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Top 10 Slap Bass Riffs
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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 02

Top 10 Slap Bass Riffs

for Beginners

Of all the things that remain most important

to beginner bass players, like writing catchy
bass riffs, playing a killer solo or being able to
play perfectly in time with the drums, there’s
one technique that fascinates more than most
– slap bass! In today’s video, I break down the
10 slap bass riffs that every beginner bassist
needs to hear.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 03

01 “Fly Away”
Artist Lenny Kravitz
Album 5 (1998)
Released November 09, 1998

It might not be what lands him in the pages of GQ or bags him his
next starring role in Hollywood, but Lenny Kravitz takes his bass
playing very seriously. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist who
plays everything that he picks up, the slapped bass line to Fly
Away has gone on to become a career highlight.

Catchy to the Nth degree, in terms of sheer in-the-pocketness

this is an excellent bass line for beginners. If you want to add
some muted hits in there, go for it! But there’s nothing wrong with
keeping it simple.

Fly Away
YouTube - 00:38

œ ‰ j nœ j œ
? ### 4 ‰ nœ ‰ j
¿ #œ œ
4 œ œ ¿ œ nœ ¿ ‰ ¿
œ nœ œ
T P T ¿ P T ¿ P T ¿ P T
5 7

¤
7 5
2 3 X 4 5 X
4 5 X 2 3 X 0

3
œ ‰ j nœ j œ
? ### ‰ nœ ‰ j
¿ #œ œ
¿ œ nœ ¿ Œ
#œ œ œ nœ
T ¿ P T ¿ P T ¿ P T ¿ P
5 7

¤
7 5
2 3 X 4 5
4 5 X 2 3 X

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 04

“Thank You (Falettinme

02 Artist Sly & The Family Stone
Be Mice Elf Agin)”
Album There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
Released December 1969

As the man who invented slap bass, this classic Larry Graham
bass line kicks off with a simple slap and pop riff that brings his
blend of funk and R&B to the table in no uncertain fashion. After
a few minutes of this, you’ll be dying to play it yourself – and it’s
simple enough that you’ll probably nail it, too. But will you have as
much funk in you as Larry?

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

YouTube - 04:31

œ. nœ œ. œ. nœ
? #### 4 œj nœ. œ. ≈ ‰ J Œ nœ. œ. ≈ ‰ ¿ ‰ œ
4 . .
T ¿ P P P T ¿ P P T T
9 7 9 9 7

¤ 7
5 7 5 7 X
7

3 œ. nœ œ. œ. nœ
? #### nœ. œ. ≈ ‰ J Œ j
nœ œ ≈ Œ Œ
œ
¿ ¿
¿
T P P P T P P
let ring
9 7 9 9 7

¤ 5 7 5 7
0

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 05

03 “Just The Two of Us”

Artist Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers
Album Winelight (1980)
Single Released February 1981

You’ve probably never thought of this song as being driven by

the bass line. Well, think again. Marcus Miller was just 19 when
he recorded the line, one of the most instantly recognizable of
Bill Wither’s entire catalogue, and certainly his best-known. It was
originally cut as just an instrumental Grover Washington Jr song.
Then they called Bill Withers, he wrote the lyrics, and it became
a huge hit. If you can play along with Marcus Miller’s trademark
bass line, you’ve arrived as a bass player.

Just The Two of Us

YouTube - 06:22

œ œ
? bb b 4 ™™ œ ™ œ™
œ œ
Œ œ™ Œ œ nœ bœ Œ œ™ Œ
b 4 œ
T P T P T P T P
™ 6 5 6 5

¤ ™ 4 3 8 7 6
4
4 3

1. 2.
3
? bb b
b œ
œ œ œ ≈ ¿ œ ™™ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
T P T P T P T ¿ T P T P T P T
™
¤ 1
3
1
3
1
3
X 3 ™ 1
3
1
3
1
3
1

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 06

04 “Jungle Man”
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album Freaky Styley (1980)
Single Released August 16, 1985

Jungle Man is the opening track and lead single from the band’s
second studio album, Freaky Styley. A gem from the Chili
Peppers, Flea’s bass line is one of his funkiest (although there are
too many funky Flea bass lines to count). Everything on this song
clicks: Flea’s bass line is totally in the pocket and guitarist Hillel
Slovack’s angular funk makes it impossible to stand still.

