DC-ei9vl

    8 ай бұрын

    And for content not containing 10 minutes of BS, 5 minutes of useful information, as usual.

  • @sgssdilg-ncr7761
    @sgssdilg-ncr77615 ай бұрын

    thank you

  • @stevemitchell5009
    @stevemitchell50098 ай бұрын

    Thanks

  • @jakubantos6981
    @jakubantos69818 ай бұрын

    Finally somebody who actually explained how to do it without 25min monolog how bass and slap is great

  • @user-xe8oi5oq6c
    @user-xe8oi5oq6c9 ай бұрын

    Never played BASS but I consider this lesson excellent. Thank you, Charles! 333rd like!

  • @MaddMan621
    @MaddMan6216 ай бұрын

    When he kept playing the first note for the slap technique all I could think of was the intro to Around the World by RHCP

  • @johnkostelidis8163
    @johnkostelidis81639 ай бұрын

    I used to slap with the thumb placed like thae way you show ..... Although when I first started to attend music school , the teacher told me to change the position of my thumb .... Placing your thumb like Flea as you say, is the most ergonomic position. You play more easily, relaxing your arm, and can also adjust to normal plucking position easily. The only difficult part is to learn how to slap accurately . But its a matter of practice after all !!

  • @fabiowolfofficial
    @fabiowolfofficial3 ай бұрын

    Perfect lesson, I’m finally practicing slaps

  • @Theseriousbeatle
    @Theseriousbeatle9 ай бұрын

    No fking way charles made a separate account to teach his bass stuff. I was gonna go through the trouble of transcribing some of his stuff but this is way better 😂

  • @BassByTheBay
    @BassByTheBay9 ай бұрын

    For slaps (thumps), I would just add that you should try to hit your thumb knuckle on the string. Back when I was giving lessons, I noticed a few students were getting this "flabby" sound when they slapped, and I realized they were hitting with a different part of their thumb. I had thought it was intuitive to hit with your knuckle, but I learned that, for some people, it's not.

  • @lazymystic-qo9ti
    @lazymystic-qo9tiАй бұрын

    that bass line in the first intro is kinda catchy ngl

  • @iamtombass
    @iamtombass8 ай бұрын

    Thank yôh sir 😇🙏🏽,

  • @erichines8360
    @erichines83606 ай бұрын

    Great lessons/exercises. One question- do you usually have to have newer strings to get the slap/pop off effect? Also- are there certain settings on the bass amp that you recommend? I have a Pbass and Markbass amp (which i consider higher end gear) yet struggle to get the right sound for slapping.

  • @FromTheMosh
    @FromTheMosh9 ай бұрын

    That's a nicely oiled fretboard 🙂

  • @Victinitotodilepro
    @Victinitotodilepro9 ай бұрын

    sorting lessons by level of difficulty in different playlists would be a good idea

  • @VeitLehmann
    @VeitLehmann9 ай бұрын

    Great lesson, thanks for posting this! Unfortunately I taught myself slapping the thumb-down way. I don't slap often, and it works for most things, but it's a dead-end for going further. With thumb-down, I manage to always hit the string right and have my slapped notes at an equal loudness. That's hard for me thumb-up, even though I know that thumb-up can sound much fatter if done right. And I could never double-thumb with thumb-down. With thumb-down, I can easily mute the slapped string with my right palm right when I pop if I want to (I mostly do and don't even think about it). Muting strings with thumb-ub is much harder for me, it's all in the left hand then. I know I could go much further with thumb-up, but trying to do that makes me feel like a noob. So I have to practice it at home and won't do it on stage for now. But will continuing to slap thumb-down on stage hurt learning thumb-up? It just feels so different...

  • @tnasir2003

    @tnasir2003

    9 ай бұрын

    Charles actually went through the same thing! I remember him saying before that when he started slapping he learned it thumb down like Flea and that it took him a solid year to adjust to the up thumb and learn the double thumb. It is a very slow process but keep going at it, best of luck!

  • @olivierpayette4284
    @olivierpayette42849 ай бұрын

    I would love an introduction to the Chapman stick !

  • @danieldelange4116
    @danieldelange41164 ай бұрын

    Good day to you, davie504 brought me here..your lesson is Well done And you have a pleasing voice. I only have an acoustique basse and would like to know if one can slap it even unplugged ?

