melodic slapping

[Kobaia]

I've been slapping for about a year now, and i can't get it to sound right. It's too Wooten-y, and now Miller-y enough for me( i know big f-ing deal right?) I'm just not happy with my grooves, it feels forced, and just not smooth as some ppl i've listened to.

here are some samples:
http://s31.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2...K0QJL9OED9Q5T9
http://streamer.soundclick.com/jerry...3+shmarcus.mp3

[JimmyM]

You're trying to run before you can crawl, that's all. You sound like you never practice with a metronome. Not a drum machine, but a metronome. You sound like you could have chops, but you are all over the beat and you do these quick fills that are awkward and rushed. My advice would be to take a metronome or a click track (don't use a drum pattern because it will disguise when you're off), and concentrate on doing simple parts and hitting them on the beat. Record your practices and listen for when you get off the beat.

You've got chops, but what you're missing is a sense of time. Metronome practice will cure it. Also, I would say back off of trying to do complex stuff like those quick fills for now. If I were you, I'd start off just doing straight 8th note octaves and try to hit those on time with the metronome, then work up to more complex stuff.

[ninefingerbass]

just slow down a bit. I forgot who said this but it stuck in my head when i heard it. You dont want to play your best stuff when you play. lead up to it until you can feel it. play simple and slow and then speed up to where ever you want to be at. dont think too much about it.
ps. try to be original. you sound too much like wooten and miller.

[Suckbird]

I thought slapping was all about rhythm, and you have definitely not got the rhythm down...

[sotua]

Originally Posted by Kobaia

I've been slapping for about a year now, and i can't get it to sound right. It's too Wooten-y, and now Miller-y enough for me( i know big f-ing deal right?) I'm just not happy with my grooves, it feels forced, and just not smooth as some ppl i've listened to.

here are some samples:
http://s31.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2...K0QJL9OED9Q5T9
http://streamer.soundclick.com/jerry...3+shmarcus.mp3

Dude, you need to really really work on your timing. Some parts it sounds like you weren't even listening to the beat

Metronome, and do it slowly but on time. After you get that down you can speed up.

[threshar]

and don't forget to start with the metronome really slow.
Once you got it going good slow (where all the "problems" will clearly surface) speed it up a bit. Rinse & repeat.

Stu hamm strongly encourages this. A lot of fast slap riffs are much harder to play slow because the fast playing masks a lot of problems.

[steve66]

I agree with what was said in this thread. You have good chops. If You need to play with the track, try thump slap on all four beats, no pop or fancy stuff yet. When your comfortable with slapping all 4 beats, add the pop on beats 2 and 4. Now when your comfortable with that, pop on beats 1 and 3 and slap on beats 2 and 4. Now start adding your stuff slowly and in time..