Jungle Man - Verse

YouTube - 08:37

? ### 4
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œj ‰ Œ
œ œ œ
œ œ
œ œ œ
Œ
T T P T ¿ T T P T ¿
¤
4 4
0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 2

3
? ### œ œ ‰ Œ œ œ Œ
œ œ œ œ œj œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T P T ¿ T T P T ¿
¤
4 4
0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 2

continued

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 07

04 JUNGLE MAN (continued)

Jungle Man - Chorus

YouTube - 09:35

? ### 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ
T T P T ¿ P T ¿ P T T P T ¿ P T ¿ P
2 4 2 4

¤
4 4
0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2
0 2 2 2 0 2 2 2

3
? ### œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T P T ¿ P T ¿ P T T P T ¿ P T ¿ P
2 4 2 4

¤
4 4
0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2
0 2 2 2 0 2 2 2

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 08

05 “Take the Power Back”

Artist Rage Against the Machine
Album Rage Against the Machine (1991)
Album Released November 3, 1992

Rage Against The Machine’s finest hour was undoubtedly their

self-titled debut album, a highlight of which was Take The Power
Back. It’s a masterclass in slap bass, and a must-learn for budding
bassists everywhere. Slap bass was never a huge part of the
Rage sound, but Timmy C sets the groove from the start, slapping
and popping his way through this tasty lead riff. It’s a stroke of
simple, but effective genius.

continued

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 09

05 TAKE THE POWER BACK (continued)

Take the Power Back

YouTube - 10:20

Drop D tuning
? 4 ™™ ™ ™™
b4 œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ Œ Ó
œ œ œ œ
T ¿ T P T ¿ T P T ¿
™ ™
¤ ™ 0 0
3 5 X
3 0
X 3 5 X
3
0 0
™

œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ™ œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ™
3
?b
œ œ œ œ
T ¿ T P T ¿ T P T ¿ T P T ¿ T P
¤
3 0 3 3 0 3
3 5 X X 3 5 X 3 5 X X 3 5 X
0 0 0 0

œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ™
5
?b œ œ ¿ œ œ ≈ œ #œ œ
œ œ œ œ
T ¿ T P T ¿ T P T ¿ T P T ¿
¤
3 0 3 3 0
3 5 X X 3 5 X 3 5 X 3 4 5
0 0 0 0

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 10

06 “Higher Ground”
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album Mother’s Milk (1989)
Single Released April 8, 1989

Higher Ground created air bassists out of all of us and made this
a benchmark track for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With Flea’s
slap bass replacing the clavinet of the original Stevie Wonder
hit, Higher Ground remains one of his most widely recognised
riffs. The shuffled groove presents a solid grounding in playing
alternating groups of slaps and pops. It’s another perfect entry
point to playing slap bass.

Higher Ground
YouTube - 12:52

< q__q = aq eb >

3

3 3

? # 4 ™™
œ ™™
œ œ œ œ
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
œ œ œ œ
¿ P T ¿ P T 3¿ P ¿ ¿ 3

™ ™
T T P T P T P T

¤ ™ 0 0 2 0 3 3 5 5 5 7 0 0
2
0 3 3
5
5
7
5
™

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 11

07 “Treasure”
Artist Bruno Mars
Album Unorthodox Jukebox (2012)
Single Released May 10, 2013

Produced by his long standing friends The Smeezingtons, this

funk-disco anthem gave Bruno Mars yet another worldwide hit,
and remains an object lesson for anyone interested in the inner
workings of slap bass. The extreme clarity of the line makes it a
mandatory part for all funk-loving bassists to learn.

continued

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 12

07 TREASURE (continued)

Treasure
YouTube - 13:57

? b 4 ™™ œ
Œ ≈ ‰ j œ. œ.
bb4 œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ.
P P ¿
™
*

¤ ™ 4
6
4 3 1
3 3
1 1
*Plucked with thumb, throughout.

