Taking Slap to the next level

**Vorago** · #1 04-18-2005, 01:54 AM

I wasn''t sure where to post this, it's a bit of technique, and a bit of tablature...anyway, if this is in the wrong place, I'm sure it'll be moved

So, I've been playing for a about 2 years now, one with a teacher. I can slap the basics, most Flea stuff, which is fairly simple once you "get" what he's doing. It's all based on roots, thirds, fifts, sevens and eights, spiced up with ghost notes. I also play along with Jamiroquai (Mr Moon, Scam, Emergency on planet earth), I can play most of that stuff too, but here is my question. I'm tired of doing the same patters over and over again (although some fast slap is the best way to impress chicks

), and I'm looking for music that can take my slapping to the next level. No more standard patterns, but something fresh, technically challenging, with a not-so-basic approach to slapping.

Is my point coming across? Take everything you learned from Flea and improve it

And please, no Flea bashing, because I really learned alot about bassplaying by playing his music

The Reff · #2 04-18-2005, 02:04 AM

Check out :

Larry Graham ( Graham Central Station, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone)
Marcus Miller ( Solo Records and as sideman for David Sanborn, Luther Vandros etc.)
Victor Wooten
Louis Johnson

There' probably more - I just can't think of anyone right now

Any ohters ?

**Vorago** · #3 04-18-2005, 02:08 AM

Victor Wooten

I'd rather work on one-thumb slap then on doublethumb.

I saw a video of Mark King, he seems to be good too (to say the least)

christoph h. · #4 04-18-2005, 03:35 AM

get a "real book" or "parker omnibook" and play some jazz/bebop lines/solos using slap technique.

i remember vic wooten and alain caron playing "donna lee" using slap only".

JimK · #5 04-18-2005, 04:30 AM

Check out Dave Larue's Lesson on "Slapping Across The Barline".
Gives a quasi-polyrhythmic vibe....definitely something you would want to incorporate into your playing, IMO.

http://66.77.27.26/z1998/9812/larue.shtml

JimK · #6 04-18-2005, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christoph h.

i remember vic wooten and alain caron playing "donna lee" using slap only".

Caron's version is on his Rhythm 'N' Jazz cd.

**Vorago** · #7 04-18-2005, 11:49 AM

bumpitibump, common' ! don't tell me everybody suddenly has quit slap, right?

lowphatbass · #8 04-18-2005, 08:36 PM

If you are running out of challenges pick-up a drum method book and start learning the different rythym patterns. Substitute left/right hand for slap/pop, and then alternate. Practice this until you can do it fast with a metronome...
If you get bored of that start focusing more on tone and consistancy. Pick-up Thomas Dolby's album called "aliens ate my Buick" and see if you can copy that tone, exactly!! If you can do all this and slap Donna Lee and Scrapple From the Apple AT TEMPO than you can officially retire as the king of Slap and develope you own method book and live happily ever after..

christoph h. · #9 04-19-2005, 05:40 AM

yeah, i'm currently listening to marcus miller's "silver rain".
so, transcribe some lines off that and... try to get THAT sound & (more importantly) phrasing!

quatre03 · #10 04-19-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorago

Victor Wooten

I'd rather work on one-thumb slap then on doublethumb.

I have a feeling that your thumb is pointed down when you slap.

Imo that technique is very limiting to what you can do, but then again imho so is that attitude

redwood · #11 04-19-2005, 10:29 AM

Everyone forgot Stanley Clarke.

zac2944 · #12 04-19-2005, 10:39 AM

Berkley Press has two slap CD/books that could offer some new insight into your slap quest. Even after 15 years of playing I was able to learn something from them. One is pretty straight ahead but gets more technical by the end, and the other covers afro-Cuban rhythms.

Working from drum books is an outstanding idea.

Louis Johnson recordings would be something a bit different than the Flea and Stuart Zander you have been playing. Brothers Johnson has a greatest hits album with a bunch of good slap lines on it.

Start listening to R&B, Gospel, and older Funk material.

Sandman1278 · #13 04-19-2005, 02:05 PM

can't belive noone metioned claypool, Tommy The Cat is a nice fast one that imrpesses people, its prety much the same patterns over and over again untill you get to the solo part, but a good challenge and if you want to impress chicks this will work, also check out his cover of master of puppets, tahts another good one

**Vorago** · #14 04-20-2005, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quatre03

I have a feeling that your thumb is pointed down when you slap.

