Anybody else dislike slap bass?

MrRobert · #1 09-07-2011, 11:39 PM

I don't know what it is, but I just cannot stand it. To be honest I think think it's ok in certain songs, but I hate 99% of the slapping I've heard. In fact, it angers me when some yahoo salesman grabs a bass off the wall for me to try out and he just can't resist throwing down a quick slap groove. I just dropped a bass off for a setup and some salesman walked by, looked at it, and slapped on it WHILE IT WAS SITTING ON THE TABLE. I was horrified. I am getting a brand new bass in the mail tomorrow, and as God is my witness, no man shall EVER slap on my baby!

Epitaph04 · #2 09-07-2011, 11:41 PM

Buster Brown · #3 09-07-2011, 11:46 PM

But honestly, I am one of those guys who, when a bassist begins slapping, I walk away......

Mike M. · #4 09-07-2011, 11:51 PM

The only time I don't like it is when I'm checking out a product demo of something I might be interesting in and the player does nothing but the slap style. It's like "excuse me, but could you also show me how this product sounds when played finger style?"

king_biscuit · #5 09-07-2011, 11:52 PM

What a stupid thread. It implies that all slapping is the same. No, I don't enjoy hearing kids on youtube slapping simpleton octave stuff, ala Flea, but I certainly don't mind hearing Alain Caron slap this: Alain Caron - Slam The Clown Live - YouTube

And I don't mind hearing Mark King Slap this:Mark King" Love Games" live at OHNE Filter Baden-Baden 1999 - YouTube

Hey that's just me, and I can actually see the color gray...

lowfreq33 · #6 09-07-2011, 11:56 PM

I'm pretty proficient at slapping, and you could catch me doing it when I'm at home sitting on the couch, but honestly it just doesn't do it for me in a band situation. I guess it's just not my style, I'm more Jamerson than Larry Graham.

**peledog** · #7 09-08-2011, 12:03 AM

One of Flea's legacies is the advent of punk-funk-metal slap bassists. I love Flea, but he spearheaded a movement that's way past it's peak.

When I think of slap - I don't hate it. I don't hate ANY technique for bass playing. That's just stupid and closed minded. Beautiful music can be made in a myriad of ways.

And just because it's slap, does NOT mean it's funk. Slap originated in funk music, but when someone says 'play something funky' - I don't think 'slap' necessarily, I think Bernard Edwards or Louis Johnson, heck even Jaco has some serious funk. Paul Jackson or Rocco Prestia.

100mph slap, while impressive, is really an exercise in musical masturbation - depending on the genre and intent - but, it is what it is. If it serves the music, then it's legit.

I grew up with a steady diet of Mark King, Flea, Bernard Edwards, Larry Graham and Bootsy (who doesn't really slap, he 'spanks').

All that being said - this thread will soon disappear, because this isn't really productive discussion.

Slap is teh suxors. Yeah, not great conversation. I love slap bass. Might as well start a thread with 'I hate flats and P bass with a tube amp with posers trying to sound vintage with fuzz' thread and see what happens...

/thread

MrRobert · #8 09-08-2011, 12:06 AM

Yeah, like I said, not all slapping is bad. I guess what I really don't like is egregious slapping, especially on my personal basses or one I'm interested in buying.

And if you've read a similar thread, please skip this one and spare telling us me the fact that you've read a similar thread.

And it occurs to me that this may indeed be posted on the wrong board. If so, can a moderator move it if appropriate?

**peledog** · #9 09-08-2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRobert

Yeah, like I said, not all slapping is bad. I guess what I really don't like is egregious slapping, especially on my personal basses or one I'm interested in buying.

And if you've read a similar thread, please skip this one and spare telling us me the fact that you've read a similar thread.

And it occurs to me that this may indeed be posted on the wrong board. If so, can a moderator move it if appropriate?

Now this, I can agree with.

Munjibunga · #10 09-08-2011, 12:11 AM

I don't do it, but I think it has its place here and there. When overdone, it's one of life's major annoyances.

conqr · #11 09-08-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

What a stupid thread. It implies that all slapping is the same. No, I don't enjoy hearing kids on youtube slapping simpleton octave stuff, ala Flea, but I certainly don't mind hearing Alain Caron slap this: Alain Caron - Slam The Clown Live - YouTube

And I don't mind hearing Mark King Slap this:Mark King" Love Games" live at OHNE Filter Baden-Baden 1999 - YouTube

Hey that's just me, and I can actually see the color gray...

