Spank bass

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Spank bass is a musical performance technique evolving out of the slap and pop or slapping methods of bass playing. Spank bass treats the electric bass as a percussion instrument, striking the strings above the pickups with an open palmed hand. The term derives from the motion of spanking, metaphorically suggesting aggression and sexual intentions.

While this method of playing is more visually effective, it lacks the accuracy of slapping. To compensate, the player must fret the note carefully to eliminate other strings from ringing out the primary note. The sound of spank bass combines the thump produced in slapping with the added noise of the hand striking the other muted bass strings.