Is slap necessary for a working bassist?

[thmsjordan]

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

Well, to be fair Seinfeld was a synth was it not?

 

[thmsjordan]

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. The only time it's ever been essential, and I mean if you don't play this line as a slap line you've messed up, was when it cropped up in the part for 'Return To The Forbidden Planet'. You can't even fake it because it's 8 bars of solo bass! It's easily the most unmusical moment ever but that's how the show was written so you've got to respect that. There are a few slap fills in the part for Rent as well.

Included those two very specific moments I can still count in one hand how often I've needed to do it! Do I know how to do it? Sure thing! I don't particularly enjoy it but as insurance. You might never want to do it, or need it, but if it ever crops up you'll be glad you've got it. I never want my house to be broken into but if it then I'm hoping my insurance covers it.

Thank God I have never had to play Rent or Return to Forbidden Planet !! CATS however still has me seeing a therapist occasionally after all these years!!!!

It sounds like we have had parallel careers my friend!

 

[jnewmark]

I've been playing for 40 years, and have never been asked to slap my way through anything. Most of that time I was playing Blues and classic RnB, so I didn't really need to unless there was certain parts of a song where it called for it. Sometimes I will throw in a pop or two, just as an accent, but not much more than that. Tell ya the truth, I'm not a big fan of it; gets kind of all sounding alike to me, after awhile.

 

[primusfan1989]

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.

Ive never "had" to slap for a gig which is good considering I'm not good at it

 

[sonojono]

I love to slap! (When it’s appropriate).

 

[Wasnex]

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.

AFAIK Rocco and Jaco never slapped or popped.

I found a tune with Jimmy Johnson. He was playing primarily with finger, but occassionally threw in a little bit of pop and slap. Not essential but it does add some nice flavor.

Not sure if Paul Jackson played much, if any slap. I did find videos where it sort of sounded like slap, but I believe he was just plucking really hard.

I was a military bass player. I am primarily a finger-style player, but I also use pick and slap as appropriate for the music. There have been times early in my career where I got on peoples nerves happily slapping my bass before sound check. Some people hated it, and some people loved. Two of the composers at my first band wrote pieces that had slap bass lines for our big band that were released on recordings. sd

My group played this song shortly after it came out. There is prominent slap in the chorus bridge, but most of the original bass line is finger-style. My group leader wanted me to slap the entire song.

Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (Official Video) - YouTube

I also played this song in that band, and I thought it was important to use a pick.
Green Day - Basket Case [Official Music Video] - YouTube


You may also want to consider songs where the bass line is 100% slap. Sure you could play these songs finger style but it would loose something.

Teena Marie - Lovergirl - YouTube
Teena Marie - Square Biz [Widescreen Music Video] - YouTube
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach [Official Music Video] - YouTube

I believe these songs were played with a technique called single thumb, which is easier and less technical than double thumb. It's where most people start.

This was a minor hit and is majority single thumb. This is what Up Town Funk is pretending to be IMHO.
The Reddings - Remote Control 1980 - YouTube

I have never covered this song in a band, but hard to imagine doing the style without slap.

If you ever decide you want to work on double thumb, I suggest looking at Victor Wooten and Bill Dickens. They have some of the most extended and develop slap technique of any player I can think of.

For the record I also eventually transitioned from 4-string to 5-string, and then 5-string to 6-string. I also play upright bass in jazz and classical styles. Most people seem to specialize, but I feel my versatility was my strength. I wasn't great at anything, but I was pretty darn good at just about everything.

As far as your question. It's really up to you. Consider the type of work you plan to do, and if you want to be prepared to cover all parts accurately. There are plenty of bassists who hate slap and refuse to do it. So it's not unusual to find bassists who can't slap.

 

[lfmn16]

No, but the more techniques you master, the more marketable you are, the more gigs you'll get and the more money you make.

 

[nickpc]

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

Well, to be fair Seinfeld was a synth was it not?

I knew I should have pulled Seinfeld off the list - it's synth slap bass, but when someone plays it they're playing it on a bass. Usually badly, at high volumes, at Guitar Center...

 

[Wasnex]

No, but the more techniques you master, the more marketable you are, the more gigs you'll get and the more money you make.

Yep...I have definitely got some work because of my slap chops.

 

[zapdady]

I'm curious if anyone can recommend a definitive slap method system to work on developing slap. I have yet to find anything that works for me. Thanks.

 

[Wasnex]

Well, to be fair Seinfeld was a synth was it not?

While this is true, people used to come up and ask me to play it on bass all the time. Most people, especially non-musicians have no idea it's a synth. Probably makes sense as the patch is obviously slap bass.

 

[Kael]

I've yet to hear any song ever that needed slap. IMO 99.997% of the slap lines I've heard would have been better served by a funk funerstyle and the remaining .003% breaks even at best.

 

[Hypocrite]

Depends on the style of music. Personally, unless it's Marcus Miller or Stu Hamm, I would rather shove a pickaxe through my ears than listen to slap w@nking. But it might be exactly what the song calls for, and it's never a bad idea to have as many arrows in the quiver as possible

 

[thmsjordan]

I've yet to hear any song ever that needed slap. IMO 99.997% of the slap lines I've heard would have been better served by a funk funerstyle and the remaining .003% breaks even at best.

Gawd I love funk funerstyle !!! I knew what you meant though. We have a new bass term !!! I love it.

 

[Altitude]

2,000 plus songs on my ipod...1,975 without someone slapping a bass.
So...

If your job as a “working bass player” = playing the songs that are on your iPod, you’re in good shape.

 

[tpaul]

I'm curious if anyone can recommend a definitive slap method system to work on developing slap. I have yet to find anything that works for me. Thanks.

I would also be interested if anyone has a recommendation. I mean a, ahem, friend of mine would be interested.

 

[Lackey]

Nope. I really don't think it is. And I OBSESSED over my slap skills for a good 5 years. Wasted youth...

 

[DrayMiles]

No.

 

[BarfanyShart]

No, but you should have a strategy for faking it. I got a preset on my amp that helps my short-scale bass with flatwounds sound slap-happy enough to get through a slap tune. They should have a pedal for fake slap tone.

 

[Dincrest]

I'll +1 the sentiment that having another technique/tool in the toolbox makes you more employable as a versatile player who can jump in/fill in for most any musical situation. Especially if you're a studio/session player, you need to have a variety of tools in the toolbox to lay down tracks quickly and efficiently in a myriad of styles, including those that might require slap.

You probably won't break out the slap technique all that much, but you may need it for that one song on a paid gig or session... it's the sentiment of "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it but not have it."