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Can I play funk without slap?

#48
sxaxsx said:
I agree with lfmn16, if you are playing originals well then you can play the songs anyway you write them. If you are playing slap covers with distinct slap lines then... ?

Really it deppends what the band wants from you, all of us have listened to enough funk artists to know that not only is slap bass not necessary for funk we could even name funk bands without bassists at all. But a lot of people who don't listen to much funk might expect you to play slap, and if you don't they may not want to hire you or play with you.
I wonder why you are so resistant to learn a bit of slap? I personally don't love slap either, it kind of throws your tone and mids out the window and makes everything sound like "clackity clack clack." For instance I much prefer Fleas tone when he isn't slapping. When he slaps it just sounds like loose tingy roundwounds snapping off a fretboard. Just my oppinion. But that being said, I can do enough of it to get by in certain sittuations if a song calls for it or is expected, and it's quite fun even if it's not my favorite tone.
Now about that George Porter Jr. video, I never saw him slap before either but I am even more suprised to see him playing through that Ampeg! When did this happen?
Click to expand...
If my memory serves my correctly he was playing Ampeg back in the early days of the Meters? :help:

Gotta tell you though, the way you encourage is interesting. Mentioning all the negative things about slapping the way you did made slapping sound kinda unattractive:wideyed:
:laugh::laugh::roflmao:
 
#49
The cool thing about back-in-the-day funk is the slapping isn't as hard as that Doug Johns/Victor Wooten double-thumb stuff. I think almost anyone can get the slap groove on Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank You (FaLettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin)", played by the inventor (or co-inventor, depending on who you ask) of thumpin', Larry Graham, given some practice and effort. Then you're on your way to a new arrow in the quiver.
 
#51
My 2c
Funk is about groove, feel and getting nasty (in a good way). It is a genre of music.

Slap is a way to play the strings. It is a technique, it is not a style of music and it most definitely ain't funk. It is used quite a bit in funk but it is not the deciding factor on if something is funky or not, the GROOVE is.

So my answer to the question is

YES you can play funk without slapping. Just make sure you is groovin' and don't fake the funk.
 
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#52
lfmn16 said:
Which part are you having an issue with.
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Not an issue.
It's just not necessarily true that because the recording was slapped or had some slapping that you should do it that way. I've witnessed many performances where the original artists played it the opposite way live. And only the bass players in the crowd seemed to notice. Still sounded good though.
I thinks there are a lot of factors that the band and/or bassist has to consider as to how it should be performed. Like player is the comfortable or confident or even capable to do it & so forth.
FF
 
#54
bass12 said:
I have to ask - where do you draw the line between soul/R&B and funk?
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Good food for thought. Here's my perception.

SOUL - I think soul is more defined by singing. Soul brings to my mind Arethea Franklin, Anita Baker, Lou Rawls, early James Brown.

Speaking of James Brown, he went through all three genres; Soul, R&B, Funk.

R&B for my taste is defined by both singing & music. The Commodores, KC & the Sunshine band, Steely Dan, etc.

Funk is defined by style and a percussive back beat. Again, James Brown. Bootsey Collins, Parliament/ Funkadelic.

The Brothers Johnson and Radio w/ Ray Parker Jr. kinda fall into all 3 categories.

Thanks for asking the question! I hope others chime in on this. Would make for a good topic in and of itself.
 
#56
FlatwoundFunk said:
Not an issue.
It's just not necessarily true that because the recording was slapped or had some slapping that you should do it that way. I've witnessed many performances where the original artists played it the opposite way live. And only the bass players in the crowd seemed to notice. Still sounded good though.
I thinks there are a lot of factors that the band and/or bassist has to consider as to how it should be performed. Like player is the comfortable or confident or even capable to do it & so forth.
FF
Click to expand...
My first inclination is to play it like the original, but I agree with you that it's not mandatory. If it sounds good, that's the main thing.
 
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#60
Funk without slap? Sure you can, but why limit yourself? When I think of funk, real nasty as an old pair of gym sneakers funk, that's a different animal. That is when the bass becomes less of a guitar and more of a percussion instrument. It's just doing what only a bass can, get people on their feet and shaking their backsides. I'm talking funky as a backseat wrestling match down at the Jersey shore. That's how new little bassists are made.:woot: No slap required, but fun to do.
 
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