Is slap necessary for a working bassist?

[KJMO]

I'm a terrible slapper (the peak of my ability is Larry Graham Hair), but I'm in an 80's band that plays corporate gigs, private parties, bars and events, so I have to be able to play some relatively simple slap. In fact, I play a little slap in another band that is Americana, Rockabilly, etc. (on shotgun and a couple others). I wouldn't have to, but I want it to sound like that, so it's good I can.

On the one hand, I feel like if you're in a band that never requires it, then why would you have to be able to. On the other hand, I wonder if it is like not being able to play brushes for drums. I think most musicians try to be generalists to some extent, but for some reason a lot of bassists make some sort of of moral issue out of abstaining from some styles, which is weird.

The band recently added "lessons in love", and I can't do it, so there is that. I don't think I'll physically be able to, ever, so I feel like that's a failure. I'm not going to try to justify it in any way.

 

[dkelley]

Mostly no, not needed. Depends what you play though. There are groups/songs where if you don't slap it would sound dumb.

 

[WrapRough]

The most fun I have on bass is when I play slap. As I play for my own pleasure, it's something I've always practiced a lot and tried to get really good at. I've got a long way to go but damn it's fun

 

[J R Knots]

I

Hey you wacky hipsters

I just wanted to say that this post was inspired by the venerable Dr Cheese who inspired me to ask this question. In his thread "What aspect of your technique impresses you the least?" I noticed many players bemoaning their poor slap technique. I am 61 now and have had a very busy freelance career doing Show work, Jazz gigs, and Classical orchestral work to the point where I never learned to "slappa da bass". I recently left the Eastern US and relocated back to my home town (fairly good sized city btw) to spent my later years with family. I gotta say I was never asked to use it by anyone who hired me and only close friends I play with are asking me to play more contemporary jazz stuff that has it in the original recording. So I am considering putting the student hat on after all these years to learn.


NOW - this is not a post to either endorse or discourage slap technique but rather to ask: What do you gents and ladies think? What is your experience? Is it a necessary part of a working bassists tool kit? Please include what you do in your answer. Are you a bedroom bassist? Session player? Weekend Warrior? Teacher? etc.

I already have my answer. My experience has been that I never really needed it and I know of lots of UBER FUNKY players such as Jimmy Johnson, Paul Jackson, Rocco Prestia, Jaco Pastorious etc. who got by without it and there are numerous examples of players who use it well. It is always interesting to learn new things and so I want to hear from all or you.

I am a pretty mediocre slapper but I hardly ever have an opportunity/option to play that way over the years.

I probably go so long between playing slap that I spend more time re-learning my technique than anything.

I certainly have respect for a bunch of players especially Larry Graham, the Buddha, and Jonas Hellborg.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I think that in all of the wedding/corporate gig setlists over the past 8 years, there has been one song that had slap in it, and it was only one part of the song. It happened to also have a regular bass line going the same time which was more essential than the slap riff.

 

[Element Zero]

I absolutely love playing slap. Victor, Flea, P-Nut, Commerford, Claypool... all HIGHLY influential on me when I started playing in ‘94. In the 3 original bands I was a part of from ‘98-‘14, I used slap in probably 10 of the nearly 100 songs we wrote. In the 3 cover bands I’ve been a part of since ‘18 I’ve needed it twice.

Not a technique I’ve used often with actual bands, but that doesn’t stop me from honing and improving my technique because enjoy it. I don’t play for other people. I play for my own enjoyment. If other people like what I do, then cool.

I don’t often play with a pick either but SOMETIMES it makes sense and I enjoy it. I don’t see a reason to NOT learn a potentially fun and different technique. Why not have all the tools you might need for the job?

I’m gonna be super blunt here but it’s the truth. If you don’t really want to learn something, you never will and will always be bad at it.

 

[lug]

Depends. Is it an audience at a bass player's convention? If not, no.

 

[Killing Floor]

What’s your gig?
You should be able to pull off any style that could come up in the context of your gig on stage or in studio. If there’s an outside chance the piece calls for slap you either can do the job or not.

