Is slappin a requirement to be a good bassist?

[Dodgeviperracer]

So let me get straight to it. I consider myself a pretty good bassist( in no way boastin, lots of room for improvement). I mostly play finger style because I love the clarity of the notes. I also play slap style at times but I'm not the best at it. To be truthful I've been tryin for a long time to get into slappin but I'm not sure if it's for me. My question is are there many bassist who prefer mainly finger style and don't really focus on slappin? And do u have to have slappin in your bag to be considered a good bassist? Let's talk about it.

[fenderhutz]

In certain circles. In mine however, it's not approved for general use. So no.

I am considered to be a good bassist by the bands I play in because (even though I can show off):

1. I don't show off.

2. I have a metronome going in my brain.

3. I play what's right for the music.

Slap isn't right for every style. But like a guitarist wanking on leads, it turns heads.

[BrandonBass]

I play in a rock band and i dont myself needing to slap except when we're coverin some rhcp for fun.

jaco didnt slap, and no one would dare say hes not a good bassist.

[MuzikMan]

You definitely don't need to slap to be a good bassist. I don't think James Jamerson did a whole lot of slapping and I think he was pretty good ! But.............if you can add it to your bag of tricks it can't hurt .

[gregduboc]

Billy Sheehan

[Von Felgenhauer]

Let's be honest. If you can hold down a groove with great timing and people enjoy jamming with you, who's to say you aren't a great bass player just because you aren't proficient with slaping? Of course, it's a great skill to have when trying to impress the ladies or making baby making music, but if it doesn't fit into YOUR music style(notice how I said your's and not your band's?), then who cares. Concentrate on what you want to play and perfect that. Chances are, once that's perfected, slapping might come easy.

[Mirios]

Slap is not required. Versatility can lead to more opportunities though. If you don't like to slap, I see no need to. I do, my hands have take over... My hands won't stop slapping things.

[TomA1234]

You don't need to slap to be a good bassist, it just helps by adding another tool to your arsenal.
However, it is currently a requirement to pass rockschool exams for grade 4 and up, you need to slap scales and pop arpeggios. (If you have Rockschool exams in the US)

[sammyp]

Stevie Ray didn't do two handed tapping ala Van Halen ...it's kind of a similar analogy...

there's a heck of alot of great bass played night after night on all kinds of stages with not a note slapped ....and Jaco? that was a good point!

[pacojas]

slapping is cool to know. but, it's sad to me when a great slapper fumbles the notes doing finger-style.

wait...., it's even worst when a great finger player fumbles an attempt at slapping!

so maybe to be good you don't need it but,... if used, it better be clean.

[Mushroo]

Knowing how to slap is helpful if you play in cover bands or work with a wide variety of musical styles. If you are writing all original music, or music that does not require slap, then play what sounds good to you!

[MonetBass]

No.

Just no.

[Jayhawk]

Only if you want to look really cool at GC.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Only if you want to look really cool at GC.

[intheory]

I've never effected a good slap style, so I just don't really try anymore (after 22 years of playing). I feel like my fingerstyle always has room for improvement, so why spend time on another technique? May be lazy, don't know. I can pop pretty good, and I play primarily in blues-funk bands without complaints.
I admire great slap players, but I'm probably not going to expend time trying to become proficient when my fingerstyle isn't where I'd like it to be.

My two cents

-Dan

[BigOldHarry]

Depends on the gig.

[Double Agent]

It is not required to be a GOOD bassist, but in order to be a WELL-ROUNDED bassist, you should probably have the basic skills to plunk around on some simpler slap parts.

There are far too many great bassists who have never slapped a note in their life to say that slapping is required to be a good bassist. However, it is a good tool to have in the toolbox if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need/want to.

[Schlyder]

Slapping is just another tool to use in expressing yourself thru music.

Take a wood worker for example. He/she uses tools like saws and hammers and the like to build many things. If there are certain tools the woodworker has not used before, say a wood lathe, then it is possible that he would be unable to create some items because of his lack of use with those tools.
The key is to have experience with all the tools so as to not limit your capabilities. And when getting gigs, being as versatile as possible is always a plus. You may not use it much, but it will help you to become a versatile, well rounded, bass player. My $.02

[Peepaleep]

To me, a good bassist fits in with his/her band and makes it sound tight, and can make people dance when s/he's the only one playing. I also think a good bassist knows music (whereas a good bass player knows technique without a background in music - no flames please).

I can't recall ever hearing Jaco slap a note, but he certainly was a great bassist and musician. And this guy is a great bassist without having to slap - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6x--c9SZak We all don't have to be Mark King or Victor Wooten.

Here I go banging the drum for Jamaal Tacuma again - he's a great musician who plays primarily fingerstyle but will slap when it's called for. He's no slap virtuoso, but it's a tool he has in his kit.

[lunarpollen]

Absolutely not.