Basic Slapping for Bass Guitar

Steps

1. 1
   
   
   Keep your hand perpendicular to the strings and your thumb at a 50-60 degree angle with the string you're slapping. You will need to have your arm at a particular angle. Think of a traditional scarecrow with rigid upper arms. This may ache after a long period of playing, but you'll get used to it.
   
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3. 2
   Remember, it's all in the wrist. For a basic slap exercise, you can slap and pop an octave - an octave is 2 frets up and 2 strings up. Play an octave with your first and third fingers on your left hand.
4. 3
   
   
   First, to position your right hand. You need your thumb parallel to the string, (let's use the E string first).
5. 4
   
   
   Now, using a hitch hiker or flopping fish action, bring your thumb down slowly and hit the string, when you hit the string try and hit the bottom half of it, the bottom of your thumb should end up on the next string.
6. 5
   
   
   Keep practicing that action until you get good hits, the ideal sound is a solid thump.
7. 6
   Now, try adding some popping to the technique. Popping is where you pull up on the string.
8. 7
   
   
   With either your middle or index finger, (which ever is most comfortable) put your finger underneath the string let's use the G string, pull up your finger until the string eventually snaps back down on the fretboard.
9. 8
   Now let's try putting both of those into one technique:
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    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

G|------9-------9-------9-------9-|

D|--------------------------------|

A|--7-------7-------7-------7-----|

E|--------------------------------|



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Variation

    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

G|------5-------6-------7-------8-|

D|--------------------------------|

A|--3-------4-------5-------6-----|

E|--------------------------------|