Boogie Monsters' Mojo: Slap or not?

[Bass Momma]

This has just been put on my set list for a blues gig. Is the bass slapped? I think so.... but might just do it fingers anyway. Can't find any videos of them that actually show them playing instruments, interestingly. Not one I'd have chosen, but I'd like to do a good job. All input gratefully received!

 

[Michedelic]

This has just been put on my set list for a blues gig. Is the bass slapped? I think so.... but might just do it fingers anyway. Can't find any videos of them that actually show them playing instruments, interestingly. Not one I'd have chosen, but I'd like to do a good job. All input gratefully received!

Are you required to follow that particular cover/arrangement?

 

[Bass Momma]

Are you required to follow that particular cover/arrangement?

Yes. Usually do the classic Muddy version, but the singer has a bee in his bonnet for this version.

 

[bassbrad]

This has always been a popular dance tune if done well so my suggestion is to have several variations ready to groove, we often did extended improvised arrangements that got the tip jar stuffed.

 

[Bass Momma]

This has always been a popular dance tune if done well so my suggestion is to have several variations ready to groove, we often did extended improvised arrangements that got the tip jar stuffed.

This has always been a popular dance tune if done well so my suggestion is to have several variations ready to groove, we often did extended improvised arrangements that got the tip jar stuffed.

The stuffed tip jar... memories... memories.....

 

[HolmeBass]

I would say yes, that is slapped bass.

 

[bassbrad]

The stuffed tip jar... memories... memories.....

In hopes those daze come again.

 

[two fingers]

Any audience members attending a "blues gig" will have heard dozens of versions of this song. They will not miss the slap bass line....at all. If you're not comfortable slapping tell the singer you're not a slap bass player. Nobody will know, or crea.

 

[Bass Momma]

Any audience members attending a "blues gig" will have heard dozens of versions of this song. They will not miss the slap bass line....at all. If you're not comfortable slapping tell the singer you're not a slap bass player. Nobody will know, or crea.

I agree. I did one slap song for this guy, but it's not my... ahem... strong suit. (I mainly play jazz these days, working really hard on technique, memorizing progressions, etc.) If someone would wave a wand and transform me into Marcus Miller, fine, but back on planet Earth, I don't want to spend the time it would take to get up to being so-so at slap. Frankly, I suspect the singer wouldn't even notice if I just do a good funky fingerstyle job.
Let's be honest, you know the bass player has done a great job if no-one says anything, right? ; )

 

[two fingers]

I agree. I did one slap song for this guy, but it's not my... ahem... strong suit. (I mainly play jazz these days, working really hard on technique, memorizing progressions, etc.) If someone would wave a wand and transform me into Marcus Miller, fine, but back on planet Earth, I don't want to spend the time it would take to get up to being so-so at slap. Frankly, I suspect the singer wouldn't even notice if I just do a good funky fingerstyle job.
Let's be honest, you know the bass player has done a great job if no-one says anything, right? ; )

I think you're onto something.

 

[Ostie]

For a great funk song listen to "Gonna Have a Good Time" by the ArchAngels.

 

[gmarcus]

Yup that's slap but doesn't add much to the song. I'd go with some deep pocket finger funk

 

[5StringBlues]

I just hope your singer doesn't sing it like that.

 

[coy garcia]

I do this tune on a fretless electric...I do the johnny cash style of slap more of a double tap open hand mute between notes and play right hand sidefinger on the neck to give it more upright type tone...then play the walking turn around clean. E(root) xx B(5th) xx ...etc

 

[SLO Surfer]

Let's be honest, you know the bass player has done a great job if no-one says anything, right? ; )

That goes for yourself too; I wouldn't mention it to anyone at all. Just play the song in that vibe with your fingers. Don't even say the words, "slap," or, "finger style." They'll all think you nailed it!

edit: (but you might want to practice it a few times through with slap just in case anyone does ask you to slap it)

 

[Bass Momma]

I just hope your singer doesn't sing it like that.

Oh, god, he probably will. You know that thing, where you think you're "da man", strutting your stuff with your buddies…. And no-one notices the (female) bassist raising an eyebrow and chalking it up to experience.
I'm feeling slightly jaundiced, having suggested we play Sir Duke, or I Wish. Or even - gasp - a jazz blues. Or a few other things. TOTAL lack of interest. "Oh, no one would relate to that." But someone suggests Mojo and they're wetting themselves with excitement. I love these dudes, but at some point I think they got bitten by a b13 and never recovered.
(This is after a lovely dinner with a couple of glasses of wine, so discretion to the winds. My bad.)

 

[Bass Momma]

That goes for yourself too; I wouldn't mention it to anyone at all. Just play the song in that vibe with your fingers. Don't even say the words, "slap," or, "finger style." They'll all think you nailed it!

edit: (but you might want to practice it a few times through with slap just in case anyone does ask you to slap it)

Now THAT'S my problem. I will practice the heck out of it "just in case". I have never said 'f%$k it" in my life. Mind you, just wait until my next life!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

I am just listening on an iPad, but to me it sounds like what you could get with roundwounds, passive tone cut some, finger-style, digging-in pretty hard.

...and some muting to control note articulation as coy garcia noted.

 

[Bass Momma]

I am just listening on an iPad, but to me it sounds like what you could get with roundwounds, passive tone cut some, finger-style, digging-in pretty hard.

...and some muting to control note articulation as coy garcia noted.

Right… sleight of hand deceives the ear!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Right… sleight of hand deceives the ear!

...plus, you can combine techniques. A palm-slap is common with thumb-slap, but could be used with finger-style as well. I did that decades ago. Double-thumbing is sort-of like pick-playing, with the sharp attack only on the 2nd half of a double-thumb (finger-nail): the first half of the double-thumb sounds like a cross between thumb-slap and plucking with index or middle. Palm-muted pick-playing on rounds can be funky if you play stacatto and have some growl in your tone.

The bass is sort-of hidden in the mix on this song anyway. You got this!