One of the most popular percussive techniques used in playing acoustic guitar is the Right Hand Slap.

Usually this technique is used to emulate a backbeat on a drum. It sounds great in a rhythm guitarists' arsenal as well in solo work.

Simply raise your wrist above the strings and allow your thumb to slap on the lower strings (either 5th or 6th string) and the knuckles just above your nails to follow simultaneously.

Don't be to soft with the slap.you won't break your strings. You should hear a defined attack on the strings.

Keeping your right hand in playing position at all times is very important also so that you can transition from the slap technique to fingerstyle seamlessly.

Below are 2 examples of the Slap.

Example 1 applies the technique to fretted chords

Example 2 applies the technique to open chords.

Example 1

E |-------------------------------------------------------| B |--5---x-----------3---x---5---5---x------------3---x---| G |--5---x-----------4---x---5---5---x------------4---x---| D |--3---x-----------5---x---3---3---x------------5---x---| A |--5---x--------------------5------x--------------------| E |-----------0---5-------------------------0---5---------|

Example 2

E |--------------------------------------| B |--0---x---0---x---0---0---x---0---x---| G |--0---x---2---x---0---0---x---2---x---| D |--2---x---0---x---2---2---x---4---x---| A |--3---x------------3------------------| E |-----------3--x-----------------------|