Slap

A common technique used by bass players is the Slap. Guitarist have "borrowed" this technique, using it in various contexts. In funky, the slap is often used to rhythmically accent one or more single notes.
There are two ways to obtain the slap on the guitar:
- with the finger of the right hand (finger slap).
- with the pick (pick slap).
Thanks to this technique, its possible to rhythmically vary the single notes during riffs and solos. Lets look at some examples of how to develop the slap technique, remembering that in the scale, the symbol for the slap is identified by the letters sl

To obtain the finger slap, you first need to consider the fact that this technique is almost always used with a pick in hand. Usually the slap is done by the middle finger of the right hand.
The technique itself is quite simple, in that the finger must "slap" the string that we want to play on the lower part of that string. You pull the string upwards, and away from the fretboard by about a half centimeter, then quickly release it. This movement causes the string to hit against the fretboard, giving a typical slap note.
In the exercise, we can see how to alternate a note normally played by the pick with a note slapped by the middle finger.

In this exercise we see how the slap is used on raised notes. This is a fundamental characteristic that gives "movement" to the rhythm.

This example relates to the use of the rhythm in sixteenths. Also in this case, the slap is raised (by sixteenth).

In this case, we play a chord and then insert the slap in the next single note riff. Pay attention to the use of the pick, following the indicated strumming.

The explanation of this technique is quite simple. In this case the pick substitutes the finger of the right hand to perform the slap, hooking the string on the lower part, pulling the string away from the fretboard, and then releasing it so that it "beats" against the fretboard. The advantage of using the pick is that it is quicker to play, and the disadvantage is that there is a small reduction in the volume of the slap effect. Practice with the previous exercises, using the pick in place of the middle finger to perform the slap.
In the next page we will have the occassion to use the slap technique in various types of exercises and examples. I recommend that you study this page well before progressing.

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