Tasteful slap.

NickyBass · #1 07-31-2009, 08:11 AM

Over the years, I've eschewed learning how to slap. Well, I guess I can slap---just not at a level where it adds to the music. I just never had the oppurtunity to sit down and really focus on it. I was always too busy working on other aspects of my playing. Now that I've taken some time off from gigging, I decided to dig deeper. I really want to focus the technique and was wondering if there were any recordings to check out--or method books, etc.

I have Slap It, and it's a start, but I find that there isn't much rythmic variety there. It's been fun to work through, but I'm looking for something more.

How do you guys apply slap, tastefully, in your own music? I'm mostly looking for opinions in the funk/ jazz/ fusion/ world/ smooth jazz idioms. I don't play much rock at all.

jacopastorius · #2 07-31-2009, 09:45 PM

actually mate, we are on the same status...i think if you want to be better in slap bass, you must learn some of the solos of your favorite artist....i always admire mark king's style and i try to apply in my playing...

NickyBass · #3 08-06-2009, 11:35 AM

I do need to pick up some Mark King stuff, though, I have to say that I am looking to go in a different direction. I dig guys like Louis Johnson and Larry Graham--but I want to bring that influence into a more modern jazz setting--I'm not really looking to do old school funk, per se. Just draw influence from it.

I also tend to go for a thicker tone. Not really old school, but not quite modern. I play through mostly tube heads with 15" cabinets and I'm digging the slap tone that I'm getting. I'm not looking for alot of highs. Actually, I like a muted high end.

James Hart · #4 08-06-2009, 12:04 PM

Check out some Incognito and Brand New Heavies... real tasty slap in a good chunk of it bridging the Acid Jazz / R&B / Smooth Jazz genres.

John Patitucci and Alain Caron have long been slap influences in the instrumental music scene. Check out some Chick Corea Elektric Band or UZEB

Tubes and 15" drivers slap fine IMO/E

ManOnStreet · #5 08-06-2009, 12:15 PM

One of the most slapper i do listen a lot these day is Wojtek Pilichowski , check him out. Really awesome slapper ...i love his tone more than Marcus now.

VroomVroom · #6 08-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Any and all Marcus Miller - check out albums by David Sanborn, Joe Sample, and of course...Grover Washington, Jr.'s 'Winelight' for incredibly tasteful groove playing. Obviously his solo stuff is amazing too, but I'm still incredibly inspired by much of his earlier playing in support of other artists.

Chuck Rainey, Nathan East, Freddie Washington, Gary Grainger...just a few of so many great players who have added great presence to music through this technique.

groooooove · #7 08-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyBass

Over the years, I've eschewed learning how to slap. Well, I guess I can slap---just not at a level where it adds to the music. I just never had the oppurtunity to sit down and really focus on it. I was always too busy working on other aspects of my playing. Now that I've taken some time off from gigging, I decided to dig deeper. I really want to focus the technique and was wondering if there were any recordings to check out--or method books, etc.

I have Slap It, and it's a start, but I find that there isn't much rythmic variety there. It's been fun to work through, but I'm looking for something more.

How do you guys apply slap, tastefully, in your own music? I'm mostly looking for opinions in the funk/ jazz/ fusion/ world/ smooth jazz idioms. I don't play much rock at all.

start here -

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

seriously though, i always thought the real key to getting good at it was listening to a lot of it. i never sat down and "learned" how to do it. i just kind of did it as good as i could. over time your technique will get better.

thepocket83 · #8 08-07-2009, 06:53 AM

I play alot of rock and pop with a covers band and some funk and r&b on my own. Slap can be applied tastefully quite simply.

I believe it's one of those things where the term "less is more" applies. I use it sparingly so that when it is used, it becomes more effective.

I have developed a technique whereby I do alot of muted/percussive palm-punch and pop with slapping, This keeps the hand going and creates a nice click-esque like rythym. It also allows me to be able to play whole slapped or popped notes on the quarter or half beat tighter than I used to. It's also nice then to bring in longer legato style notes and hammer ons etc to just develop a nice variation of dynamic. But again, doing all of this sparingly in small amounts can help bring out it's effectiveness. There are obviously songs that call for it all the way through, etc, but personally I prefer to use it less.

Less is more.

Personal preference I guess

thepocket83 · #9 08-07-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

over time your technique will get better.

Totally agree with his.

NickyBass · #10 08-07-2009, 07:18 AM

For the most part, I have the mechanics down. I'm looking to dig into the 'finer points.' There are alot of good suggestions here, and I have alot of listening to do. Thanks guys.

rarisgod · #11 08-07-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Any and all Marcus Miller...

+100

JTE · #12 08-07-2009, 09:27 AM

Tasteful slap? OK, I'll second the Marcus Miller stuff. And add in Larry Graham with Sly & The Family Stone (back before slapping bass became the athletic event that Mark King, et. al. made it). Plus David Hungate, like on "Lowdown" by Boz Skaggs. And Chuck Rainey's stuff with Steely Dan (including one famous song where after several takes which just didn't work, he turned so Fagen and Becker couldn't see him and he slapped the line despite their admonishion that they didn't want any slap on it).

John

BigOldHarry · #13 08-07-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Any and all Marcus Miller - check out albums by David Sanborn, Joe Sample, and of course...Grover Washington, Jr.'s 'Winelight' for incredibly tasteful groove playing. Obviously his solo stuff is amazing too, but I'm still incredibly inspired by much of his earlier playing in support of other artists.

Chuck Rainey, Nathan East, Freddie Washington, Gary Grainger...just a few of so many great players who have added great presence to music through this technique.

+1

The thing with slap, I think, is that it is a tool. I use it a great deal in the disco band I find myself in, but when we play a mellow tune, I use mostly fingers. Slap was to bass what tapping was to guitar - over-freakin'-done. Just use it when appropriate, not all the darn time.

NickyBass · #14 08-07-2009, 09:36 AM

Right, use is where appropriate. However, when I do use it, I don't want it to be generic. I want it to be tastey and well thought out. That is why I'm asking. I feel that alot of people dismiss slapping because they only hear the generic lines in the local GC. OR they hear super bass gymnastic slapping. I'm looking to break through the nonsense and really focus on the sublime.

CapnSev · #15 08-07-2009, 09:44 AM

Stu Zender is the tasteful slap king in my book. Is thrown in there on song that need it, and left out on the ones that don't. He has a really smooth transition between slap and non-slap parts in songs too. Some of his stuff is hard to tell that it's even slap sometimes.

derekd · #16 08-07-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

John Patitucci and Alain Caron have long been slap influences in the instrumental music scene. Check out some Chick Corea Elektric Band or UZEB.

Patitucci came to mind also. I have seen him go from electric to upright in one set, and applying all sorts of technique from bowing to slapping. Guy can just do it all, and so tastefully.

needmoney · #17 08-07-2009, 07:33 PM

Erykah Badu - Baduizm Live

**Mark Wilson** · #18 08-07-2009, 09:20 PM

Victor can be tasty as Cheesecake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2c-iMqlA_w

NickyBass · #19 08-14-2009, 10:40 AM

I just pulled out a few old CD's. I'm really digging on a band from Canada called Bullfrog. I don't know much about them, but there is some tasty slap going on.

lomo · #20 08-14-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyBass

I just pulled out a few old CD's. I'm really digging on a band from Canada called Bullfrog. I don't know much about them, but there is some tasty slap going on.

I believe they are or were a Montreal outfit-I have their eponymous CD and it kills, esp the title track.