Does Slap equal Funk?

[T-Funk]

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.

Both of the points were captured in my prior definition. For point #1, a broad mix of instrument-related competencies and musicianship knowledge and skills. For point #2, a broad mix of repertoire and performance experiences.

Not just that, having the experience to play other instruments can also broaden a musicians palette.

As a bassist, guitarist and trumpeter, I definitely concur!

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

Both of the points were captured in my prior definition. For point #1, a broad mix of instrument-related competencies and musicianship knowledge and skills. For point #2, a broad mix of repertoire and performance experiences.



As a bassist, guitarist and trumpeter, I definitely concur!

I guess I can bestow upon you the title of, Well Rounded Musician.
Because you definitely fit the bill.
FF

 

[T-Funk]

I guess I can bestow upon you the title of, Well Rounded Musician.
Because you definitely fit the bill.
FF

LOL. Not even close, my friend. Just a regular trying to do his best within the confines of life's obligations and other interests.

 

[Helix]

"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.

OP here

T-Funk, that is the most thought out, constructive, perfectly worded assessment of what I and many other’s consider a “well-rounded bassist” to be.

I’m going to have to print that out so I don’t forget it……..good job sir!

 

[T-Funk]

OP here

T-Funk, that is the most thought out, constructive, perfectly worded assessment of what I and many other’s consider a “well-rounded bassist” to be.

I’m going to have to print that out so I don’t forget it……..good job sir!

Thank you, Sir!

 

[Watchootognbout]

On these cuts Dave LaRue slaps.Is this Funk?
Adam Nitti slaps.Is this Funk?
No.
Slap doesn't always mean Funk.
Funk doesn't always mean Slap.

 

[Double E]

I believe the thrust of this thread is more "can you play funk without slap" rather than "is all slap classified as funk".

 

[malthumb]

Slap (or thumping) is to funk as brown is to dogs.

There are a lot of brown dogs, but everything that is brown is not necessarily a dog, and dogs are not always brown.

There are a lot of funk tunes with serious thumping, but everything that is thumped is not necessarily funk, and not all funk is thumped.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I believe the thrust of this thread is more "can you play funk without slap" rather than "is all slap classified as funk".

But the question was"Does slap equal funk?"
There already is a "Can I play funk without slap"thread.Can I play funk without slap? | TalkBass.com

 

[malthumb]

How often did Jamerson slap? his bass was NAMED the "Funk Machine". To me, funk is a groove and I think we should all be able to agree that his lines had groove like nothing else.
.....

Jamerson was not a funk player and lots of music is known as "groove" music - but that doesn't make it funk.

I think these statements expose the concept of funk as a FEEL vs the concept of funk as a GENRE. Jamerson's P-bass was the Funk Machine because he brought that FEEL to the groove. The word "funk" was used in a lot of black music circles to typify a groove that was just plain nasty. Made you twist your face up as if you just smelled something....funky. Today we call that bass face. But the music JJ played was not "Funk". That genre came much later

Sometimes it depends on the player. LJ always Funkin! RIP

One of my most favoritest Louis Johnson riffs. I still use this when I mess around with basses at GC. So maybe I'm one of those guys y'all wanna kick out. I also use Jamerson's "Grapevine" riff, from the Gladys Knight version, so hopefully that makes me qualified to stay.

I just wanted to say that funk was around a long time before slap showed up. So, no, you don't need to slap to be funky. At all.

Funk as a FEEL has been around since long before thumping. But funk as a GENRE came later. One of the first popular songs featuring thumping was Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank Ewe Faletinme Be Mice Elf", where Larry Graham was just lightin' it up. That was mid-60s. Funk as a GENRE parallels Disco, arriving in the early '70s with groups like the Funkadelic arm of George Clinton's Parliament / Funkadelic machine, The Commodores, Cameo, The Gap Band, etc. Larry Graham was thumpin' when people described the FEEL as FUNKY but before they called the GENRE FUNK.

At least that was my experience growing up in the '70s.

 

[malthumb]

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.

If you want to hear the quintessential Prince thump-fest, listen to "Let's Work". I don't remember if it was him, Andre' Symone, or Brown Mark that got credit for this one, but whoever it was, niiiiice!!!

EDIT**** Looks like Andre' Symone in this video. And yes, it is FUNKY in all aspects of the word.

 

[Double E]

But the question was"Does slap equal funk?"
There already is a "Can I play funk without slap"thread.Can I play funk without slap? | TalkBass.com

The original post clarifies the question in the thread title:

So many times I’ve heard that to add some Funk to song you have to slap. To me Funk is just a groove, a genre, and can be finger plucked or even picked….not necessarily just slapped.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Alex J]

If you want to hear the quintessential Prince thump-fest, listen to "Let's Work". I don't remember if it was him, Andre' Symone, or Brown Mark that got credit for this one, but whoever it was, niiiiice!!!

EDIT**** Looks like Andre' Symone in this video. And yes, it is FUNKY in all aspects of the word.

Prince on record, but that's BrownMark in the video. You can tell his zebra print jazz bass from a mile away!

 

[Steve59]

Funk is Funk.
Technique is Technique.

 

[Helix]

But the question was"Does slap equal funk?"
There already is a "Can I play funk without slap"thread.Can I play funk without slap? | TalkBass.com

Did not know that thread exsist. The question is different, but equates to the same perception (to mostly non-players), that you can't have one without the other or one equals the other.
As mostly all TBers have said though.....Funk is Funk and Slap is just a technique.
Check this out though....would any of you consider this funk?, I don't, but it is titled Funk

 

[Watchootognbout]

Did not know that thread exsist. The question is different, but equates to the same perception (to mostly non-players), that you can't have one without the other or one equals the other.
As mostly all TBers have said though.....Funk is Funk and Slap is just a technique.
Check this out though....would any of you consider this funk?, I don't, but it is titled Funk

No.I wouldn't call that Funk either.But I do like that "Tosin"type stuff.

There are elements of Jazz,Jazz/Fusion,Metal.Whatever it may be called,it's a derivative of a derivative.
A mixing of elements of genres in the vein of AAL.
There's no "on the One" feel of true Funk genre.
Slap is a technique that can be used in other genres.As shown by the Steve Morse Band Vids in my post above.Bassist Dave LaRue slaps like a man afire!But make no mistake.He's not playing Funk.Which was my point.
Slap doesn't always mean Funk.
Funk doesn't always mean Slap.

THIS is true Funk.With slap bass.

Without slap.But check out that bass solo!

 

[Helix]

No.I wouldn't call that Funk either.But I do like that "Tosin"type stuff.

There are elements of Jazz,Jazz/Fusion,Metal.Whatever many call that.
That's a derivative of a derivative.A mixing of elements of genres in the vein of AAL.
There's no "on the One" feel of true Funk genre.

THIS is true Funk.With slap bass.

Without slap

Agreed.....I do like that jam, but he's should re-titled it so not to confuse anyone

 

[Watchootognbout]

Agreed.....I do like that jam, but he's should re-titled it so not to confuse anyone

I agree.Today there are forms of music which are,as I said above,"derivatives of derivatives"
and many call their music ".............funk"Without really knowing the original form that he's taking a distant influence from.

 

[Alex J]

Without slap.

....without bass guitar, even!

 

[Watchootognbout]

....without bass guitar, even!

Which is the point.
Funk is a feel.
A percentage of Funk basslines are done on keyboard.But it's still Funk.
Slap bass contributes,but it does not define it.
One last vid.