Best Slap Book

Intro2Pete · #1 11-22-2003, 04:18 PM

I'm looking for a book on Slap, preferably with TAB and a CD, to take me from beginner to advanced technique.

I basically want a load of funky licks starting from easy to 'effin hard that I can work through.........what have you used?

I don't want anything that lingers on the beginner stage too long though, I have the basic technique off-pat, just don't really know too many licks to apply it to!

Recommendations please!

Cheers!

Jaco_Goatse · #2 11-22-2003, 05:52 PM

I thought Slap It! by Tony Oppenheim was really good. It cleaned up my slap technique alot. And it moves fairly quickly. CD included:

http://www.slapit.com/

No TAB as far as I know.

But of course many examples are in 'E', and with the whole step to minor third block that falls naturally for Plank Spanking!... it might not be hard to pick up. AND you could always look at your local sheet music store, and try to find something that makes sense to you.

Plus google.com is your friend!

JMX · #3 11-22-2003, 05:56 PM

I've never seen a slap bass book I really liked, but I always recommend Alexis Sklarevski's The Slap Bass Programme - the best instructional video, not only on slap but on bass in general.

tboyd · #4 12-05-2003, 10:16 AM

My instructor has me using "Slap Bass Essentials"
by Joslin des Pres and Bunny Brunel. It has all levels from beginning to advance, both in tab and music notation, and has a cd. The cd has 80-90 short tracks of how the exercises are supposed to sound. It also has tracks for E, A, D and G tuning tones and it has several drum tracks with no bass.

It's the only slap bass books that I have seen, so I can't compare it to others, but I am really enjoying it. The exercises sound really cool, which makes them fun to practice.

chardin · #5 12-08-2003, 10:21 PM

Checkout the Slap Bass DVD by Ed Friedland (http://www.edfriedland.com -- there is a video clip and sample page) At US$20, it is a great buy. Excellent production and Ed also shows how to program a drum machine!

thejohnkim · #6 12-16-2003, 11:38 PM

i'm working through Slap It!, and i think its great.

Tony Oppenheim · #7 11-17-2005, 03:03 AM

Let's see, I'm only 2 years late in joining this thread... LOL!

In any case, 2005 readers (and beyond) might be interested to know that my book Slap It! is now available with TAB.

More info here: www.slapit.com

Thanks!

Tony

JimmyM · #8 11-17-2005, 03:31 AM

Ha Tony! Know what's funny, after two years, these are still about the extent of good slap books and videos out there.

BTW, Dave LaRue used your book when I took lessons from him and it's great. Might have to get an updated version with a CD one of these days. Can you buy the CD separately? If this is getting too close to violating TB's no-dealer-spam rule, you can send a PM.

Tony Oppenheim · #9 11-17-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...Might have to get an updated version with a CD one of these days. Can you buy the CD separately? If this is getting too close to violating TB's no-dealer-spam rule, you can send a PM.

Jimmy,

I'm not sure what the rules are about answering product questions, so I'll send you the info privately. If anyone else needs this information they can contact me privately as well.

Thanks!

Tony

Scot · #10 11-17-2005, 06:25 PM

Tony,

I love your book. I got my copy back in the '80's when they still came with the floppy vinal LPs that you had to tear out. I still break it out every once in a while (the book, not the LPs - the dog ate those long ago) when I want to get some sight-reading practice and get slap-happy.

Congrats on writing a book that's stood the test of time!

I think the 3 things that helped me the most with slap playing are:

1.) The first Louis Johnson instructional video. I've heard some people complain that Louis played the examples too fast making it too difficult to pick up the lines but the video came with a booklet that had all of the lines perfectly notated. He also uses his thumb to play the lowest root note when he plays in keys that don't use open strings but it's not necessary to do that to play the lines.

2.) Tony's book "Slap It".

3.) Transcribing Marcus Miller's bass solo on David Sanborn's "Hideaway" from a live recording of the Montreaux Jazz Festival called "Casino Lights".

Tony Oppenheim · #11 11-18-2005, 11:11 AM

Scot,

Thank you for your kind words about Slap It! It's always great to hear that someone has enjoyed the book.

I've got to get a copy of that Louis Johnson video some time. I'm a big fan of his as well. I'm still waiting for them to get The Brothers Johnson album Blam! up on iTunes. I had a copy years ago on vinyl, but I seem to have misplaced it.

I love his grooves and sound on that record.

Stay funky!

Tony