• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

In Defense of Slapping

#61
I think the problem is that slap is a shortcut to Wankville. I don't like Wankville, slap or otherwise. Every time that I catch myself strolling through there I slug myself in the nuts and make myself do 50 pushups.

Other than that, viva la slap!
 
#65
The following is pure opinion on my part, so please don't get over-emotional with what I say...

I put slap in the same category as rap (and not because they rhyme). They have both provided a wonderful opportunity for people with no knowledge of music to enter the music world.

Playing actual notes (arpeggios, different modes, etc) on the fretboard requires knowledge, whereas any 15 year old can grab a bass and pound the hell out of it like a monkey in their feeble attempt to try and impress other humans. Same with rap....any 15 year old can grab a microphone and yell "yo" into it 182 times and convince himself that he is a musician, despite the fact that he has no singing talent whatsoever (unless of course he wears a baseball cap sideways, which is a skill that takes years to develop!:rolleyes:)

Knowledge of music requires work and study....two things that many humans don't want to do. So they look for the easiest, shortest, quickest (and laziest) path in their effort to try and impress other humans.

I agree with the other posters in this thread who said that when they click on a youtube vid for a review of music gear and see some wankoff spending most of the time wanking instead of actually showcasing the gear, I immediately think "what a monkey" and I exit the vid muy pronto.

Again, this is just my opinion. It carries no weight. So relax. If your opinion differs from mine, I'm happy for you.
 
#67
^^ I haven't seen a 15 year old slapping on a bass IN REAL LIFE for at least a decade. The only player I've seen slap live in recent time was in disco medley for top shelf corporate band.

Maybe people spend too much time watching others on-line instead of getting out to gigs or actually playing. Just saying.....
 
#68
I got pretty good at slap for a while. My friends were impressed. Then I got sick of it. All that percussion got on my nerves. I just didn't like listening to the stuff I did, and once that happens it's the end.

May I never hear slap in E again. Can't you guys at least play a blues? OK, how about TWO chords? Thirty years of slap in E is enough already. How about something like this?
 
#69
SactoBass said:
The following is pure opinion on my part, so please don't get over-emotional with what I say...

I put slap in the same category as rap (and not because they rhyme). They have both provided a wonderful opportunity for people with no knowledge of music to enter the music world.

Playing actual notes (arpeggios, different modes, etc) on the fretboard requires knowledge...
Click to expand...

That's an interesting point, but haven't there always been guitarists and bassists in rock, that play professionally, that don't understand theory?

Therefore, hasn't rock always also been a wonderful opportunity for people with no knowledge to enter the music world as well?

One can find, literally, thousands of examples of rock hits where the bassist just plays roots or root/5th or root/3rd/5th. Or when the guitarist just plays a lick he knows in G, up 2 frets to work in this new song in A.

Not a big deal, but it just seems odd that you'd call out slapping, considering.
 
#70
Groove Doctor said:
^^ I haven't seen a 15 year old slapping on a bass IN REAL LIFE for at least a decade. The only player I've seen slap live in recent time was in disco medley for top shelf corporate band.

Maybe people spend too much time watching others on-line instead of getting out to gigs or actually playing. Just saying.....
Click to expand...

There were definitely a few younger folks slapping at BP live last weekend.

That being said they were all pretty good, so I wouldn't knock em. Plus it takes balls to play in a convention full of older dudes that are all likely to judge you, so yeah, props.
 
#71
I cannot stand slap n pop. I find the sound of it annoying...unless it's done on a vintage Fender with flats or tapewounds, or it was recorded before 1980. So, I will never ever do it.

I used to do it. But I found that that VAST MAJORITY of music does not require it, and most singer/songwriters, producers engineers, etc. would prefer to hire a guy who does not slap n pop.

I've been a gigging bass player for 25 years and I can recall maybe once or twice where it was needed on a gig. I've never slapped in the studio (although I've wanted to slap people!)
 
#72
oboylebass said:
I've been a gigging bass player for 25 years and I can recall maybe once or twice where it was needed on a gig. I've never slapped in the studio (although I've wanted to slap people!)
Click to expand...
And I've been gigging since 1975. And every gig I've ever played has required slap on many songs! The problem here is that the majority of you slap haters play rock, metal and other music that little to no slap bass is required! If you played funk, soul, latin, gospel and smooth jazz, you be way more aware of the use of the style. Just because you and others don't hear much of it, beside music store and youtube slappers, doesn't mean it's not still in wide use! I wish you guys would stop being so small minded! Your world is not the only one out there!

