Is Slapping Over? I Think It Is.

plangentmusic · #1 12-21-2010, 08:55 AM

Slapping is the one technique exclusive to the bass. It's so cool. And in the 80's it saw its heyday. But it seems that ever since then, bassists have been trying to justify its use -- usually to unfortunate results. Guys are using in in the most inappropriate places. Of course, to each his own. But in the real world of gigging, recording and session work, it's important to know what works and what's just wanking.

Back in 1997 I made an instructional recording called 'The No-Cliche' Slap Bass Tape." It was a series of licks that weren't in the funk idiom. I thought it was a cool idea and have employed the techniques on occasion, but it seems those occasions are getting fewer and further in-between.

As for the funk thing, I'm no Marcus, but I enclosed an mp3 I just knocked out just to show that this isn't a sour grapes issue.

Because slapping offers a completely unique tonality, it rarely seems to fit. There are always exceptions. But it may be time to accept this special technique has seem its day -- not unlike the drum solo or the clarinet as a lead instrument.

plangentmusic · #2 12-21-2010, 09:08 AM

Oops, didn't attach. To hear example, go here and check out "Slap Happy." http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/c.../nelsonmontana

Will Kelly · #3 12-21-2010, 09:12 AM

In fifteen years of playing for money I have never slapped on a gig except the one time a church MD asked me to.

I see no real need for it unless you want to do it. I don't.

dave64o · #4 12-21-2010, 09:12 AM

Over?!?! Have you been in a Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or similar large music store recently?!?!

EDIT - And I hope I don't leave this thread open at home for my wife to see. She's a highly trained, classical clarinetist, and a far better musician than I'll ever be!

plangentmusic · #5 12-21-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave64o

Over?!?! Have you been in a Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or similar large music store recently?!?!

LOL!! True. It lives!

CapnSev · #6 12-21-2010, 09:13 AM

Has this thread been brought up a million times? I think it has.

Winnb · #7 12-21-2010, 09:15 AM

Well done! Sounds similar to Louis Johnson's tone back when he was playing the Music Man. Not quite as bassy, but I'm listening to it through cheap PC headphone speakers. lol!

As to your larger point about slapping... I wouldn't pronounce it dead and buried yet. Like all things musical it could make a big comeback in a slightly different form. Lots of "zombies" in music.

MycooLeeyun · #8 12-21-2010, 09:20 AM

I don't think slapping is anywhere near dead. It is true that people tend to abuse it in certain situations but I think that it has evolved and is still properly being used in music today. Slapping is a very big part of playing bass IMO and I don't think it will ever die.

**DougD** · #9 12-21-2010, 09:20 AM

Slapping will go the way of the Dodo bird, about the same time as any other technique on bass. In fact I predict that it will all happen simultaneously. in one big speaker frying BOOM

But until we all feel that boom...keep dreaming.

Bassist4Life · #10 12-21-2010, 09:22 AM

The Slap Bass Welcome Center thread is the most viewed thread in the technique forum.

Its popularity has spread beyond TB. It is mentioned on other websites and people link to it from those locations.

I sincerely don't think slap will ever be gone. It may not be used very often, but it does expand the tonal pallet of the instrument. It is there to be used like any other technique.

I was just talking about these guys the other day... The Spin Doctors. Listening to the entire album "Pocket Full of Kryptonite", you might not guess it, but the bassist plays with his thumb on the whole thing. I saw them live and was shocked to see him play everything with his thumb. That's just his style and technique. It worked.

Joe

JAUQO III-X · #11 12-21-2010, 09:25 AM

Slap or what ever it's called this decade is not going any where.

hdracer · #12 12-21-2010, 09:27 AM

[quote=dave64o;10160741]Over?!?! Have you been in a Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or similar large music store recently?!?!

+2 and to top it off most of the people doing it are not very good at it. It seems like that is all the kids want or know how to do.

Ric5 · #13 12-21-2010, 09:27 AM

Slapping is not over. It never will be. But we can hope that inappropiate slapping will go away.

jgriffin · #14 12-21-2010, 09:29 AM

I'd disagree that slapping is exclusive to bass, by the way. It's a pretty commonly used technique on acoustic guitar, Ani Difranco being a good example of a player who uses it.

Bruce Lindfield · #15 12-21-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Slapping is the one technique exclusive to the bass....

I think this is way off the truth and each instrument has it's own set of tools and techniques. So it's like saying "flutter tonguing" for wind instruments is "dated" - whereas it is required for performances of many symphonies.

So how about "palm muting" as being exclusive to bass - this is another similar technique that requires thumb use and is still around but rarely - so slapping is not unique.

Mayers · #16 12-21-2010, 09:38 AM

As long as Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Larry Graham, Les Claypool, Alain Caron and Stanley Clark all live. I don't think we will see the end of slap bass.

Personnaly, I'm sick of R'n'B slap bass that Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clark and Larry Graham do.

plangentmusic · #17 12-21-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayers

As long as Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Larry Graham, Les Claypool, Alain Caron and Stanley Clark all live. I don't think we will see the end of slap bass.

Personnaly, I'm sick of R'n'B slap bass that Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clark and Larry Graham do.

I saw Stanley in concert last summer and I doubt he slapped a total of 30 seconds the entire show.

MikeBass · #18 12-21-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Kelly

In fifteen years of playing for money I have never slapped on a gig except the one time a church MD asked me to.

I see no real need for it unless you want to do it. I don't.

Really?
Was that a choice or because the songs you played didn't have any slapped lines in them?

One could make that same claim if in the last 15 years of paid gigs all they played were country or blues for example.

I have to slap almost every gig. Because the tunes are written that way. (well I don'HAVE too)
You don't play "Let's Work" and NOT slap that line.
Or "ThankYouFelletinBeMiceElf"........
Or (ugg....) "Brick House" even. (I hate that tune! LOL!!)

Sure you don't HAVE to slap those lines. Just like I don't see any real need to play with a pick......

brettson · #19 12-21-2010, 09:44 AM

slapping will go away when bass goes away.

kenlacam · #20 12-21-2010, 09:46 AM

I think that this post was started by someone who does not particulary care for slapping, and is trying to force his viewpoint on everyone here. That is too general and bold of a statement to make. Some of us still slap, it aint dead. I don't push my "I don't like to use picks" and start a whole freaking thread about the evils of picking. Live and let live. sheesh.