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 ways: as a sixteenth note triplet figure, or as part of a group of conventional sixteenth notes. Both approaches will be covered in the following exercises.
You can learn more about the open-hammer-pop technique in the Slap Bass – Advanced Level video course, which you can find HERE. Don't forget to hit the Download Resources button above to receive the PDF worksheet and audio files that accompany these lessons.
This course contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:
In this exercise the open-hammer-pop technique is used to play sixteenth note triplet figures in the second and fourth bars.
In this exercise the open-hammer-pop figure is played as part of an almost continuous sixteenth note line.
This is a variation on the technique which includes another slapped note between the hammer-on and the popped note. In addition, there are several slapped pull-off figures to contend with.
This up-tempo line uses the open-hammer-pop technique as straight sixteenth notes for simple fills at the end of the second and fourth bars.
In this exercise the technique is used as straight sixteenth notes at the beginning of the first three bars. It is then used to play a descending series of sixteenth note triplets in the fourth bar.