bass solo......fingerstyle vs. slap

[cjazjef]

What's the deal with bass players constantly feeling the need to slap and pluck every time they get a solo. It seems like such the norm these days and with the majority of them, it doesn't seem very musical, more like how fast can i up down pluck pluck in a 4/4 beat. Don't get me wrong, i love a good slap solo from time to time, but personally it is so much more melodic to play fingerstyle. Just an opinion....tell me what you think.

[Deacon_Blues]

It depends.

I enjoy listening to both when played tastefully.

[Erick Lam]

Shhh... don't tell anyone and just keep being different.

[Fishbrain]

i personally prefer finger style, but then u can't beat the coffe shop wah solo thats all slapped

[TheBassBetween]

It all depends on the context of your solo. You gotta play what's tasteful within the music that's being played behind your solo. Why not mix it up and throw in some slap and pops along with your fingerstyle? Wooten does it all the time.

[rockwarnick]

Originally Posted by TheBassBetween

Why not mix it up and throw in some slap and pops along with your fingerstyle? Wooten does it all the time.

+1. My thoughts exactly.

[funkybassinator]

Originally Posted by rockwarnick

+1. My thoughts exactly.

yep, whatever benefits the music, but also play it with feeling.

how not to play with feeling:http://youtube.com/watch?v=6IKV0X3y9gc

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

yep, whatever benefits the music, but also play it with feeling.

how not to play with feeling:http://youtube.com/watch?v=6IKV0X3y9gc

Well hang on there. It depends on what you mean by feeling. There is playing that is chock full of pathos, and then there is highly technical playing that doesn't have pathos, but does have a kind of meditative flair. I don't think one is inherently superior to the other. This is why your typical classical concerto has multiple movements--One movement is meant to convey expressiveness, while another is meant to demonstrate technical prowess. The guy in the video looks like he enjoys playing it. I enjoyed hearing it. What's the problem?

[funkybassinator]

whatever floats your boat i guess, for me it was just kinda empty, it didnt really flow, for lack of a better word.
thats why i like wooten i guess, hes funky and a good musician, but also a good bassist.

but i still prefer pathos over the warwick video

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

whatever floats your boat i guess, for me it was just kinda empty, it didnt really flow, for lack of a better word.
thats why i like wooten i guess, hes funky and a good musician, but also a good bassist.

but i still prefer pathos over the warwick video

That's ok. The kid looks pretty young, so I am willing to cut him some slack. Almost everyone this age goes for the pyrotechnics.

[Linkert]

It depends.
If i would like the 'non-musical' people in the audience to go "WOW!" i would slap the crap out of my bass.
But! If i would like the musical people to go "Omg, Jaco #2!" i do some cool stuff with my fingers.

[Audiophage]

It seems to be the guys who get that one big bass solo towards the end who want to do that, especially in a fusion setting. Oh well, you don't seem to want to do that, so thats that.

[lord_mezry]

Nice suggestions guys but i prefer fingerstyle cause my slaps suck
i find slapping easy enough but i like the fingerstyle

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by lord_mezry

Nice suggestions guys but i prefer fingerstyle cause my slaps suck
i find slapping easy enough but i like the fingerstyle

Another poster talked about how he would be at a bar:

Drunken Bar Patron: "Play Seinfeld!"

Me: [randomly slaps a bunch of notes]

Drunken Bar Patron: "Yeaaah!"

[Oratorio]

Originally Posted by Scottgun

Another poster talked about how he would be at a bar:

Drunken Bar Patron: "Play Seinfeld!"

Me: [randomly slaps a bunch of notes]

Drunken Bar Patron: "Yeaaah!"

LOL!! I actually have done the exact same thing a couple of times! Always awesome.

[NKUSigEp]

Originally Posted by cjazjef

What's the deal with bass players constantly feeling the need to slap and pluck every time they get a solo. It seems like such the norm these days and with the majority of them, it doesn't seem very musical, more like how fast can i up down pluck pluck in a 4/4 beat. Don't get me wrong, i love a good slap solo from time to time, but personally it is so much more melodic to play fingerstyle. Just an opinion....tell me what you think.

I don't. I rarely get an opportunity but when I do, I don't deviate from my normal techniques.

I just think it's an easy way to get an instant distinctive sound whereas a guitarist might step on a wah or boost pedal. To each his own.

[mark roberts]

Originally Posted by Erick Lam

Shhh... don't tell anyone and just keep being different.

+1

[dulouz]

Slapping has it's time and place. There are certain times when it just doesn't work. After many months of trying to make it work on a certain song, I asked myself "Does the song really call for slap?" I realized I was placing emphasis on the technique, not on the music.

[Monkey]

I must start by saying that slap is neither a strength of mine, nor a goal I strive for....

I have certain strengths as a musician, and I have always tried to develop a distinctive sound. Tons of players slap in solos, so my instinctive reaction is to NOT slap as a way to be distinctive. I only play fretless, as well, so that makes a difference. My strength is playing melodically, so I figure I can be one of thousands that slap, or I can leverage what I do better by nature anyway and play finger-style melodic solos. My solos are not as pyrotechnic, but if I can touch the audience in a musical way, that is good enough for me.

To me, the world is not in need of one more mediocre slap player.....

[BetterBottomEnd]

Originally Posted by Scottgun

That's ok. The kid looks pretty young, so I am willing to cut him some slack. Almost everyone this age goes for the pyrotechnics.

Come on now who doesn't like blowing things up?