Slap is really valuable in context. When I poke fun about slap it’s the overuse that I’m aiming at. But when it fits, when there’s a space you need to fill it can add a level of dynamics to a song.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I would learn how to play with a pick before learning to slap, but considering it's establishment and prevalence since the 70s, I feel one cannot be a well rounded bassist without a working knowledge.

 

[JoshS]

I am 61 now and have had a very busy freelance career doing Show work, Jazz gigs, and Classical orchestral work to the point where I never learned to "slappa da bass".

I gotta say I was never asked to use it by anyone who hired me

I already have my answer. My experience has been that I never really needed it and I know of lots of UBER FUNKY players such as Jimmy Johnson, Paul Jackson, Rocco Prestia, Jaco Pastorious etc. who got by without it

In my professional playing career I can safely say the same as you. I've never really need it. I've yet to meet a working bass player who has been called on to really get into it and do it.

I'm going to take you both as my answers!

(But it is really fun to learn and play around with in the shed)



I honestly believe anyone who has owned a bass for more than a day and says they've never, ever tried to slap is lying. Even if it is 1% of practice time lifetime, it isn't zero.

 

[matthewbrown]

If you're working in a music shop? Yes.

 

[StyleOverShow]

Slapping enhances the rhythmic texture. Just a tad of a slap and the occasional pop make a run of the mill riff really groove.

perhaps looking at it like ‘using a pick’ is helpful?

 

[soundsupport1]

As a 'has been' (currently) cover - band bassist, here is my take...

If it is my job to represent the bass line in a song, it is also my job to use the appropriate technique. Within my first year of learning to play, the fingers and the pick and the thump / pluck all received attention as I was practicing. Zero regrets in becoming proficient in all 3 techniques.

Is it necessary for a working bassist? No, but I promise you that fellow musos and audience can appreciate 'us' being versatile.... they can hear the difference.

...what he said.

I would add that having a decent grasp of different techniques is good/essential, along with knowing the basic rules of various genres (the reggae rhythm, punk picking, funk on the one, blues chords, the 1-1-6-5 note sequence of a lot of rock and pop song basslines, etc, etc.) is also extremely helpful not just to you, but occasionally popping something like that out in soundcheck or rehearsal is extremely reassuring for your bandmates; you demonstrate that you're a musician who's comfortable (or can at least fake it) across a broad range of sounds and styles, that you can be relied upon.

It gives your bandmates peace of mind to know that even if you never do it, you can.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[micguy]

I play church gigs. I can play most places without true slapping (I can bounce strings off the frets and get real funky, but what I do isn't true slap), but some churches I'd be a fish out of water.

 

[Acidic Pool]

I find it difficult to make slapping stand out in a full band setting. Maybe an EQ thing? It sounds really cool solo or on a recording if I kind of build the other tracks around it, but once you get guitars crankin drums slammin and horns tootin it kinda gets lost.

 

[Drang22]

Slapping isn't necessary, but useful for annoying everyone else who might be shopping at Guitar Center, and for impressing people who know little about actual bass playing.

 

[svlilioukalani]

I love to play slap bass, and I am good at it. It took me many years to become fluid at it, so it is part of my musical vocabulary. Making your slap bass tasteful, as well as sounding tight with the band, is the key. One trick I learned is to hit with your thumb when the bass drum strikes. Pluck with your finger when the drummer hits the snare. Less is usually more. Build on that.

I an now gigging with a country band. I work funky country lines into everything to make the music more danceable. I am only able to work a slap line in if a few small parts of 2 out of 30 songs. With my jazzy rock band I am slapping allot; but tastefully. When ever there is a bass player in the crowd they always come up to talk. Few others care.

It is not absolutely not necessary. Stanley Clarke can get a close sound with his finger tips. The most important thing is to just have fun with what ever you play. That's what people notice the most.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

And most are probably sitcom theme songs - Seinfeld, Barney Miller, Sanford & Son, Night Court...

Hate to tell you this, Seinfeld bass part was played on a Korg M1 keyboard

 

[Kukulkan61]

NO...

 

[MrLenny1]

I freelance and for the exception of a few tunes I never
am asked to 'slappa the bass".