Ya Know what annoys me about high school jazz band???

[colorblindbass]

i always play my custom fender jazz,
roto flats,
pickup covers,
a real jazz bass when i need it,
and loads of thump when i want it
and since i like thump, i have my flats on.

well, my Band teacher likes slap.
i dont.
hes always tryin to get me to give him a slap tone, and he even plays it tryin to get the tone. (he doesn't understand flats dont slap well.)

i EQ it all perfect for him. he plays and gets frustrated and then gives it back to me

(keep in mind, these are all thumpin bass songs NOT SLAP)

and i EQ it right back to my Duck Dunn tone.

so aparently even band directors are obsessed with victor wooten now, when the students are obsessed with Booker T, and the Band teachers are obsessed with Marcus Miller when the students are obsessed with James Jamerson.

whats the world coming to?

not downing on slap at all here, i just dont like it. (sorry)



my baby hes slappin ^

i just think its an injustice, to slap a bass, that dont need slappin.....

theres a diffrence between "Funk" and GROOVE, and POCKET

[fryBASS]

Nah, my music instructor is obsessed with Jaco

[6pack Jon]

"This One Time At Band Camp...."

[cricketfever32]

i love flats + jazz...its fun to slap every now and then though, just to shake thing sup

[Jazzdogg]

You have nothing to lose, and quite a bit to gain, by improving your slapping skills while accommodating your teacher.

In forty years as a bassist, I've never "slapped" but that's probably because my biggest influences when I was coming up were upright players, and cats like Rocco Prestia and Duck Dunn. There are times when it would be nice to spice up a song with carefully selected slap-based riffs; not having that skill at my disposal means that there are some band leaders who'll hire someone else who has those skills.

It's always good to have options in life, and the greater your skills, the greater your choices. If you show your teacher that you can be an outstanding slap bassist, that doesn't mean that you can't also excel with the Duck Dunn vibe.

I say: Go for it

[colorblindbass]

well thats the annoying thing.
im can really slap pretty darn good

i just dont think theres much feel in it

how many groovin slow songs have slap lines in them?

[christle]

Originally Posted by 6pack Jon

"This One Time At Band Camp...."

Now I know what it feels like to have root beer go though me nose...thanks!

[BassManPatsFan]

slap in a "jazz" band?

[Kwesi]

Thing i hate about my high school jazz band is that we play jazz >_>. lol, let me elaborate on that a little bit; our jazz band, so far, has played nothing but straight, classical jazz (i guess thats what you call it. Y'know, the walking bass line, boring horn melodies, and all that. Don't get me wrong i'd love to be able to walk properly and be good at it, i just don't want to have to ever do it, . I like alternative jazz, fusion, avante garde and the like, just about anything but the original. It would be cool to play Spain, or For Sephora, or something like that. Give me music that would push me not bore me!

[uethanian]

your story's kindof funny, cause from my experience, jazz band directors will do anything to get you to STOP slapping.

mostly between songs. it would be blasphemy to slap during a chart

[davec]

I'm long removed from high school, But its good to know band teachers still suck. I was kicked out for warming up with red barchetta.
That said, if you can do it... treat it like a real gig. If the band leader wants me to slap my way through giant steps, I do it. After I get my check, I suggest my "vision" for the tune. It is usually ignored. The next gig we do the same thing.

[catoblepas]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Thing i hate about my high school jazz band is that we play jazz >_>. lol, let me elaborate on that a little bit; our jazz band, so far, has played nothing but straight, classical jazz (i guess thats what you call it. Y'know, the walking bass line, boring horn melodies, and all that. Don't get me wrong i'd love to be able to walk properly and be good at it, i just don't want to have to ever do it, . I like alternative jazz, fusion, avante garde and the like, just about anything but the original. It would be cool to play Spain, or For Sephora, or something like that. Give me music that would push me not bore me!

i can't stop listening to for sephora now.

