Opinions on His Technique

[FretlessMainly]

His line was more like The Thrill is Gone than funk. Is it not possible to try a style on something other than the genre that it typifies? Picasso could have painted circus folk his whole life, but it wasn't 1913 for time immemorial.

It wasn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it had a certain sense of being more genuine that some of the stuff you hear these days.

[Epitaph04]

He plays some cool, more melodic stuff on that same Jazz 24 and a fretless on some other videos. Harmonics and whatnot...sounds cool to me.

[Roy Vogt]

He actually reminds of one of my former students who is tearing it up in the US and Europe with The Delta Saints. I've certainly seen plenty of good bassists use this technique, though it's not my personal choice. Here's Louis Johnson doing the same thing in the fretting hand (thumb around the neck):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK5IFyo0k0Q
I will give him props for playing a good groove without tracks or a drum machine. He's actually pretty musical with his execution.

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by hibachiduck

1: Has he ever even listened to funk in his life?
2: Yawn
3: Still yawning
4: Finishing my yawn
5: Could you please vary your rhythm at all? If you're just going to play bass at least add some phrasing to it........please...........
6: Seriously though.....has he EVER listened to a funk band?

Funk isn't the only place to slap you know

[maturanesa]

That groove is asking for a faster tempo i think...

[t77mackie]

Originally Posted by hibachiduck

1: Has he ever even listened to funk in his life?
2: Yawn
3: Still yawning
4: Finishing my yawn
5: Could you please vary your rhythm at all? If you're just going to play bass at least add some phrasing to it........please...........
6: Seriously though.....has he EVER listened to a funk band?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe1ScoePqVA

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

;]

[P. Aaron]

My slap technique really sucks. Many do it much better but, as the lyric from a somewhat well known song goes:

"...the A & R man says, I don't hear a single..."

[bass_study]

I dont think it's that bad as some of u guy say. His technique is not proper. For proper technique watch Marcus right hand.

I have watched some Pilipino player use the tips of their index and middle fingers to smash on the strings pull the strings with thump and index finger and it sound great! I think slapping is more bout rhythm than proper technique

[bass12]

Originally Posted by bass_study

I dont think it's that bad as some of u guy say. His technique is not proper. For proper technique watch Marcus right hand.

I have watched some Pilipino player use the tips of their index and middle fingers to smash on the strings pull the strings with thump and index finger and it sound great! I think slapping is more bout rhythm than proper technique

Well, "proper" technique is what works. I personally prefer Larry Graham's thumb position. That's what comes naturally to me and it doesn't hurt or pose limitations on my playing. The "Flea" position is what comes naturally to some players and it obviously works. So I wouldn't say that the guy in the video has "improper" technique. Unconventional maybe, but not improper.

Edit: I should point out that "proper technique" in certain realms (classical music studies, for example) refers to techniques/positions that have been established over long periods and have come to be, more or less, universally acknowledged as "proper". I don't see slapping techniques as necessarily falling into such a category, though that isn't to say that some approaches won't be more efficient than others technique-wise.

[tbsodsmuck]

That is his technique, looks like it works for him.

[t77mackie]

Originally Posted by tbsodsmuck

That is his technique, looks like it works for him.

IIRC, Ian Anderson played the flute with 'improper technique' for like 30 years until his daughter said, "dad, that's all wrong..."

[bass_study]

Originally Posted by bass12

Well, "proper" technique is what works. I personally prefer Larry Graham's thumb position. That's what comes naturally to me and it doesn't hurt or pose limitations on my playing. The "Flea" position is what comes naturally to some players and it obviously works. So I wouldn't say that the guy in the video has "improper" technique. Unconventional maybe, but not improper.

Edit: I should point out that "proper technique" in certain realms (classical music studies, for example) refers to techniques/positions that have been established over long periods and have come to be, more or less, universally acknowledged as "proper". I don't see slapping techniques as necessarily falling into such a category, though that isn't to say that some approaches won't be more efficient than others technique-wise.

Sorry English is not my first language, and maybe I should use 'standard technique'?

I still think there is a standard technique in slapping that those slapping instruction video and books teaches. Like someone here said the right hand should run parallel to the neck. Of course it is not in a sense of classical music technique but you know what I mean.

[groooooove]

it looks weird, but it seems to work for him. i agree that flea's technique is similar

[jmattbassplaya]

Anyone bashing this guy want to post their videos here?

[caligula]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Anyone bashing this guy want to post their videos here?

+1

Besides, it's his way of playing and it seems to work for him - nothing wrong with that IMO:
I've seen hundreds of bassist slapping that way or using another "not correct" technique - so what.
Do not really understand how a technique can be boring.
I check out someone's playing and might find boring what I'm listening to, because it sounds boring to me.
A boring technique? I'd say picking the strings with your index and middle finger is quite boring and has been done a million times

[Marty Forrer]

Do people really still do that slap stuff?

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by Marty Forrer

Do people really still do that slap stuff?

Only every gig......
Apparently, so do you-just on a slightly bigger axe with no frets
http://www.blacksnapper.co.nz/bios.htm

[wishface]

Originally Posted by t77mackie

One of the few things I like about Billy Sheehan: no slap pop!

Don't get me wrong, I like it and all but enough already!! S/P is like salt, a little bit tastes good and a lot...

* Subjective, 2 cent rant - not looking to start a war!

Billy does slap. There's a Steve Vai video concert with him doing some stu hamm parts using slap.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by wishface

Billy does slap. There's a Steve Vai video concert with him doing some stu hamm parts using slap.

He also slaps on a Niacin CD I've got.