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In Defense of Slapping

#161
maturanesa said:
the problem with slap is about hand anatomy. when you slap with your thumb your fingers are naturally in a place ready to pluck the strings under the string you slapped, so its very tricky to play lines in a single string, and is practically imposible to slap a high note and pluck a low note. Thats the reason why 90% of the slap lines are root note + octave or root note + 7th or 6th. So, if your main weapon is slapping you become repetitive sooner or later...
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If you practice you can slap and pop on the same string quite easily. But it is almost impossible to slap a high string then pop a low one. But, I think the repetitive nature of slap bass lines is more lazy composition. Just like any style can become repetitive.
 
#163
tbz said:
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.
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I meant to respond earlier to your post, but I forgot to until now.

I wanted to say that you make a VERY good point! I completely agree (and this is purely opinion on my part) that many rock songs are ultra basic, to the point of making me nauseous. I won't name any particular bands, because that would be a thread derail. Suffice it to say that, IMO, there is a vast amount of tripe in this world that somehow made it into a recording studio.

Big +1 on your post!
 
#164
maturanesa said:
the problem with slap is about hand anatomy. when you slap with your thumb your fingers are naturally in a place ready to pluck the strings under the string you slapped, so its very tricky to play lines in a single string, and is practically imposible to slap a high note and pluck a low note. Thats the reason why 90% of the slap lines are root note + octave or root note + 7th or 6th. So, if your main weapon is slapping you become repetitive sooner or later...
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you can pop a lower string ... it is just not very fast

if 90% of all slap line is octave in Emin pentatonic is the problem of the music and the inability of most musician to make more compeling music ... but more compeling music doesn't sell as well the cr@p so cr@p it is.

to many use slap as a way to groove or get it funky or to transform the bass into a drum ... I prefer when it is just another way to pluck the strings ... like a pick give a different attack.
 
#165
AaronVonRock said:
Anytime I look up a product demo on YouTube and the guy starts slapping, I immediately go to the next clip. It's a big turnoff for me. Not a fan of the sound at all. I have the same reaction when I hear a guitarist do finger tapping.
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Same here. Listen, I think it's a great technique and I wish I could do it. But I suck at it big time and I'm the first to admit it. I try and try and can't do it. But that doesn't mean I hate when others do it.

However...as said above...because I don't slap, it's very annoying when I want to hear a product I may be intersted in and all the person does is the slap technique. They ought to give a big listen to Ed Freidland's demos. Yes, he'll demo a product playing the slap style (and very well) but he also demo's with a pick and with his fingers. He gave something for everyone.
 
#167
Slapping can be cool in small doses. Not a style that I am very interested in though. I did play a few Faith No More songs back in the day that had some slapping in them. It's a fairly easy technique that can quickly be overdone.

Same with tapping pretty much. Cool in small doses in the right spots.

Just my two cents.

Cheers!

MJW
 
#169
Growing up I had guitar lessons and learned both classical AND jazz fingerstyle techniques. This REALLY helped later to think more melodic slap lines.

Abe Laboriel mentions how the Classical guitar method (Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring) had influenced his style. So I learned his approach, bass lines, etc.... which further transformed my thinking.


Dig deeper and expand your musical vocabulary - your biggest limitation is your thinking. :)
 
#170
If you're gonna let strangers on the internet influence ANYTHING you do with a musical instrument, you are too weak willed to live in this world.

Look for ideas, tips or advice? Sure.

Feel validated because a bunch of schmoes share your opinion?

That's funny...and meaningless.

Feel butthurt because some frowny face disses something you dig doing?

That's pathetic.
 
#171
nysbob said:
If you're gonna let strangers on the internet influence ANYTHING you do with a musical instrument, you are too weak willed to live in this world.

Look for ideas, tips or advice? Sure.

Feel validated because a bunch of schmoes share your opinion?

That's funny...and meaningless.

Feel butthurt because some frowny face disses something you dig doing?

That's pathetic.
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That's one of the best (and most accurate) posts I have seen on Talkbass.

My motto is: do what makes you happy in life, regardless of what anyone else says. And don't waste time seeking the approval of others. For about the first 30 years of my life, I didn't understand this, and I was always worried about what others thought and I always tried to impress others. (Plus, I suffered from this strange disease where I always felt rubbed the wrong way if someone's opinion of something didn't match mine.) Then, somewhere around age 35...*DING!*...the lightbulb finally illuminated, and I realized that other humans simply aren't important enough to bother with. How liberating!!! Since then, I have been having way too much fun!
 
#173
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#174
nysbob said:
If you're gonna let strangers on the internet influence ANYTHING you do with a musical instrument, you are too weak willed to live in this world.

Look for ideas, tips or advice? Sure.

Feel validated because a bunch of schmoes share your opinion?

That's funny...and meaningless.

Feel butthurt because some frowny face disses something you dig doing?

That's pathetic.
Click to expand...

+1

Pretty much what I was about to say, so now I don't have to. :)
 
#176
I think an important "take away" from this thread is, everyone has differing tastes, styles, and preferences. There is no need for the OP to "defend" his preferred style of playing (the thread title is "in defense of slapping"). He should just carry on with what he enjoys......same with everyone else.

I also think this thread brings to light the fact that we can't help what we like and dislike. It comes from within, and we have no control over it. That's what my lima beans message was all about. I don't like lima beans, and I couldn't change that even if I wanted to. I don't control that preference. Why do I love shrimp and spaghetti so much? I have no idea, and I couldn't change that even if I wanted to. Same with the colors I like, and the style of music I like, and the style of bass playing I like. We all have things we like and dislike, and we have no control over that. So to get on someone's case for liking or disliking a certain whatever is just plain silly and nonsensical because those preferences are automatic and comes from within. That would be like me finding fault with someone because they prefer the color blue.

But then, we humans are known for being silly beings. It's our reputation as a species.
 

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