Question on Flea's Technique

[AccolaStudios]

This question pertains more to his playing on his '61 Jazz. With such a strong right hand attack, how does he keep the action so low? If my actions is that low, it makes popping noises from hitting the frets and/or pickups (even when properly setup). How does he get away with this?

[Tupac]

There is clack, but he plays at the bridge to minimize it. I think.

[JimmyM]

You don't hear all the fret buzz and clanking in a mix, but it's there. Listen to when Flea plays by himself. Total fret buzz and clanking.

[naruki]

Yeah clanks and buzzes always disappear in a mix.

[AccolaStudios]

Originally Posted by Tupac

There is clack, but he plays at the bridge to minimize it. I think.

If you watch the live La Cigale videos, he plays over the neck pickup.

[Bustabo23]

Flea slapping technique sucks, its totally unnatural, very uncomfortable, and it doesnt produce a "special" sound that you cant get otherwise, so i recomend to stop trying to slap like flea, and study may be marcus miller technique, something more fluid and clearer. This is just my opinion obviusly

[ksandvik]

There's a reason why most bass players navigate towards their own natural way of playing or slapping. Study the masters but just move to something that you feel natural for your playing style. No need to imitate and be frustrated.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You don't hear all the fret buzz and clanking in a mix, but it's there. Listen to when Flea plays by himself. Total fret buzz and clanking.

This.

Go on the Chili Peppers' forums and go through his gear page. Apparently they set his action as low as possible before it makes it sound like complete rubbish in the mix. If you were to hear him play in person it'd be all click and clank, but in the mix it's okay.

[AccolaStudios]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

This.

Go on the Chili Peppers' forums and go through his gear page. Apparently they set his action as low as possible before it makes it sound like complete rubbish in the mix. If you were to hear him play in person it'd be all click and clank, but in the mix it's okay.

So how is it possible to hear it without clanks when he solos live? I'm not trying to imitate him, I just find my playing style to be somewhat similar, and I can't get it to sound right with a low action.

[Varcolac]

Originally Posted by AccolaStudios

So how is it possible to hear it without clanks when he solos live? I'm not trying to imitate him, I just find my playing style to be somewhat similar, and I can't get it to sound right with a low action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkrel...eature=related

Sounds plenty clanky to me, especially when he really digs in. It's not 100% unlistenable clank, but there's definitely a lot of fret noise there.

[BassFuzz24]

i love flea but that is waaaay too much fret buzz

[Rockman]

I always just thought it was a lot of OD, guess its just lots of buzz...

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by Bustabo23

Flea slapping technique sucks, its totally unnatural, very uncomfortable, and it doesnt produce a "special" sound that you cant get otherwise, so i recomend to stop trying to slap like flea, and study may be marcus miller technique, something more fluid and clearer. This is just my opinion obviusly

The people who imitate it suck, but he's pretty good himself. Very crisp sounding (contrary to the what people who've never even listened think), very easy to pick up, easier to play standing without your bass up to your chest. For slapping what he does, it's a necessity.


Have fun playing this song Marcus Style.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by AccolaStudios

So how is it possible to hear it without clanks when he solos live? I'm not trying to imitate him, I just find my playing style to be somewhat similar, and I can't get it to sound right with a low action.

Originally Posted by Varcolac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkrel...eature=related

Sounds plenty clanky to me, especially when he really digs in. It's not 100% unlistenable clank, but there's definitely a lot of fret noise there.

This actually shows it really well. It's not a bad thing, mind you. But it's definitely not a sound I'd want

[FerK]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

It's not a bad thing, mind you. But it's definitely not a sound I'd want

Not bad ? Maybe teenagers on a high dB rush don't notice during a live show, but that much clanking doesn't go unnoticed to everyone. I like the RHCP very much, but it doesn't stop me from saying that Flea's style (even in the studio) leaves a lot to be desired. Listen to this isolated bass track from "By the way".

[Lackey]

He's a sloppy bassist, but he's still damn good. Have seen some HD RHCP shows where he can be kinda all over the place, probably because he's jumping around so much. But he can definitely put some sweet lines down in the studio, no doubt about that. Californication is my all time fave album of theirs.

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You don't hear all the fret buzz and clanking in a mix, but it's there. Listen to when Flea plays by himself. Total fret buzz and clanking.

+1 there's that vid of him sitting around doing an interview showing main lines to RHCP tunes ....it's obvious he doesn't give two squirts of pee pee about clank or buzz ....his right hand hammers when he plucks ....Flea is pretty damn good, some call him sloppy, idon't think so ...he plays from the same heart SRV and Angus Young play from! Balls out! musicality pours out IMO ...

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by Lackey

He's a sloppy bassist, but he's still damn good. Have seen some HD RHCP shows where he can be kinda all over the place, probably because he's jumping around so much. But he can definitely put some sweet lines down in the studio, no doubt about that. Californication is my all time fave album of theirs.

he's not sloppy! they are a nutty band putting on a rock show .....

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by sammyp

he's not sloppy! they are a nutty band putting on a rock show .....

Agreed. Few bassists rock out as hard as he does. Personally, I'll take a little sloppiness in exchange for the stuff he does on stage any day. Again, it's not for everybody, but I'll take it.

[SlapIsLife]

I taught myself to slap. I love Flea and i love Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea was my first inspiration to become a bassist, but when i look at Youtube videos where he demonstrates his technique i find it totally weird. I wouldn't do it like him, though he does sound great.