How to Do a Double Thumb Slapping Technique for Bass Guitar

The name Victor Wooten is a well known name among bass players for his innovative guitar licks and overwhelming arrangements. One particular skill the often time mesmerizing Wooten uses is the double thumb slapping technique. For the novice guitarist, this move where the thumb is used like a guitar pick is deceptive in its simplicity. But with a little practice, anyone can master it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Grasp the neck of the guitar into your left palm if you are right handed, or vice versa, in an underhand grip. These fingers will be used to depress strings in different patterns to produce various chords and scales.

2. Place your dominant hand on the strings located on the body of the guitar. This is your plucking/strumming hand.

3. Position only the thumb of your dominant hand horizontally against the strings while slightly curling your other fingers under.

4. Rest your other fingers against the body of the guitar rarely, as they need to be free-moving. Keep your thumb horizontal.

5. Flick your thumb in a controlled, firm manner against any string near the back end of the guitar's body. Allow your thumb to go through the string, pressing it slightly towards the guitar's body, hold, and then release.

6. Prevent your thumb from ricocheting off of the string, although this move is to be a very quick motion. "Slapping" is the term for this fast, structured tap of the string and "double" refers to the two sounds you get from depressing and then releasing the string.

7. Allow for movement of either the thumb in isolation or the whole hand, with still only the thumb contacting the individual string.