This is why I don't like these slap threads whether pro or anti. Just way too much negativity with a lot of untruths and it's just getting old!
 
#73
SactoBass said:
The following is pure opinion on my part, so please don't get over-emotional with what I say...

I put slap in the same category as rap (and not because they rhyme). They have both provided a wonderful opportunity for people with no knowledge of music to enter the music world.
Click to expand...

Without getting emotional at all (I promise) I can tell that you've listened to neither good hip-hop nor good slapping.

EDIT: Nor do I believe you really have any idea what goes into either
 
#74
DWBass said:
And I've been gigging since 1975. And every gig I've ever played has required slap on many songs! The problem here is that the majority of you slap haters play rock, metal and other music that little to no slap bass is required! If you played funk, soul, latin, gospel and smooth jazz, you be way more aware of the use of the style. Just because you and others don't hear much of it, beside music store and youtube slappers, doesn't mean it's not still in wide use! I wish you guys would stop being so small minded! Your world is not the only one out there!

This is why I don't like these slap threads whether pro or anti. Just way too much negativity with a lot of untruths and it's just getting old!
Click to expand...


First of all, I never said I hated slap n pop so don't call me a "slap hater". Nor did I criticize those who do it. On the contrary I actually think there are many many great bassists who do it exceptionally well. I simply stated that I don't really like it, so I don't do it. Second of all, I do not play metal. Third of all I DO play lots of funk, soul and jazz, as well as blues, R&B, pop and top 40 (yeah, in the real world of working musicians!)...and do it all without slapping, ever. People can slap away all they want. Just as they can use a pick, play with their elbows, or whatever. If it works for you, go for it
 
#75
Bassist4Eris said:
It's becoming an annoying TB cliche: the anti-slapping thread.

I really believe that the root of the phenomenon is an ancient interview that Anthony Jackson gave to Bass Player Magazine, in which he called slapping a "cold, irritating abomination".
Click to expand...



No the roots of the never ending Anti slap campaign are.

1.
Racism

2.
Jealousy

3.
Not understanding at least the applications of the basic approach to the technique.

4.
Ignorance

5.
Respect. If it's not your thing no need to rally up a lynch mob attitude about the technique or any other technique, if it's not your thing, it's not your thing.
 
#76
oboylebass said:
I cannot stand slap n pop. I find the sound of it annoying...
Click to expand...
Your words! Can't stand! Hate! Tomato, Tomatoe!!!

This is just a sorry thing that WE slappers always have to defend the use of the style! What is this......West Side Story? The Sharks (anti slappers) vs. The Jets (pro slappers)??? :scowl:

Just plain stupid! For once, I had hoped Brad Johnson would show up and let off some steam! He'd get y'all going for real!

These threads are useless. Just riles up the masses and shows some folks true colors........literally!
 
#77
JAUQO III-X said:
No the roots of the never ending Anti slap campaign are.

1.
Racism
Click to expand...

VERY interesting thought. Now, I'm not willing to call all anti-slappers racist. Nor, I believe, are you. But, as a white guy coming of age in a small white town in the late 80's, I can tell you that my bourgeoning interest in slap was often denigrated as n***** bass.
 
#79
I have never heard of Anthony Jackson so argument doesn't hold up with me. All I know is that "Slapping" has become the bass players answer to guitarists who try to play "Smoke On The Water". It's way over done and the sad truth is that most bass players cannot slap very well. Slapping has never impressed me and neither have guitarists who "shred" or try to cram as many notes into 30 seconds as they can. I would much rather listen to someone who plays with feeling and has an original style than someone who is trying to copy what everyone else is doing.
 
#80
carvinbassplyr said:
I will try not go deep with this, but Nashville session players/producers have a very specific way of doing things. That's why Nashville has such a signature sound, those rules keep things consistent. You can always tell projects that were done in Nashville (even beyond country) if you know what to listen for. Nashville still wages war on anything but a 4 string (p) bass for crying out loud! Yes, there are exceptions when bringing in groups who just use Nashville as a facility, but I'm talking about the working players down there who get stuff done day in and day out.
Click to expand...
Maybe so but that's old school thinking. It'll change as the generations change! Change is inevitable!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back