Most bass players???? Are you hearing all this from amateurs?? Point me to examples? Weekend warrior hack bassists? Ain't happening in my neighborhood! Not knowing about Anthony Jackson (For The Love Of Money- The O'Jays) says a lot.
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In Defense of Slapping
- Thread starter Bassist4Eris
- Start date
I don't regret my original post, because I think it's a decent piece of writing and it needed to be said (or, at least, I needed to say it, which isn't exactly the same thing). But I'm starting to see your point.
Other musicians don't complain when I slap.
Audience members don't complain when I slap.
Some Talkbass members complain about slap. Those are pretty much the only people in my life who complain about slap.
So, why do I care?
Well, on a certain level, I don't. I mean, I'm going to do whatever I want whether people like it or not; I'm just like that.
But, young players come on here for advice, and sometimes they take things they read too seriously. I only make this generalization because I too was once a young player, surrounded by other young players, who all took our cues from the older players around us. And I see no reason to bias them against a perfectly legitimate technique just because the cool kids on TB think it ought to be beneath them.
And so I saw no harm in exposing them, and everyone else, to another viewpoint. One that I feel (perhaps erroneously) gets drowned out here by a small but vocal minority.
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!)
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.
Yeah, your opinion carries no weight at all because you clearly have no idea what good rapping and good slap are. Go buy a CD or two and listen with an open mind instead of basing your opinion on some dude wanking off on a beat up P in the local Guitar Center. I take offense when you say that slap bass is "the easiest, shortest, quickest (and laziest) path in their effort to try and impress other humans." Since when was slap bass easy? Have you actually tried it?
Good rap takes a hell of a lot of skill.
Good slap takes years and years of meticulous study.
Maybe try rapping and slapping for real sometime.
Which also goes for the whole slap-bass-is-like-shred-guitar analogy.
Shred guitar can be awful. Slap bass can be awful too.
Shred guitar can also be really really cool when performed by someone with skill and discipline in the style.
Slap bass can be very very cool when performed by someone with skill and discipline in the style.
Rap can be very very cool when performed by someone with skill and discipline in the style.
DJ's... do they suck? Most of them do. Then you get a guy like Mix Master Mike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XflfiylNNXY
This guy can play the turntable like an instrument. I can't do what he can do. Does that mean he sucks?
Do you know how much skill it takes to do what he can do with a record? He's not playing a traditional instrument so does that make what he's doing any less valid than a violinist playing Mozart? Or any less valid than a bassist playing CCR? Hell no!
So... YOU can't slap. Does that mean it's a "terrible" thing with no artistic value and no place in the annals of music? No
YOU can't rap. Does that mean it's a "terrible" thing with no artistic value and no place in the annals of music? No
Shall I go on?
- Oct 18, 2012
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The OP mentioned people who slap at places like GC. That was my point. Younger bass players are slapping because they think they have to not because it is anything different or original.
By the way, I have been playing for 35 years, have toured with many very well know rock artists. I have never been a fan of the O'Jays. So it makes sense that I wouldn't know who Anthony Jackson is and I have never heard of For The Love Of Money. I am also not a fan of most jazz, fusion, most R & B or 6 string bass players. Apparently Anthony Jackson fits into all of these categories. I'm not saying that he isn't a good player, I'm just saying that I am not a fan. And yes, I realize that in your eyes I will be considered a snob. My larger point was that the OP, like many people just assume that because they know of a particular musician that everyone else does as well. He also assumed that the reason people who hate slapping do so because of comments made by Anthony Jackson. It implied that that the only way that any of us develop an opinion is to read someone else's position on an issue. I never read the article and am intelligent enough (IQ of 147) to make up my own mind based on what I am hearing. I do not like slapping, period! As far as not knowing who Anthony Jackson is, I have never gotten caught up in the whole "hero worship" thing. I really don't care who played on what song or how they did it. If I find a song or band interesting, I might research it a little more but not to the point where I care who did what. There are many bands that I like and listen to on a regular bass yet have no idea who played bass on their songs.
Did you read the OP, He mentioned kids at GC.
I understand your point. However, there are a lot of baseless arguments going on in this thread. Lots of speculation with no real world experience by many. By the way, I'm sure you've heard the OJays tune at least once!!
Youtube it.
I think you nailed it right there. I don't care for slap (notice I didn't say "hate") because I'm not a fan of any of those styles of music. Just the words "smooth jazz" can make a little vomit rise up in my throat.
Well, I'm not what you'd call an Anthony Jackson fanatic. But he's a pretty famous player. It's worth knowing the history of your instrument, IMO.
And I quote myself here:
To clarify: SOME of you does not mean ALL of you.
I am the OP, so I'm pretty sure I read it. My point was that the kids at GC are not a measure of the validity of slap technique.
And while we're at it, this is the post I was responding to in the post you quoted:
And so I ask you again: what does that have to do with kids at GC??? Again, are you basing your opinion on the technique based on teenagers at a guitar shop?