+1, context is everything. I can however see why slap hate exists. Who wants to hear an endless, directionless, grooveless drum solo on bass? Whankers everywhere

Even Mark King or Victor bore me if they get into the speed thing too long. To me the master is Marcus - melodic, groovy compositions that are never boring. If you hate that, you truly do hate slap.

NoiseNinja · #12 09-08-2011, 12:18 AM

In general I dislike slapping too.

dj5 · #13 09-08-2011, 12:31 AM

What I DO hate is when I find a video of someone playing a model I'm curious about and have no way of trying out, and all the poster does is slap the F***k out of it. If you play finger style, you need to hear that tone.
Plus it's surprising how many people can slap like demons, but can't play in time if they dO try a bit of groove - sometimes to an embarassing degree.

king_biscuit · #14 09-08-2011, 12:37 AM

Let's be really honest here, the same guy who is annoying and sounds crappy mindlessly slapping brain dead octave lines sounds pretty crappy and annoying playing with his fingers and a pick too.

leche · #15 09-08-2011, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peledog

One of Flea's legacies is the advent of punk-funk-metal slap bassists. I love Flea, but he spearheaded a movement that's way past it's peak.

When I think of slap - I don't hate it. I don't hate ANY technique for bass playing. That's just stupid and closed minded. Beautiful music can be made in a myriad of ways.

And just because it's slap, does NOT mean it's funk. Slap originated in funk music, but when someone says 'play something funky' - I don't think 'slap' necessarily, I think Bernard Edwards or Louis Johnson, heck even Jaco has some serious funk. Paul Jackson or Rocco Prestia.

100mph slap, while impressive, is really an exercise in musical masturbation - depending on the genre and intent - but, it is what it is. If it serves the music, then it's legit.

I grew up with a steady diet of Mark King, Flea, Bernard Edwards, Larry Graham and Bootsy (who doesn't really slap, he 'spanks').

All that being said - this thread will soon disappear, because this isn't really productive discussion.

Slap is teh suxors. Yeah, not great conversation. I love slap bass. Might as well start a thread with 'I hate flats and P bass with a tube amp with posers trying to sound vintage with fuzz' thread and see what happens...

/thread

Am I allowed to put that in my signature?

dj5 · #16 09-08-2011, 12:49 AM

Probably right!
I wonder what pecentage of playing-out basssists' time is spent slapping compared to the time spent holding down a groove.
Maybe 2%/98%?
BUT on youtube the ratio seems to be about 70%/30%.
Odd that.

**Faderoktopus** · #17 09-08-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

Let's be really honest here, the same guy who is annoying and sounds crappy mindlessly slapping brain dead octave lines sounds pretty crappy and annoying playing with his fingers and a pick too.

I can understand why some might find this thread to be pointless, slapping is a legitimate technique and occasionally has its moments of glory. However, I cannot completely agree with the above statement. I find the sound of slapping to be generally more annoying than fingerstyle, and it rarely fits the context of any of the music I enjoy, including a lot of funk. So I guess i'm with the OP, but it is all just my opinion. Accordions in metal rarely agree with me either, and I try to avoid playing hammer-on harmonics in pop ballads. It's all personal preferences.

Martin

trunkshope6 · #18 09-08-2011, 01:15 AM

As long as it fits the song,imagine 80's pop without slap

lowfreq33 · #19 09-08-2011, 01:51 AM

In a given night I'd say I might slap on one song in a four hour show. That's IF someone requests RHCP or the dreaded Mustang Sally (I'll slap the second verse to avoid boredom induced narcolepsy).

BassDudeSA · #20 09-08-2011, 03:36 AM

It's not just slapping. I hate all show-offy playing. Speed is boring. Usually I am bored to death by any players, guitarists, bassists or otherwise that play fast. But these days slapping is more "fashionable" than old fashioned or normal finger or pick style. Matter of fact, when I tell people I play bass, one of the questions I get is "do I slap"? And this is not coming from other musicians, but just from music fans that also believe there is something special about slapping. No, I don't slap. I've never needed to and outside of messing around with it here and now just for fun, it is not a part of my skill set.

I love watching a good slapper too, for a little while, but bad slapping or inappropriate slapping or show offy slapping is just as annoying as show-offy fast playing. I'll give a kid a break though, they don't know what they are doing yet and it seems as if all newbie musicians go through a stupid period. We may not know it at the time, but we all do it. Just part of the learning experience.