To slap the board?

[sevenyearsdown]

I wasn't sure what forum to put this in.

I have question for you guys. Do any of you slap the string against the board for certain songs? I'm not talking about full out rockabilly, or even snapping the string off the board.

The reason I ask - I'm a novice player about 5 months into it. Been taking lessons now since April. My playing is getting to the point where I'm actually starting to develop simple lines for stuff now (mostly major key beginner songs). I wouldn't say I really have any particular genre I'm focusing on yet, but when I really get into it on certain stuff I find myself slapping the board in between notes sometimes. Not every song, or even every part of a song....just where it feels good.

Is this a hack thing I should stop?

[Paul Warburton]

Glad to be the first to try and respond to this, 7.
I think it's great. I know exactly what's going on. (as usual ) I do it once in a while. It's just energy, IMO. Excitement, to a certain degree. Many great players do similar stuff. One of my favorite bassists, Red Mitchell, used to wack his wedding ring against the side of the neck after a musical phrase.....kinda like a period. Many players of other instruments do similar, odd, things. The fabulous jazz pianist, Art Tatum, would play a long, breath-taking arpeggio and then turn his right hand over, palm up for no apparent reason. Agiain, like a period at the end of a sentence. Ray Brown used to do exactly the same thing you're doing. (alot).
You need to be able to control it, though. I don't think it's a good idea in a recording session. Let your sense of appropriateness be your guide. Grunting and singing along with what you play is very common in jazz players.
Hey, yer havin' a good time, no? Ain't that's what this is all about anyway? You said it yourself..."It feels good".
I say go for it.
IMHO.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I think that slapping the board rhythmically with the right hand is a great way to learn to choreograph the physical motions of the body to be in time with the music. With my students, I teach them to do this often on bossas and straight 8th stuff. We jokingly call it the "hillbilly slap", and I have them learn after some time has gone by to make the same motion but to mitigate the effect/sound of the slap so as to make it nearly inaudible most of the time.

Also, I'm going to move the thread to the "Jazz technique" forum.

[txstatebass]

Great question and responses. Absolutely it's cool to do this. I will admit that I make 90% of my living playing jazz in a drummerless setting, and the extra percussive sounds you can make on bass, when used appropriately can only drive the groove harder. Plus, you're doing what so many younger players tend to neglect: learning styles of jazz from before 1940! Check out some Pops Foster, Milt Hinton, Slam Stewart, Wellman Braud, Bob Haggard, etc. These are players who were there at the beginning and studying their styles at a young stage of your development will give you a swing (IMHO) which will exceed your contemporaries!

SLAP ON!

[sevenyearsdown]

Wow...I've never played jazz in my life (well maybe a little bit). The slap thing was instinctive. I often do the same type of thing when I am playing acoustic BG with just another guitar player and no drummer.

Thanks for the names/suggestions - I really need to start digging into some players. I don't really have any influences on the DB yet.

[bigthemat]

I love slapping/drumming on my bass. When things get hot, depending on the song, I'll slap, drum on the belly, whatever. Adds a new dimension, and is a lot more fun. My drummer always shakes his head at me, half smiling, half hey this is my job! kind of face.

[bonaventura]

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

...Thanks for the names/suggestions - I really need to start digging into some players. I don't really have any influences on the DB yet.

Great thread. Really a fundamental, er ahh, bassic, point. I mean, everybody has this question. Is it cool? Yes.

But some folks like it and some folks don't. In the bluegrass trio I play with, the guitarist/dobro player and fiddler don't. Different strokes...

But last Saturday night I had a piano/bass gig and the pianist really appreciated the rhythmic embellishments on the gut bass.

And YES to Milt Hinton, the slappenest slappist you ever heard!

[JoeyO]

Just read Milt's "Playing the Changes" ... came with a cd with mostly him telling stories but there are a few songs with him playing/slapping ... it truly is amazing the sounds and rhythms he produces.

[endorka]

I sometimes hit the strings off the fingerboard using my right hand, a very strong percussive effect. I sometimes do this if I feel other musicians are dragging the beat and need something to bring them back onto the beat, or wake them up... fortunately it is ususally perceived as an interesting rockabilly rhythmic device, rather than something done in frustration :-)

I agree with Paul though, it can sometimes sound a bit incongrous and in your face when recorded.

Jennifer

[oi_pride]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Glad to be the first to try and respond to this, 7.
I think it's great. I know exactly what's going on. (as usual ) I do it once in a while. It's just energy, IMO. Excitement, to a certain degree. Many great players do similar stuff. One of my favorite bassists, Red Mitchell, used to wack his wedding ring against the side of the neck after a musical phrase.....kinda like a period. Many players of other instruments do similar, odd, things. The fabulous jazz pianist, Art Tatum, would play a long, breath-taking arpeggio and then turn his right hand over, palm up for no apparent reason. Agiain, like a period at the end of a sentence. Ray Brown used to do exactly the same thing you're doing. (alot).
You need to be able to control it, though. I don't think it's a good idea in a recording session. Let your sense of appropriateness be your guide. Grunting and singing along with what you play is very common in jazz players.
Hey, yer havin' a good time, no? Ain't that's what this is all about anyway? You said it yourself..."It feels good".
I say go for it.
IMHO.

i agree. hey geezer butler used to play on the board.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by oi_pride

i agree. hey geezer butler used to play on the board.

Oy, oi.
Don't be callin', me a "geezer". Even if Butler used to play on the board.

[oi_pride]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Oy, oi.
Don't be callin', me a "geezer". Even if Butler used to play on the board.

hey i play on the board and i'm 26.