Why so slap happy?

[NathanTbass]

Why is it that everytime I go to see a band (whether rock, pop, folk, country, jazz etc) the bass player soundchecks/line checks his or her bass by slapping? The thing that bothers me about this isn't the slapping...its the fact that 98% of the time the band never does anything that requires the bass player to slap...
why cant we as bass players just play a few notes in the playing style of how we are about to play so that the front of house guy can actually eq and compress us as needed to make us sound good?
And part 2, why is it that anytime a bass solo (cringe) happens they start slapping? Cant you just play a melodic solo that shows your playing off without creating so much un-needed noise? It's like musical masturbation!
Sorry...it's my newest pet peeve!

[Blake Bass]

+1 to everything you said!

[T-MOST]

My pet peeve is bass players who are always telling other bass players what they should be playing. To each his own.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by T-MOST

My pet peeve is bass players who are always telling other bass players what they should be playing. To each his own.

Why do bass players play with a pick? Sling low? Down tune? Who cares? Do what you do and let others do what they do!

[StuFordBass]

+1 to eveything

[NathanTbass]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Why do bass players play with a pick? Sling low? Down tune? Who cares? Do what you do and let others do what they do!

I agree...im not dogging people slapping..Im actually saying in part exactly what you are...do what you do and do it for soundcheck...if you dont slap throughout your set, don't slap in soundcheck...
if you sling low, down tune, play with a pick etc, do it when you check so that the sound guy can help you and let the sound guy do what he does...he cant help you if you dont help him by playing how youre gonna play.

[GoesThump]

Originally Posted by NathanTbass

why cant we as bass players just play a few notes in the playing style of how we are about to play so that the front of house guy can actually eq and compress us as needed to make us sound good?

Been engineering on and off since '89, so of course I have to complain here.

The most aggravating musician soundcheck trait by far is the drummer who insists every tom in his kit be close miked... and then *never* hits them during the gig/session.

Second (dis)honorable mention: guitarists who level check at 3 live, and then crank their dual rectumfryer to 10 during the show... in a club that seats 55 people.

As for bassists & slapping : in the studio the reverse is worse. That is, the guy who plucks a few quiet notes in level check, and then unleashes slap fury during the take, usually ruining it & causing a re-take because the gains were all set too high and everything clipped.

So, I ALWAYS ask if slap is on the agenda. It helps.

All of the above-named types will then get on internet forums and blame "the sound guy" for their shortcomings.

Oh well. Part of the job.

GT

[BassBrass]

Originally Posted by GoesThump

That is, the guy who plucks a few quiet notes in level check, and then unleashes slap fury during the take, usually ruining it & causing a re-take because the gains were all set too high and everything clipped.
So, I ALWAYS ask if slap is on the agenda. It helps.

Gee, I don't want to be inappropriate*, but maybe if the engineer opened his mouth and asked the bass player to play the part he is about to record Just Like a Take to get a sound such issues could be avoided. I have actually heard this asked once or twice.
* sometimes a willingness to be "inappropriate" early enough saves a few hundred dollars in studio costs...

[BobaFret]

It's the major portion of my playing so that's why I would do it. I understand what you are saying and agree you should check levels through whatever means you intend to play the songs with. That makes it also sound good for the audience.

Just because somebody is playing a bass guitar it doesn't make them a bass player. There are musicians, and there are people who enjoy playing but aren't overly concerned about how it sounds. I feel they are quite different.

[baba]

I hear you.

Many people seem to mistake sound check for a time to show off chops. I had a guitarist like this. When my turn, I would intentionally play an overly simplified groove in spite as he stared at me waiting for some sort of contest. He was a strange bird.

[greenboy]

I love it when the bass player goes crazy on the sound check. And then during the actual gig he's a slight tiny bit of tuned flotsam for the kick drum ; }

[plangentmusic]

There's a place for slapping, but it's way too often overused.

It's also possible to play so simply that you're just a polite bore.

[CTbass613]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Why do bass players play with a pick? Sling low? Down tune? Who cares? Do what you do and let others do what they do!

I think OP has a point though...realistically you are sound checking to benefit the sound of the group...if the FOH engineer is equing slap, your tone and sound will differ on the majority of your show. Its not so much telling someone what they should and shouldn't do, its more about being a mature professional musician and understanding how to assist in making your band sound better and the sound engineers job easier...

...i have what i like to call the sound check grove...it incorporates Open E two octaves above. Kind of like a finger style groove higher lick up the octaves. I've been complimented by sounds guys for this, because it allows them to EQ me across the board. Its really a simple groove that allows the engineer to actually hear how low the bass is.

I do usually say to each his own...i use to be a slap happy bass player...and a few bass player friends who happen to work for great sound companies set me straight because he showed me clips of guys who did whatever the wanted during sound check, and then guys who actually assisted making the sound better.

[pjmuck]

Originally Posted by CTbass613

I think OP has a point though...realistically you are sound checking to benefit the sound of the group...if the FOH engineer is equing slap, your tone and sound will differ on the majority of your show. Its not so much telling someone what they should and shouldn't do, its more about being a mature professional musician and understanding how to assist in making your band sound better and the sound engineers job easier...

...i have what i like to call the sound check grove...it incorporates Open E two octaves above. Kind of like a finger style groove higher lick up the octaves. I've been complimented by sounds guys for this, because it allows them to EQ me across the board. Its really a simple groove that allows the engineer to actually hear how low the bass is.

I do usually say to each his own...i use to be a slap happy bass player...and a few bass player friends who happen to work for great sound companies set me straight because he showed me clips of guys who did whatever the wanted during sound check, and then guys who actually assisted making the sound better.

+1. I think many players resort to slapping during sound check because they don't get to do it during their performance and want to get it out of their system and possibly feel restricted in their lines/performance. Instead of using the time wisely, as you stated, they use it as an opportunity to release some tension, nervous energy, or show off.

[BobaFret]

It's really not any different than trying to palm mute and play Garrison techniques ( when checking for a Country band let's say). For some reason slap bass has a really bad vibe surrounding it. Every style/technique has people learning and using it which leads to bad players sounding bad using said technique. Not everyone is good.

[NathanTbass]

Thank you CTbass613 and pjmuck...
these are the thoughtout answers to my posed question i was looking for! it's helping me understand the psyche of players who do this (or who have in the past). I know what i do and why i do it...just never understood why people would do this...now im starting to understand

[subject42]

I tend to throw in a little slap during a sound check (2 - 3 seconds), if only because it's the upper range of what my levels can be during a show.

I'd rather annoy a bassist in the audience for a few seconds than annoy the sound guy later on in the night when we extend the set and I have to play slap on a song.

(NB: ~80% of my shows involve at least a little slap)

[mccartneyman]

I appreciate slapping but have never had the desire to do so. I have no problem if someone wants to slap a solo, as long as it's melodic and the player doesn't feel the need to play as fast as possible. Don't care for solos that are a series of licks strung together.

[Dr. Cheese]

If a bassist wants to burn off a bit of energy slapping at the soundcheck, let him or her be!

[mcm]

you will never see me slap. never ever never