Many bass players feel very comfortable employing their slap techniques over a straight 4/4 rhythm, but far less comfortable when the music has a shuffle feel. When playing in the shuffle feel, linear slap grooves (particularly those that incorporate fretting hand slaps) can be a little more difficult to execute, and it’s these grooves that […]

The double thumbing technique is a relatively recent addition to the slap bassist’s toolkit. Using this unusual variant on the slap and pop style, it is possible to play lines that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to play using traditional slap technique. Double thumbing involves using the thumb of the picking hand to play […]

Double popping is a technique that requires you to pop the higher strings on the bass with the first and second fingers. These two popped notes – in combination with slapped notes – are commonly used as part of a triplet rhythm. Double popped triplets are often added into slap grooves to add rhythmic interest. […]

The open-hammer-pop technique is a combination of three conventional slap bass elements: a slapped open string, a hammer-on, and a popped note. This technique can be used to play some unique slap bass lines and has been popularised by bassists such as Stuart Hamm and Victor Wooten. The open-hammer-pop technique is typically used in two […]

This song was a huge hit for Bon Jovi when it was released in October 1986. Although the band’s bassist was Alec John Such during this period, session bassist Hugh McDonald was drafted in to play on the track. McDonald was responsible for coming up with the song’s signature bass groove. The song is also […]

‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ was released in June 1978 and was the debut single for A Taste of Honey. It was a huge hit, reaching the top of several charts in the U.S., and performing well around the world. Propelled by bassist Janice-Marie Johnson’s infectious groove, the song has since become a disco classic, making it […]

‘Pinball Wizard’ was originally released on the Who’s 1969 album Tommy, a rock opera that tells the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy. The song was a big hit for the band, and it continues to be played live to this day. By the standards of Who bassist John Entwistle, this song has […]

‘And The Beat Goes On’ was one of the biggest hits for The Whispers, thanks in no small part to Leon F Sylvers’ memorable bass part. Leon, a talented multi-instrumentalist who also co-wrote the song, had previously been successful with his own group The Sylvers. He later went on to enjoy a successful career as […]

‘I Want You Back’ was the first single to be released by The Jackson 5. It features a young Michael Jackson on lead vocals and was a number 1 hit for the band. Although often credited to Motown legend James Jamerson, the bassline on this track was actually performed by Wilton Felder, who played saxophone […]

‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ was a huge hit for UK pop band Wham! when it was released in May 1984. Like many eighties pop songs, it has a great bassline, in this case supplied by Detroit-born low-ender Deon Estus. Featuring up-tempo Motown grooves, slapped fills and slippery, legato bass runs, there’s a […]