Imo that technique is very limiting to what you can do, but then again imho so is that attitude

Maybe, but if I see Mark King slappin' away

lowphatbass · #15 04-20-2005, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quatre03

I have a feeling that your thumb is pointed down when you slap.

Imo that technique is very limiting to what you can do, but then again imho so is that attitude

For me, personally I also find slapping overhand from the top limiting as well, and even advise newer players to slap "thumbs-up", but I've heard plenty of players completely tear it up from "up top" so I try to keep an open mind..

Mike Flynn · #16 04-20-2005, 02:44 AM

Hi Vorago,

Not sure if you've seen my double thumb and pluck video lessons - but they might get you trying some new stuff:

http://www.munkio.com/music/music_lessons.html

One thing I'll add - as a logoical next step from Flea's 'thumb-pop' action - is getting a smooth thumb-pop action - on the same string. It sounds simple, but it's pretty hard to get consistent, and not just on the E and A strings - but all 4, 5, 6 etc. This is essentilally what Marcus and Alain Caron do - while they probably throw in some Wooten upstrokes with the tumb, their fundamental style is based on very clean downward thumb strokes and pops - the way to extend this basic technique is to add in double pops with your index + middle finger - likewise - do a double hit with your thumb; you can either bounce it in an old-school way or double-thumb it. Once you start getting comfortable with this, try mixing it up with different combos of notes, on different strings - different rhythms and grooves.

The next step from here is to start incorporating hammer-ons into that - then you should be flying - check out my vids and see some of these bits and pieces - and remember you've got plenty of time to develop - all this stuff takes years of hard practice to nail - so go for it now and you'll be killing in a few years. My style now is a mixture of about 6 different techniques in one - so I can pick and choose which one, old-school or nu-school - or a combination of both - fits best for what I want to play.

Mike

lethifold · #17 04-20-2005, 02:46 AM

Experiment with hammer muting, palm slap muting, slap hammer muting and pluck hammer muting
If you have any questions about how to do this, email me and I may be able to set you up with a few videos

Failing that look around for Mark King, he does that stuff a lot

**Vorago** · #18 04-20-2005, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urb_munki

Hi Vorago,

Not sure if you've seen my double thumb and pluck video lessons - but they might get you trying some new stuff:

http://www.munkio.com/music/music_lessons.html

One thing I'll add - as a logoical next step from Flea's 'thumb-pop' action - is getting a smooth thumb-pop action - on the same string. It sounds simple, but it's pretty hard to get consistent, and not just on the E and A strings - but all 4, 5, 6 etc. This is essentilally what Marcus and Alain Caron do - while they probably throw in some Wooten upstrokes with the tumb, their fundamental style is based on very clean downward thumb strokes and pops - the way to extend this basic technique is to add in double pops with your index + middle finger - likewise - do a double hit with your thumb; you can either bounce it in an old-school way or double-thumb it. Once you start getting comfortable with this, try mixing it up with different combos of notes, on different strings - different rhythms and grooves.

The next step from here is to start incorporating hammer-ons into that - then you should be flying - check out my vids and see some of these bits and pieces - and remember you've got plenty of time to develop - all this stuff takes years of hard practice to nail - so go for it now and you'll be killing in a few years. My style now is a mixture of about 6 different techniques in one - so I can pick and choose which one, old-school or nu-school - or a combination of both - fits best for what I want to play.

Mike

Oh yes, I've seen those vids (grmbl

) great post, cheers!

Mike Flynn · #19 04-20-2005, 05:22 AM

Pleasure's mine dude - thought as much - keep at it bro

M

GSPLBASSDC · #20 04-20-2005, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reff

Check out :

Larry Graham ( Graham Central Station, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone)
Marcus Miller ( Solo Records and as sideman for David Sanborn, Luther Vandros etc.)
Victor Wooten
Louis Johnson

There' probably more - I just can't think of anyone right now

Any ohters ?

Yeah, add these cats:

Bill Dickens,
Juan Nelson
Rhonda Smith
M'shell N'edego'chello (sp?)