Bass Gym: How to Use Double Stops to Level Up Your Slap Grooves

I repeat one ritual over and over, and it works magic! Every time I put on fresh strings, I come up with a new slap groove. The zing of the strings makes me sing. OK, enough bass poetry — let’s see what’s going on today!

When you start slapping, it’s usually the open E string with a bunch of minor pentatonic licks. This time, I started grooving using the open A string. Then, distracted, I threw in some memories of a distant Marcus Miller riff using double stops, but as I couldn’t recall it properly, I started my own phrase. Suddenly, one idea followed another, and I ended up with more Les Claypool vibes than Miller’s smooth funkiness.

Download the transcription and follow along with the video below.

The opening bars 1 and 2 are power chords played using a strumming technique and over three strings. It’s a great way to take your riffs to the next level.

The main riff (starting in bar 3) is based around double stops in fourth intervals using the notes of the A minor scale. Fourths are quite easy to play as double stops because you simply place your index and ring fingers over the D and G strings. For the desired “pop” and aggressive sound, I use a double pluck with my index and middle fingers in the right hand. Just be careful not to go too crazy with the popping, as this could make your sound too harsh. Focus more on the thumb to balance out the low end.

The second part (starting in bar 11) is a busy combination of thirds and an open A string acting as a drone note.

Bars 15 and 16 could be played using the double thumb technique that has become almost classic nowadays, but I play them using a combination of thumb and pop/pluck on each string. This reminds me of the sound of a plectrum, and it’s a different way of playing busy one-string lines.