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For Those Who Slap

#22
Norm Stockton touched on slapping in a clinic of his (back when I met him in 2005). He brought up an important point. "SLAP" is not a style.....it's a technique. He demonstrates that point on his album.....can't remember the name of the tune.. it's in E....He starts the "A" form using finger style/ plays through the "B" section...back to "A"/ same notes, just slapped. Brilliant. I agree with any of the comments that mentioned using dynamics & space when you slap. The audience can only stand so much of that before they get agitated.
 
#25
Let me add my 0.02 in.

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I listen to Guano Apes a lot while snowboarding. I think their bassist slaps tastefully. He doesn't do it every song and doesn't overkill it to a point he mows the rythm down to thumps and clicks.

Alex Katunich
This is the guy that inspired me to start playing bass 13 years ago. Coincidentally, he used to play with an amazing drummer. His new band, Willie's Nerve Clinic (also with an awesome drummer) shows his growth and maturity as a bass player. Phenominal talent and their debut album, Vampire Kiss, is fantastic!
 
#26
Even in a driving rock and roll song, occasionally when we "change it up" a bit, I use slap to anchor a slighty different groove with the drummer. Depends on the drummer though, some dont really pay attention, they just bumble though it.

also, we do a tune on date rape, and the best way I can convey the anger and frustration of the lyrics is by VERY aggressive slap. ( song is done in F# so it allws you to really skate around the 1-3 positions with losts of hammer ons and such - perfect) Nothing more than thmub, hammer ons and plucks. Simple .

The singer who is the composer, and who arguably has never listed to good slap ( raised on Pat Benetar), said it was the most perfect bassline and really made the song work. She couldn't wait to record it. Frankly, it is one of a few of her tune that have commercial viability.

On some of her other tunes, including one on autism, I'll use slap to punctuate a change in groove, as in during a breakdown.

01 In My World _Matthew_s Song_.m4a - 8.50MB You **might** hear a simple thumb/pluck during the last eight bars of the 16 bar change. (2:30-2:40) ( bad mix as he scoops the bass - something about modern sound- modern or not I prefer to HEAR the bassline, esp in "folk rock".)

Yeah, I slap the folk once in a bit, when its correct to do so. Blaspheme that I am.

No vids, as its me, not some pro. Sorry. I use the simplest techniques as I'm not good enough to keep impeccible time and slap it silly, and slap requries IMPECCIBLE timing as you as switching to precussion.

It's like a simple soul gig, drum/bass behind the voice, and slap helps me highlight the voice when it changes mood, or a change in pulse of the tune itself.

Job done. Slap required to enhance musicality ( composition) at times.
 
#27
Plays_For_Dog said:
Let me add my 0.02 in.

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I listen to Guano Apes a lot while snowboarding. I think their bassist slaps tastefully. He doesn't do it every song and doesn't overkill it to a point he mows the rythm down to thumps and clicks.

Alex Katunich
This is the guy that inspired me to start playing bass 13 years ago. Coincidentally, he used to play with an amazing drummer. His new band, Willie's Nerve Clinic (also with an awesome drummer) shows his growth and maturity as a bass player. Phenominal talent and their debut album, Vampire Kiss, is fantastic!
Click to expand...

Cool, but both of those songs sound like early 90's Chile Peppers.
 
#29
Envy is a sin, but I do envy those "yuts" who grew up slapping and have a more natural ability. This 50 yr old dog is harder to teach new tricks to, for sure.

I hear ya Loud and Clear g&lplayer. As I say above, I have to keep it pretty simple to ensure timing stays.

Maybe by the time I'm 60 I can pull some cool stuff off, but frankly, as a "pocket player" it aint all that critical.
 
#30
The problem with slap is that somewhere along the line it went from being a technique to propel a groove to an exibition of semi-musical gymnastics. I know that people are impressed with the super fast slappity stuff, but from the videos I've seen very few people can do it in the context of a song OR solo and make it musical or even keep it in time.

On the other hand, I use slapping, tapping, effects, pick playing, etc. where I think it's appropriate as alternatives to stock fingerstyle playing. I think it adds variety to the overall sound of the bands I play with. I've been both praised and chastised from different people over the years for the different techniques I've used.

One night I had a very attractive young woman come up and say "I really like that thing you do with your thumb, I've never seen anything like that before." Since then I've never given the chastisers another thought. :D
 
#33
Modulator said:
The problem with slap is that somewhere along the line it went from being a technique to propel a groove to an exibition of semi-musical gymnastics. I know that people are impressed with the super fast slappity stuff, but from the videos I've seen very few people can do it in the context of a song OR solo and make it musical or even keep it in time.
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+1000

Its hard to do well, and in time, even just a simple groove at first. Lots of guys stutter their way through it, try to do too much.

Randy
 
#34
steveksux said:
+1000

Its hard to do well, and in time, even just a simple groove at first. Lots of guys stutter their way through it, try to do too much.

Randy
Click to expand...

I should qualify though and say that I really respect those who can do it well. I like the idea of slap as a technique if not overused, I've just seen a lot of players with decent timing suddenly fall apart because they feel the need to impress people with how fast they can slap.
 
#36
I tend not to be a fan of overly aggressive slap stylings. I believe that even a subtle mixture of thump and pluck is such an accent that it punctuates the music without becoming the focal point of the music and a fine line has to be walked not to have the thumping overtake the music. Thats what draws me are the nuances in the sounds generated. There are overtones that are created that often get missed when using the technique too aggressively. Understandably in some cases that is the point, to create a purely percussive attack, but when slowed down a bit, you get a whole different kinda yummy goodness jumpin off! :smug: By giving the strings a chance to move abit more, the notes are allowed to "blossom", if you will. This would be similar to the attack on a Timpani (Kettle Drum) when hit.

Example of subtle thump:

Bass Player-Nathan East


Theres quite a bit more out there.
 
#37
Modulator said:
I should qualify though and say that I really respect those who can do it well. I like the idea of slap as a technique if not overused, I've just seen a lot of players with decent timing suddenly fall apart because they feel the need to impress people with how fast they can slap.
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That's what I thought you meant, only bagging on the guys that aren't doing it well...

Randy
 
#38
I enjoy slapping and use the technique tastefully as needed. I consider it pretty essential to be able to slap for certain styles that I play. Good slapping is also a crowd pleaser it seems and I am, after all, in the entertainmant business. Slap overkill bugs me though.

Bob
 
#39
conqr said:
He's what I'd call an example of 'the best of the rest' kind of slapper. He's got some chords etc thrown in, but still essentially a percussive slapper. Personally I'm quickly bored by this kind of fast directionless playing. Fingerstyle he's a rhythm beast though!
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Im really not sure what that comment alludes to. If you watch any of the Kai videos from BP this guy slap can slap in different time signatures and certainly employs melodic content in his lines whether its chordal or a diminished runs or what have you. I just think his technique is so good that it can fly past you in a blur of clean notes, but its alot more than root-octave or "machine gun" triplets. At its heart slap is percussive, thats the nature of the technique. Its nice when people like Kai, or Norm, or Marcus can take that technique and also employ melody. And the fact that this can still sound musical from a crappy youtube video is astonishing. Carried on for long periods of time any technique independent of a song is boring, ie a drum solo. I would much hear Danny Carey or Steve Gadd play in a song than play a solo. Essentially these videos and most solos in general are vehicles for demonstrating what you're capable of but cant put into a song as you would kill it within a bar!
 

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