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Is Slapping out of style?
- Thread starter DFW_Bass
- Start date
Eh... I'd have to disagree. It's still a technique just as much as the rest of them. With that in mind, as opposed to the word "style" which can have a negatively fashionable connotation, it's something you put into practice and use in the right situations. When a guy works out he puts the right techniques to use depending on the workout. When a racer hits the strip, he might have nitrous. He may not always use it (unless he's a ricer with a civic with the only other modification of an intake and maybe a muffler), but he will put it to use in the correct situation. It's all about how you lay it down and knowing when to do it.
As for Larry Graham. He's gonna slap... er... be thumpin n' pluckin'
long after he's dead. So wheter or not he's a taste-guru, as the inventor of the style, it almost seems mandatory that he does it.But if you're just trying to show off and get laid at your gig and have no real passion for music whatsoever... be a guitard. Much easier to accomplish the goal if that's all you really want.
I guess just like what people wear when they go out... just look around... what are bassist doing live, at gigs, concerts, t.v. shows.
As popular as flea is, he is doing more fingerstyle on his newer songs.
This statement is accurate. Just as 'finger-picking' is one of many styles of the guitar, 'slapping' is one of many styles of the bass guitar.
'Finger-picking' is a technique that's used primarily (but not exclusively) in country music. 'Slapping/popping' is a technique that's used primarily (but not exclusively) in the funk/fusion styles of music.
Whether you think it's "in style" or not makes no difference. It is a bass guitar technique... one of many. It's the musician's choice of what style of music they want to play.
Now, slapping techniques are not the easiest to master. This, I have found, is a reason that many bass players condemn this technique. The bass guitar, at it's roots, can be somewhat simplistic. With a basic knowledge of the instrument, one can essentially perform on it in a relatively short time of playing the instrument. This can lead to the thoughts of 'Why learn some of the more difficult techniques'. If that is the choice of the bass player, it's all good. But just know that there are many more difficult and advanced techniques that are involved with the playing of the instrument.
Bottom line: Slapping is a style that's always going to be uniquely a part of the sound associated with the bass guitar. It is a style that will be used on the bass for many styles of music. Whether someone believes it's "in" or not, makes no difference. It is the musicians preference.
Agreed... I find in my playing the more tricks I know the better. Playing bass is like Fking not everyone is good at it but anyone can do it
Thank you! I think that's probably what Larry Graham and Stanley Clarke were calling it way back when.
Hey, man. If you can play piano. Go for it. I love the piano. But those key bassists. That's weak. Does that mean I'm gonna start seeing little thug-muffin wanksters walking into the music shops looking to buy a casio and an ampeg? DAMN YOU RAP MUSIC!
Especially those guys who have the little slap option on their keyboard. Just to make things a little worse for the rest of the music world... and probably society altogether.
Hey, man. If you can play piano. Go for it. I love the piano. But those key bassists. That's weak. Does that mean I'm gonna start seeing little thug-muffin wanksters walking into the music shops looking to buy a casio and an ampeg? DAMN YOU RAP MUSIC!
Especially those guys who have the little slap option on their keyboard. Just to make things a little worse for the rest of the music world... and probably society altogether.
I love rap music but honestly it sucks now... there's is only one rap artist i like and that's Jay-Z... ONLY because he uses live instruments, and guess what, he has a real Bass player too...
That's why he's so good, at the end.. Real music will always win, now back to slapping.
Jay-z bassist doesn't slap LOL
Andy Brown
Commercial User
- Jul 23, 2004
- 5,675
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- Founder/Owner: Wing Instruments
In my 20+ years of playing, I've only needed to use it in a song context maybe twice. Never really learned to do it myself. If called for, I'll just dig in and pluck harder to simulate popping, which is the closest I'll get.
As others have said, million-miscellaneous notes slapping was never in style, but tasteful slap would be in style dictated by the context.
As others have said, million-miscellaneous notes slapping was never in style, but tasteful slap would be in style dictated by the context.
It's something along the lines of 'Theres a time and place for everything' lol! I get sick of hearing certain players I know try and slap at the most inappropriate times...I.E. the guitarist is doing a cool lick and they want to try and steal some limelight:scowl: or doing it in a straight 4/4 with no rhythm or feel to anything they play...or worse, completely out of time.
Although on the flip side...it is good to hear someone changing a part from a song, using 'slap pop' and bouncing off what the drummer is playing from time to time. Horses and courses I guess. Slapping hasn't always been a showboating technique, upright players used it to be able to be heard at one point.
Summary. Use what you know, but use it wisely.
Although on the flip side...it is good to hear someone changing a part from a song, using 'slap pop' and bouncing off what the drummer is playing from time to time. Horses and courses I guess. Slapping hasn't always been a showboating technique, upright players used it to be able to be heard at one point.
Summary. Use what you know, but use it wisely.
Well, I hav eno idea what ol' Stan called it, but I know larry originally termed it "thumpin' n' pluckin'." Kinda funny watching an old video on youtube as he explains it. He never once says "slap." In it's essence, you really aren't slapping anything. It looks like your slapping the bass from a spectators point of view, but you really are thumping the strings "as to emulate the bass drum" and plucking them "to emulate the snare" as he said in the interview. It all came out of necessity because back when he first started, he wanted to play guitar, but couldn't. The didn't have a drummer and his mom was the keys. So, he started experimenting and found that doing these things would add a percussive touch to the music they were making without a drummer. He found this so cool and fun, he never went back to the guitar. Soon after, he thumped and plucked all the way to the bank.
I'm sure most of you know that... but some might not.
- Aug 5, 2005
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No, it's just not mainstream. Then again, I think that is the very definition of "in style."
So, yes.
I tastefully slap here and there until somebody asks me to play the Seinfeld theme.
So, yes.
I tastefully slap here and there until somebody asks me to play the Seinfeld theme.
i think slapping is outa style in modern music it gets used time to time but really its not a common thing and i don't think it should be it should only be used with certain things and whats popular now isn't one of them but then again if pete wentz picked up his bass and started to slap away in some fall out bou songs i may enjoy seeing that he actually does know some technique
I don't care for slapping. I find a solid uppercut is much more effective...Oh, on bass? It's a tool. But then again, when your only tool is a hammer, all your problems resemble nails . Have a happy...
Hey. Agreed. Older rap, though. I enjoy a little bit of Run DMC and some NWA here and there. Eminem was also a lyrical maniac (more or less after he got serious). But new rap... fake, comp processed crap produced from some loop station that costs $600+. Oh! Not to mention things like autotune voice allowing guys who can't sing to sing and be famous. *cough*T-Pain*cough*
Not to mention the horrible lyrical content these days. Rap revolved around 4 subjects today. Killing, drugs, sex, and money. If you stray from that... they call you hip-hop. Hmmm...Lol @ the Jay-Z bassist comment.
