To slap or not to slap/why I hate it

[JAUQO III-X]

I was wondering what was the % of Bass players here who utilize this technique ?and I noticed that there is also a pretty nice % here who hates it and I was wondering what is your reason for not liking this particular technique ?

[morf]

I like it, and use it. In fact I bought a Slap It! copy and am having a blast working through it

[Albot]

I never use it becasue it has no place in any of the music I play. I do like it when its done well in a funk/percussive breakdown. I can really get into that, but I dont like to listen to a bassist slap for a bands entire set.

[jady]

It is like any other technique, slaping, harmonics, tapping, chords, fingerstyle, using a pick..........there is a time and a place for it. If you hear it in your minds ear, play it.

[twangchief]

....when it is tasteful to do so.

[washtub_bass]

i'm just not authentic doing it... i like the old skool finger/stop tecnique

[alexclaber]

A terribly misused and abused technique with a very valid reason to be used at times. Too many players trying to be Victor Wooten when they should stick to the more accessible and easier to make groove techniques of Larry Graham.

Why anyone should hate it is beyond me? But so is the hating of extended range basses, of pick players, of boutique basses, of Fenders, of Warwicks, and whatever else is currently uncool in your head. Ah well...

Alex

[Dr. Cheese]

I love slapping and use it often when playing for fun. I came of age when Larry Graham was becoming widely known and the technique
was central to way i percieve bass. Interestingly, I tend not to do it as much when I play in public. In fact, a few months ago, my wife told me to "let people know what you can do, and slap like you do around the house." I did, and folks really enjoyed it. I then proceeded to do it a bit more, and I think it wore thin. The moral, to me, is that slap needs to be done in context for it to be most effective. Gratuitous slapping gets tired quickly!

[morf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I love slapping and use it often when playing for fun. I came of age when Larry Graham was becoming widely known and the technique
was central to way i percieve bass. Interestingly, I tend not to do it as much when I play in public. In fact, a few months ago, my wife told me to "let people know what you can do, and slap like you do around the house." I did, and folks really enjoyed it. I then proceeded to do it a bit more, and I think it wore thin. The moral, to me, is that slap needs to be done in context for it to be most effective. Gratuitous slapping gets tired quickly!

Good post!

[FunkyFrosty]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Gratuitous slapping gets tired quickly!

+ 100, I love to do it, but live I almost use it as you would an effect, to change things up and make the set interesting.

It's funny though, when I play at home I'll be slapping 80% of the time, I love it , in public < 10%.

[Chili]

i use slap pop, i love it, but like someone sed, it does seem to be abused by some people, and the only reason they learnt to do it a basic as they could is just to show off. I also never hardly slap pop in front of people or in public, or at the minute very many songs, but i wonna use more slap pop but not over do it, i seem to have some trouble slap popping while jamming with a drummer, is there any tips anyone can give me for this?

i dont see how anyone could hate it tho

[Tim669]

I know that it sure seems that some people can't stand it, but I find it to be a very useful tool. Great for locking in a syncopated groove. That being said, I rarely use it in a live set unless the song actually calls for it.

[Shelly]

I don't understand why people hate it either.

If you really think about it, fingerstyle technique is a lot more common, thus you probably hear more bad fingerstyle than you hear bad slap, but nobody talks about that . Let's not even talk about irritating tone.

I really don't care what kind of technique someone uses, just how good it sounds.

[Jumbotron]

I used to slap more often, but it's just inappropriate to the band I'm in right now. Like any technique, really, slapping is only good in context. I'm also drawn to a warmer, fuller sound right now, and I can't get that out of my slap style. Sometimes I might bust the slapping out for a solo, but I always feel a little silly and showy when I do it.

[markjazzbassist]

i put that i hate it. I don't hate it, i dislike it. I appreciate when other bass players do it and i don't mind hearing it, i just don't like doing it myself. I like fingerstyle. I think that too many bass players do it, and overuse it/overhype it so everyone thinks that slapping makes you good. but i prefer groove style playing and the "less is more" mentality. just my .02. IMO.

[king_biscuit]

When its used to create a great song (e.g. Love Games -- Level 42) it is a great technique and a valid arrow in the quiver. When it is used as an acrobatic stunt (e.g. most Victor Wooton), it is just annoying. IM"very"HO of course.

[Sherwood]

I use it on no more than one song in a set, precisely because the crowd loves it (I always get a handful of drunk folks who run up to the stage and say YEAH!) and it sort of shows what's under the hood.

[steveb98]

I don't slap much part is I'm still learning it, but I'm also an old school fingerstyle player. I do get turned off to players who slap too much with that constant clicky-clacky sound. It isn't musical, like a guitar player playing endlessly from his Lick-O-Matic blender.

I like the player who mix slap in as needed.

[dhadleyray]

Slapping is like cooking in the bass world...

A good cook will add enough to spice up a dish, while an amateur
will copiously smother the meal with it to cover up their ineptitude IMO.

The same analogy applies to "slappers." (Which is a very fun word to use in Britain )
Give me a bassist that slaps in the the keys, B, C sharp, E flat for example, and I'll find several hundred that only use octaves, fifths and open strings. Not by choice, but in ignorant bliss.

I can slap proficiently, but I find playing with the harmonies more interesting without the percussive effects.

It is usually used as a "look at me" tool. I love Louis Johnson and Victor Wooten, but those guys know what they're doing harmonically as well.

Most of the time, I only see guys bull****ting and showing off with it unfortunately.

[morf]

I think the kids showing it off is a good thing. In 10 years the world will be full of monster players and you'll all twist your tongues 7 times in your mouth before speaking badly of them