  • @1234drums
    @1234drums8 ай бұрын

    That was awesome, thank you

  • @MrDaneBrammage
    @MrDaneBrammage9 ай бұрын

    When double-thumbing, the thumb moves mostly in the plane of the string, perpendicular to the 'bounce' technique you show here. How do you transition from one to the other? I feel like I have to unlearn the bounce in order to learn double-thumb.

  • @tnyamaneko6093
    @tnyamaneko60939 ай бұрын

    Emotional moment, Higher Ground is the second ever slap line I learned, after Aeroplane. Many, many bassists learned how to slap with Higher Ground.

  • @ChristiandaveBanzuela
    @ChristiandaveBanzuela8 ай бұрын

    out of the many bass slap tutorials I've watched, this is the only video that I get basic and simple instruction, thanks for basic tutorial 🤍

  • @sweepingpage1845
    @sweepingpage18459 ай бұрын

    Nice

  • @OttoRoesch28
    @OttoRoesch289 ай бұрын

    Epico

  • @sssenatorarmstrong3280
    @sssenatorarmstrong32809 ай бұрын

    Can you teach how to incorporate ghost notes into slapping?

  • @eboneboii
    @eboneboii9 ай бұрын

    Can anyone tell me the song he played during the intro/transitions of the video?? It sounds sooo good

  • @WeaponsRemorse
    @WeaponsRemorse9 ай бұрын

    To me the best beginner intro to slap is all right. By Jamiroquai. It’s simple, straightforward and oh so funky

  • @Will-bo3cn
    @Will-bo3cn4 ай бұрын

    I’m pretty new to bass but find it much easier to slap with my thumb down. Should I keep going like that or teach myself to do it like shown. Thanks!👍😁

  • @officialsk7413
    @officialsk74139 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the lesson

  • @rfsk1
    @rfsk19 ай бұрын

    I was on this event in São Paulo

  • @Mis-amados-perros77
    @Mis-amados-perros777 ай бұрын

    Hello, what brand is that bass? Of the ones you have, I think it's the one I like the most.

  • @PeterWilliams-ek2bh
    @PeterWilliams-ek2bh7 ай бұрын

    Newbie question, is there a setup video for the bass particularly for slap as opposed to other styles or shouldnt i worry to much about this? Think my bass is set too high but im worried to mess on with it.

  • @loondoo
    @loondoo9 ай бұрын

    Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for mentioning that the correct way to slap is with the thumb up or parallel, but NOT DOWN, which is one of my pet peeves, ha! It drives me crazy watching players with their thumbs down

  • @landonp4726
    @landonp47265 күн бұрын

    Do you know how Flea gets away with his thumb being down? Is he just super accurate, or does he just mute the other strings he doesn’t want to play? Thanks!

  • @muhdazharrashid3958
    @muhdazharrashid39589 ай бұрын

    ur a awesome player man. do you have the tabs for ur intro riff.. 🙏🙏🙏

  • @rickporayko880
    @rickporayko8809 ай бұрын

    Question: Should your string bounce off the last fret when you slap? Mine always do. I don’t think I’m hitting it too hard; I think I’m barely hitting it. My bass’s action isn’t low either. Advice?

  • @albertschaf6985
    @albertschaf69857 ай бұрын

    What kind of action of the strings is beneficial for slap/pop?

  • @assambamichel6959
    @assambamichel69598 ай бұрын

    You and Davie504 just amazing. 2 great bassist you are the best!!!

  • @charliejg
    @charliejg9 ай бұрын

    Your teaching ability matches your playing sir.

  • @LiamWhittle-tm7yo
    @LiamWhittle-tm7yo4 ай бұрын

    I've been playing thumb down for years. I actually get a nice clean slap and pop but I don't know if its possible to double thumb from that position. I always played with my bass slung kinda low and that's just how my muscle memory is now. Trying to slap thumb up with the bass higher is like trying to write left handed for me. I wonder if anyone has figured out a way to double thumb down thumb slap style

  • @johnisnotayoutuber6163
    @johnisnotayoutuber61638 ай бұрын

    Been watching this multiple times before i get my bass

  • @roronoazoro8475
    @roronoazoro84759 ай бұрын

    Charles' bass playing is so good that my left headphone started working again. (No seriously)