This is almost as tedious as the "fingers vs. pick" argument. Oddly enough, Anthony Jackson is equally awesome, funky, and adept with both approaches.
The larger point of this thread is: fingers vs. pick vs. slapping = who cares? My opinion is you should learn all three, and anything else you can think of. Someone mentioned playing with your elbow, and I'm all for it. But if a technique doesn't speak to you, it's your prerogative to skip it. The only thing I'm trying to say is: pick, fingers, slap, or elbow: if you don't like it, don't do it. But please stop trolling about it. Thank you and goodnight.
B4E
I think when you title a thread "In Defense of...", you are inviting, even encouraging, dissenting views. The tone of your OP is almost challenging people to disagree with you.
Personally, I enjoy these types of threads. When people feel passionately about something that's polarizing, I find it interesting to read.
Just out of curiosity, can anyone point to any recent examples of popular music that includes slap bass? It doesn't have to be the whole song, it could just be for a bridge or something. It seems like the sound has fallen out of favor in the pop world, and definitely isn't very prevalent in my local scene.
Recent? Popular? like top 40?
Name a recent, popular, top 40 song that has bass guitar in it.
This is the number one song this week.
Invalid Link Removed
No bass guitar
Number 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YICuUtkjlg
No bass guitar
Number 3
Invalid Link Removed
No bass guitar
Number 4
Invalid Link Removed
Nope
Number 5
Invalid Link Removed
I can't tell past the side chained compression kick drum but I don't think so.
My point is, if you want to judge something by its popularity then we should all put down our basses and pick up our MacBooks to make music.
I like slap when it is uesd as a different attack like someone who use a pick is to have a different attack. I just can't stand E minor pentatonic "groove".
And yes there is slap in metal, it is use as a different attack instead of a "groove" thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Zp7f8NckA
some slap at 1:40
And yes there is slap in metal, it is use as a different attack instead of a "groove" thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Zp7f8NckA
some slap at 1:40
My reasons for slapping:
1. It's fun.
2. It's really quite fun.
3. Did I mention it's fun.
4. It has a unique timbre that I am unable to replicate with any other technique.
5. It is fun.
6. I think it's fun.
I play bass because it is fun. I have made a little money on it, but it's not what I make my living by. Even if you do make your living playing bass, there are a million better ways to make money, you chose this because it is more fun than selling stock options. Slapping is fun. Fingerstyle is fun. Picking is fun. Tapping is fun. Rubbing random metal objects against the strings to see what sounds come out is fun. All of these things can be done to make great songs. All of these things can be done to the detriment of everyone's ears. Relax.
Things I agree with: listening to dueling slappers that are just learning the technique and have yet to learn judicious use of said technique sucks. The only reason it sucks more than hearing a bad version of Starlight played with poor time and uneven technique is the piercing highs. Be thankful GC doesn't sell brass, I am.
Thanks B4E!
Edit::: I have heard a variety of slapping in places I never thought likely. It's even become popular in commercial jingles. If people are slapping in jingles, doesn't that indicate that it's something pros shouldn't ignore?
1. It's fun.
2. It's really quite fun.
3. Did I mention it's fun.
4. It has a unique timbre that I am unable to replicate with any other technique.
5. It is fun.
6. I think it's fun.
I play bass because it is fun. I have made a little money on it, but it's not what I make my living by. Even if you do make your living playing bass, there are a million better ways to make money, you chose this because it is more fun than selling stock options. Slapping is fun. Fingerstyle is fun. Picking is fun. Tapping is fun. Rubbing random metal objects against the strings to see what sounds come out is fun. All of these things can be done to make great songs. All of these things can be done to the detriment of everyone's ears. Relax.
Things I agree with: listening to dueling slappers that are just learning the technique and have yet to learn judicious use of said technique sucks. The only reason it sucks more than hearing a bad version of Starlight played with poor time and uneven technique is the piercing highs. Be thankful GC doesn't sell brass, I am.
Thanks B4E!
Edit::: I have heard a variety of slapping in places I never thought likely. It's even become popular in commercial jingles. If people are slapping in jingles, doesn't that indicate that it's something pros shouldn't ignore?
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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I forgot to mention how fun it is!!
Yeah, that's pretty much the main reason I do it. If it wasn't fun I wouldn't play it.
I think with any technique there are more people trying to learn it (or simply can not do it well) than people who have mastered it. I hear a lot of bassists who can't fingerstyle correctly (inconsistent plucking) but regardless of their current skill on that technique does not change my mind on that technique. I think we just all need to remember when we started out, I am sure that most of us were not that well on our technqiues. Heck, I still need a lot more work (maybe that's why I am more lenient?).
If the case is that the person playing claims to have excellent technique, has a bad attitude or something of that nature, then I believe the gripe should be the individual rather than the technique. My 2 cents.
If the case is that the person playing claims to have excellent technique, has a bad attitude or something of that nature, then I believe the gripe should be the individual rather than the technique. My 2 cents.
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