Louis Johnson - Slap bass

Tony G · #1 03-01-2006, 01:15 PM

look at that right hand go!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...8382746&q=bass

Chili · #2 03-01-2006, 02:05 PM

yeah hes a slap monster, i love his style of slap pop

MacGroove · #3 03-01-2006, 02:28 PM

That's why they call him Louis 'Thunder Thumbs' Johnson.

Baryonyx · #4 03-01-2006, 04:08 PM

I think if you search for Louis Johnson on Youtube, you can see and extended version of this clip, it's about 2 mintues of him doing this kinda thing.

**Josh Ryan** · #5 03-01-2006, 05:24 PM

Good stuff, and it actually sounds like bass! --not thin watered doen bass.

lampstandmonkey · #6 03-01-2006, 08:32 PM

he's my favorite bassist. not many people seem to talk about him anymore, but he's my biggest influence.

EricTheEZ1 · #7 03-01-2006, 11:48 PM

That's off his first "Master Sessions" video done in the 70's. I highly recommend it. I do NOT recommend the second one he did in the 80's where he basically says that synths and keyboard sequencers are the wave of the future and putting musicians out on the streets. He also wears parachute pants and a wife-beater.

On Topic: That video is awesome. He's a great slapper by today's standards and it was made some 30 years ago.

-Eric.

Chili · #8 03-02-2006, 04:41 AM

a 2nd video? where can i get this? no where even sells the first slap video in the uk i had to download it

Redhotbassist · #9 03-02-2006, 07:10 AM

Heres the longer version on Youtube..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBFKk...ouis%20johnson

Cristo · #10 03-02-2006, 07:29 AM

I got a copy of his "Star Licks" video a long time ago. The guy is a monster. That video taught me 90% of what I know about slap style bass.

I don't do it much, so I am no expert on the subject, but you can defintely learn from him, at least if you are starting out on slapping.

He does some great funky sounding stuff, and it seems a bit more focused on feel than on speed, like some of today's slap masters.

Makes your butt move...

MacGroove · #11 03-02-2006, 09:52 AM

I've seen the Brothers Johnson play many times and they've had funkier than they did on the albums.

Baryonyx · #12 03-02-2006, 04:25 PM

He's a great player and he certainly took slap to the next level back in the day (despite other bassists who used to slap being more technically gifted over all, for instance, Stanley Clarke).

he one tihng I cna't stand about that video is his tone, it's really clangy sounding and it seems to "rattle". However, you cannot knock it's authenticity!

Chili · #13 03-03-2006, 07:08 AM

where can i can i get his 2nd slap bass video? i've learned alot from his 1st one, i would love to check out his 2nd but i cant find it anywhere

FCM3 · #14 03-03-2006, 10:11 AM

The guys is an absolute monster.
I have his first instructional video and which he slowed down many of the licks to useable forms.
He has a unqiue style of using his thumb (over the top) to fret on the E & A string, and while many of the licks are do-able, there hard to place because he uses his thumb to fret the notes on the E string, while playing octaves, and fills on the lower strings w/ his other 4 fingers.

I love his bass tone, pure stringray, scoop out mids, infact in the video he states that the stingray bass was made especially for him.
Definately a slap influence, and funky as all get out

bassist 4 life · #15 03-03-2006, 10:27 AM

^ Yup, he says that his stingray was made by Leo Fender especially for him, and that the pickups were made especially for thumping.

lampstandmonkey · #16 03-04-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

he one tihng I cna't stand about that video is his tone, it's really clangy sounding and it seems to "rattle". However, you cannot knock it's authenticity!

the strings sound new and clangy, i definitely prefer his recorded tone. real thick and powerful.