i don't have a jazz band, but i have a band class, and i'm really beginning to have a problem with how one of the teachers directs class (we have two instructors, one of whom directs the wednesday session and one of whom directs the friday session) - i'm one of two bassists, and i have been playing for less time than the other bassist. however, i'm further versed in theory than our other bassist (although he has the best ear i've ever seen on anyone). this instructor takes in upon himself when i go off a little bit to call me over and make absolutely sure i'm playing roots. during a jam. in the most recent case, i was playing the third of each note (inadvertently, but i kind of let my fingers do as they will in a jam, and it sounded good). instructor sits down at the keyboard, calls me over, and basically forces me to play the root. it didn't sound as good, to be honest. he's a great guy, but quite close-minded and i sometimes find myself having trouble taking instruction from him - he's a guitarist and can't completely comprehend the role of bass.

he really is a great guy though - it's slightly ironic that i've learned a lot of my theory and technique from him, last year. in addition, it is true that i don't completely know how to control myself at times, but still.

the other instructor is a drummer who really grasps the concept of the pocket and will stop me if i stray too far off - i am a tech. metal/shred bassist in a poppy standard rock band class - but he understands that i don't need to just play roots and with the little bit of bass he plays helps me challenge myself to write good basslines that fit.

in the end, i've decided to just give him what he wants. it's not that it sounds bad in any way, i just like to get creative - i do some fills anyway, and he doesn't really mind too much. of course i'd rather be writing creative lines that aren't completely root oriented, but it could be a lot worse.

okay, i'm done.

[beggar98]

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

how many groovin slow songs have slap lines in them?

If you have to ask that question, maybe you should pick up a Marcus disc or two.

I would say that Wooten and Miller are playing music that is more "jazz" than Dunn or Jameson did, or at least were known for. I'm not knocking either of those amazing players, but they weren't playing jazz.

Also, it should be noted that one of the greatest challenges a music educator faces is getting the most out of a large group of musicians who have varying degrees of talent and proficiency. If you're one of the better players in the group, he may be looking to get some "flash" out of you that is lacking in the other musicians.

And it is a VERY valuable lesson to learn that you give the band leader what they ask for, especially if you envision making music a career.

[iamchipsmith]

Start bringing in a fretless just to mess with him. Better yet an upright

[catoblepas]

Originally Posted by iamchipsmith

Start bringing in a fretless just to mess with him. Better yet an upright

or an ashbory.

edit: is it weird that my warwick (streamer lx) kills at slap with flats on?

[Lokire]

Sounds like you need one of these!!!

http://www.thelowend.net/gallery/vie...asc&highlight=

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by beggar98

<SNIP> And it is a VERY valuable lesson to learn that you give the band leader what they ask for, especially if you envision making music a career.

+1

IME/IMO, one of the things that separates great bassists from the rest of the herd is the self discipline to put the needs of song and the leader above his/her own needs or impulses.

In addition to being a fundamentally sound musician, a modicum of self-management skills are required; stage persona aside, a "Wally Cleaver" is more likely to succeed as a pro bassist than an "Eddie Haskel."

[natbers78]

Jazzdogg-

+1,000,000,000.


Colorblindbass-

Welcome to the world of professional music. This won't be the last time someone tells you what to play.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Nathan Bersée

Jazzdogg-

+1,000,000,000.


Colorblindbass-

Welcome to the world of professional music. This won't be the last time someone tells you what to play.

Greetings, Nathan. How goes life in Anchorage? My wife and I lived there in '79, '80, and '81 and loved it!

[Basseroni]

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

i just think its an injustice, to slap a bass, that dont need slappin.....

If you are planning on making a career out of playing music that perspective will get you one thing--FIRED!!!

A great attitude and a diversification of skills on bass will make more people want to work with you.

theres a diffrence between "Funk" and GROOVE, and POCKET

Without pocket there is no funk or groove. The difference between funk and groove, however, is a subjective matter.