This is one of the funkiest bass techniques there is! (L#113)

Mixing plucking and slapping techniques on the bass is something that I rarely see discussed, but is used extensively by many of the worlds top bass players. You’ll have heard it used on many records thousands of times before, most likely without even noticing it as it’s something that can go under the radar so easily even though it’s a huge reason why the bass line sound so damn funky :)

In this lesson I deconstruct the bass line from the famous Jocelyn Brown tune “Somebody Else’s Guy”. This is a perfect example of two different plucking techniques being used in conjunction with each other to give the bass line that “slap bass” feel, but still with the control and tightness of a finger style bass line.

“Somebody Else’s Guy” was the first song I started using within my practice time to get used to swapping between slapping and plucking techniques within the same bass line. Initially it’s a lot trickier that you might think as it’s easy to start rushing the groove when swapping between the two styles.

Good luck…

And as always, see you in the shed!

Scott :)