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Does Slap equal Funk?
- Thread starter Helix
- Start date
No argument here. Time was a Prince vehicle though, so he's the guy that gets the props. Him, plus maybe Morris Day's hilarious visual humor.
Slap can be used everywhere, only on TB you'll be told that slap is useless and won't get you work bla bla bla ... here is slap in a metal setting ( the slap line start at 2:10 )
If I am not mistaken, Prince played bass, as well as most of the instruments, in addition to background vocals, on those tracks. Prince can definitely slap, and did so on "Gigolos Get Lonely Too", on occasion, if I recall correctly.
But, yeah, I agree that, with only a few exceptions, The Time's music did not contain slap bass at all and was amazingly funky.
According to allmusic.com...Prince is not given musician, composer or even any engineering credits for any of The Time's recorded material. However they do mention that Prince was deeply involved up to and including most of the recorded performances as you said, and it's pretty obvious to any listener that happens to be a Prince fan. I wonder why Prince didn't want his name on the published list of credits.
Your right. But Prince is slapping funkazoid at heart. He loves a 70's style Fender jazz to thump on as it keeps getting told. And if I remember correctly, he was going to be the drummer first in that project but passed the position on to his cousin Morris. Then when Alexander O'Neil left (or was let go), Morris became the front man.
FF
Good question. May have been do to the contract he had with Warner. Or him wanting the project to roam free independent of his rising star at the time so that if it failed, it would bring his career down. But that is a good question.
FF
Does Slap bass equal Funk? No! In fact one can be one hellova slapper and not have funky bone in his body. Couldn't play Funk to save their lives!
By the way, Prince has been involved in a ton of projects without so much as a mention. Sometimes under a fictitious name.
By the way, Prince has been involved in a ton of projects without so much as a mention. Sometimes under a fictitious name.
This is Hilarious! I was just thinking could the dude with the symbol in his avatar chime in on this and bamm... you came flying in hahaha. Awesome
FF
Yeah, I had to show my face! By the way, this is me after reading some of the comments.
Invalid Link Removed was the name Prince used for The Time projects. However, in several interviews, the members of The Time basically stated that Prince and Morris did all of the recordings together, which was a surprise to me at the time.
This is also stated at allmusic.com:
" . . . both "What Time Is It?" and "The Time" are largely the work of Prince with the exception of the vocals, which are sung instead by Morris Day. Jesse Johnson (guitar), Terry Lewis (bass), Jimmy Jam (keyboards), Monte Moir (keyboards), and Jellybean Johnson (drums) are again listed as bandmembers, and though they certainly performed this material live in-concert as Prince's opening act, it's questionable how much musical input they had in the recording studio."
Prince is definitely singing background vocals on those earlier tunes. To my knowledge, "Pandemonium" is the first Time album, in which the members had full control and played the songs on the album.
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Back the OP's question, I have been a big funk fan since the 70's. The first song that I recall listening to on the radio as a young child is "Not Just Knee Deep" by Funkadelic late night on the WCHB radio station located in Romulus, MI. It is not the first song I ever heard on the radio, but the first song that had such an impact on my love of music that I still recall hearing for the first time in life. I also LOVE slap bass, when done well with a groove, and use it often in my playing.
With all that said and as others have pointed out, slap is a bass technique. It can be funky, but not always, depending on the context of the music and whether the bassist has the right timing and feel. Slap, finger-style, picking, tapping, etc. can all be funky, but none of them defines the Funk.
However, I do believe that it is prudent for bassists, regardless of ones genre focus, to learn different techniques, even at a rudimentary level, to become a well-rounded musician. Although primarily use a pick when playing guitar, I have never used a pick in a live situation for bass. However, I still practice it and have grown to appreciate the different sound that it provides. The more available options at a bassists disposable can potentially open further means of creativity.
T-Funk, since you mentioned it and I keep reading it on talkbass, what is a "well rounded bassist"? Not trying to be difficult. Just am curious as to what is meant by this.
FF
Funk as any other music styles depends from how you feel the groove and not from what kind of playing technique you are using, it's just feeling, you can play great funk grooves with fingerstyle, slap, pick, muting bass, tapping, or any other hybrid style. Everything depends from how you feel the tempo and how you can transform it on groove !
In short, at least in my opinion, a well-round bassist is a person whom has developed a broad mix of instrument-related competencies, musicianship knowledge and skills, repertoire and performance experiences. Not sure there is much I can add, due to the fact that any detailed specifics, such as a list of "must-knows", will vary based on a person's goals, interests and requirements.
For other views and opinions, the topic probably has been discussed in the past.
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Thank you. It seems that on talkbass, every time I see the word "slap" in the title, the words "well rounded" always seems to come up as well. And I humbled my self and decided to ask before I opinionate.
FF
"Well-rounded" comes up in pick, tapping, finger-style, genre-related and many other threads, too. Therefore, I would not get too hung up on noticing the word in slap threads as well. I think we can all universally agree that the more skills and applied knowledge we gain makes us more "well-rounded".
However, from a realistic point of view, most bassists are not seeking to be masters of all things bass-related, due to time constraints or a lack of interest in certain aspects. Therefore, when I see the word "well-rounded" or something similar, I tend to view it as a message to continue to improve and grow as a bassist, as well as a musician. In other words, not to remain static.
Hopefully, the message of continual growth was captured in my previous statement, as it never stated that someone should specifically learn slap, but to learn different techniques (slap or otherwise):
"However, I do believe that it is prudent for bassists, regardless of ones genre focus, to learn different techniques, even at a rudimentary level, to become a well-rounded musician."
Granted, the message would have been more clear if I probably stated "more well-rounded musician", which was a grammatical error on my part.
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Yeah it depends on the individual's 'interest' in being a more well rounded musician. Many could care less and just wanna rock out. Others not only listen to a wide variety of music but also play it. Not just that, having the experience to play other instruments can also broaden a musicians palette. I grew up in NY and played all over NYC which as we all know is a melting pot of cultures and music so when I move here to Virginia and ask around if anyone can play Latin music.........I'm severely disappointed that I come across musicians who are NOT well rounded. I'm now LIMITED in what I can play. Funk is a genre. Funky is a state of mind.
Sorry for the side bar. Carry on.
Sorry for the side bar. Carry on.
I get where your coming from. I just wanted to be clear on your usage because I have come to learn that definitions and usage can vary. And it is better for ME especially to gain understanding before thinking I know what a person means and commenting. Especially if I disagree. So thanks again.
But... I must say that I always thought "well rounded musician" to have a dual defined concept.
1- A musician that has an extensive knowledge of his/her instrument and it's capabilities. Which I guess is kinda what you were saying.
2- A musician that has the ability to perform in multiple genres of music.
I guess where I differ in definition to the term is that I didn't think that a technique in playing, could help you obtain that goal. And I must admit that I still don't understand it that way. But I will say that a set technique can not hurt you either. Hope that doesn't sound contradictory. Thanks again
FF
Thanks Bro. That's the 3rd definition I forgot about. MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTAL.
And you hit right on what I thought "well rounded" meant. I also grew up in NYC. That's probably why I look at it differently.
There may be a BIG opportunity there for you. Start a Merenge & Salsa band and shop it hard. Just because there's lack, doesn't cancel out a desire for. When I first moved to the A, the Latin Club in Buckhead stayed packed while the others around it where a quarter full. And it was 80% non-latinos in there. Just food for thought.
FF