3 œ. œ.
? bb
b œ
œ Œ ≈ œ ‰ œ
j
œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ ™™
œ
P P ¿
5 5 ™
¤ 3
5
3
1 3 1 3
1
3 1 ™

5
? bb œ Œ ≈ œ ‰ j œ. œ.
b œ œ œ œ œ. œ.
P P ¿
¤
6 3 3
4 4 3 1 1 1

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 13

08 “Dark Necessities”
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album The Getaway (2016)
Single Released May 5, 2016

Their first release since 1989’s Mothers’ Milk without producer

Rick Rubin behind the boards, Dark Necessities saw a shift from
the Chili’s typical soundscape, with a layered piano intro setting
the scene before Flea’s signature slap bass kicks in. The best
song from Josh Klinghoffer’s era with the band, they co-wrote
this one with their producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton.

Dark Necessities
YouTube - 15:24

Play 3 times
? bb 4 ™™ œ ¿ ¿ œ
¿
¿
¿
œ
¿
œ
¿
¿ œ ¿ œ œ ¿
œ ™™
b4 œ œ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
T ¿P T P T P T P T P T ¿P T P T P T P T P T
™ 5 X 3 5 X 5 X 3 5 X ™
¤ ™ 3 X X X X X X
3 4 X X X X X X
1 ™

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 14

09 “Tell Me Baby”
Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Single Released July 17, 2006

Tell Me Baby sees Flea bring his slap bass chops together with a
strange sense of restraint that he became an expert at employing
throughout the 2000s. The verse is a frantic slap-happy bass
line, but the chorus features a contrasting part that perfectly
complements John Frusciante’s sparse guitar playing. He’s still
slapping, but it’s not just a rhythm deluge like in the verse.

Tell Me Baby
YouTube - 17:04

? 4 ™™ œ œ œ ¿ ≈ ≈ œœ œ ¿ ≈ œœ≈œ ™™
4 ¿ ¿ œ œ ¿ œ œ œ ¿ ¿ ¿ œ œ ¿ ¿
P T P T P T ¿ T ¿ T ¿ P T P T P T ¿ T ¿ T ¿
™ 5 7 5 X ™
¤ ™ ™
5 7 5 X
X X
X 5 5 X 5 5 5 X X 5 5 X 5 5 5 X

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 15

10 “Panic Station”
Artist Muse
Album The 2nd Law (2012)
Single Released 31 May 2013

Panic Station was a live staple during Muse’s The 2nd Law Tour.
Made by Chris Wolstenholme’s thunderous slap bass technique,
the bass line borrows from both Queen’s Another One Bites the
Dust and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. No tricks or alternate tunings
here - just an exercise in keeping the octaves, thumb slaps and
string-skipping nice and together.

continued

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FREE LESSON BOOK: Top 10 Slap Riffs for Beginners 16

10 PANIC STATION (continued)

Panic Station
YouTube - 18:05

œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ ™™ œœ œœ
?# 4 ‰ ‰ j ‰ j ‰
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T ≥ ¿ T ¿ ≥ ≤ ≥ ≤
7 9 9 19 19 19 19

¤
7 9 9 19 19 19 19
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

œœ œœ œœ œœ
3 œœ ™™ œœ œœ
?# ‰ ‰ ‰ ¿¿
j
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T ≥ ¿ T ¿ ≥ ¿ ≤ ≥ ≤
7 9 9 X 19 19 19 19

¤
7 9 9 X 19 19 19 19
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 bb œœ ™™ œœ œœ n œœ œœ œœ œœ
?# ‰ ‰ j ‰ j ‰
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T T ≥ ¿ T ¿ ≥ ≤ ≥ ≤
13 12 12 19 19 19 19

¤
13 12 12 19 19 19 19
0 0 0
3 3 3 3

7 œœ ™™ œœ œœ
?# ‰ ‰ j ‰ j ‰ Œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
T T T ≥ ¿ T ¿
7 9 9

¤
7 9 9
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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