I dont think slap is overrated, although I do agree that many bassist might do well to slap a little less and groove a little more. As a former guitarist, Ive found that my biggest fault as a bass player is too many notes, not enough groove. But a technique that has been used very effectively, should not be called overrated simply because some bass players overuse it. I could say the same about fast alternate picking on a bass....overused sure, but overrated? What about harmonics? Should we all just use the Jamerson one finger hook to avoid the risk of angering our bass brethren?
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Anyone else find slap overrated?
- Thread starter hesham8
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I've always said that slap is immoral. Do it right, shake those asses, and you've got a good chance of getting some later. Completely immoral.
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I think too many players are forcing things that just don't fit to my ears. Even some world class cats do it. I remember watching a YouTube vid recently of Hadrien Feraud playing some slap that make me shake my head.
Getting back to the thread title, I think that yes, slap is overrated by all those civilians whose first words are "can you play slap?", or "play some slap!". If they just like the sound of it, then I not going to say that what they like is overrated, but I will say that the perceived difficulty of slap is overrated. There are lots of people out there that think slap is soooo hard and that if you don't do it you must suck. I hope I've made some sense.
Loads of things can grow annoying after too much bandwagon use (especially if it's improperly used or botched in some way, like spelling).
As for Leigh Gorman's slap playing in Bow Wow Wow, it's only one of his mastered styles, and I'd love the band just as much if he didn't slap at all.
Taking this slightly off-topic, the original "slap bass" technique is an upright bass style, where the term "slap" is much more fitting; it was used in proto-swing jazz of the early 1930's and later readopted in western swing styles at the birth of rockabilly and is standard for rockabilly and psychobilly bassists nowadays. For some great examples of this, listen to some early Cab Calloway & his Orchestra right when they transitioned from the brass bass (tuba) to the string bass. I have seen this technique applied to bass guitar as well, by the bassist of Simon & the Bar Sinisters on his Danelectro longhorn. I've messed around with it too, you need flatwounds and the right action to do it right.
Taking this slightly off-topic, the original "slap bass" technique is an upright bass style, where the term "slap" is much more fitting; it was used in proto-swing jazz of the early 1930's and later readopted in western swing styles at the birth of rockabilly and is standard for rockabilly and psychobilly bassists nowadays. For some great examples of this, listen to some early Cab Calloway & his Orchestra right when they transitioned from the brass bass (tuba) to the string bass. I have seen this technique applied to bass guitar as well, by the bassist of Simon & the Bar Sinisters on his Danelectro longhorn. I've messed around with it too, you need flatwounds and the right action to do it right.
I find the plain-jane "bippity bippity" slap style bores me to tears, but when a knowledgeable slapper gets on the bass, and incorporates feel, movement within the groove, and adds the nice ghost notes & percussive counter- elements behind and in between & within the notes, it's pretty awesome...you know, when it steers towards one-man-band territory.
Geez, and all this time I thought I didn't like it as much anymore because most slap bassists have too trebly a tone and it took away from the main function of the bass
But seriously, I do like slap, but I greatly prefer old school slap tones like Larry Graham or the dude in the Commodores (Ronald LaPread I think was his name). I very much dislike the ice-picky slap tone, although I love a lot of bassists who do it, like Marcus. Though I think Jauqo may be overstating the racial, moral and social implications, I do agree that it's a good tool to have in your belt. I don't use it much but there are times I need it and I'm glad I can do it.
Overrated implies that it does not live up to it's advertised potential. Slap is indeed NOT overrated because, when used properly, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and fulfills then requirement that "a slap bass line goes here".
If it's been sold to you as some sort of ticket to bass hero status, then the salesperson oversold it. It, as a technique, cannot be over or underrated. However, your ability to determine whether or not it is the correct technique for the song at hand can be.
If it's been sold to you as some sort of ticket to bass hero status, then the salesperson oversold it. It, as a technique, cannot be over or underrated. However, your ability to determine whether or not it is the correct technique for the song at hand can be.
The sound that originally drew me to play the bass was actually the slap sound. I have always loved it. So I got myself a bass, learned to slap all fast and flash. THEN I started playing with bands. Boy did I have to rethink my slap mentality. Now, I strive to slap in a way that adds to the groove. Most of that is just practicing with a metronome, developing control over the heaviness of your attack and realising when that flashy triplet WONT fit into the groove and pulse of the band. Nowadays, I love to slap, but only when appropriate. You shouldnt have too much of a good thing!
You gotta step over the line to figure out where it is...
Dunno 'bout the morality or socialism part but I'd like to know the demographic of the thread starter..........
Done effectively, no, it isn't overrated. Being a well rounded bassist and musician will never go out of style. (Although it does seem to be that way sometimes. )
I think that some people don't know how to use it tastefully. However, those same people probably aren't going to be tasteful regardless of the technique that they use.
There is a time and place for everything. I think that slap is very relevant in alot of genres.
)I think that some people don't know how to use it tastefully. However, those same people probably aren't going to be tasteful regardless of the technique that they use.
There is a time and place for everything. I think that slap is very relevant in alot of genres.
Does not identification with one of these descriptors make the other one a logical impossibility?
Ok, now back to bass stuff?
Probably because I'm old school (and old) but I don't find slap appealing at all. I can admire those bassists that are good at it, but I have never had the urge to learn it. I prefer not to beat my strings.
I admit I do get a little slap happy sometimes, but some people just get stupid with the slapping - I agree.
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