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Is Slapping out of style?

Slappig is cool, but its never been terribly popular with anyone other than bass players. Over the last 20 years or more, there is very little slapping on the radio etc.
I disagree. There's plenty of it on the radio, although perhaps not on the stations you listen to.

As I said in my earlier post, it is still very prominent in the smooth jazz genre, and also in advertising-related music (TV and radio jingles). We might not enjoy those styles, but they are significant components of the music industry, employing thousands of players, and certainly "matter".

Admittedly, there is little if any slap bass on top 40, rock, or alternative radio. In fact, there is little bass at all on top 40 radio right now, IMO.
 
hah! I know this is going to get some ppl angry with me, but this guy is a perfect example of why slap/pop is cheesey imo! Just look at his bass! With LED's no less... the definition of class :rollno:
Yeah, but he is one of the guys who pioneered the style in mainstream music. Frankly, he is one of the only guys around whose career is based pretty much solely on people coming to watch him do that. He gets a pass.
 
matters of taste aside, you NEVER hear slap bass on the radio in the UK. that's the kind of popular/vaguely indie-centric radio, anyway. (that's XFM, UKers)

a couple of years ago there was an episode of a comedy TV program devoted to almost entirely to mocking slap bass :D (that's the Mighty Boosh, UKers)

it does have its users in modern metal a bit (that's Sikth, UKers. and prob others, i don't know).

overall, IME, not that popular outside of jazz fusion/funk/similar.
 
The timbre/tonality produced by slap is unpredictable. I have to try it to see if it fits a particular song or not. It's sound is appropriate to specific songs, not genre. I've used it with everything from modal Mcoy Tyner compositions to old bluesy Jeff Beck stuff from the 70's to James Brown songs to.......?

Sometimes, I'll think it will sound great and it sounds like ka ka, and sometimes when you think it won't fit in at all, it does. Appropriate use of it will always be another tonal option, regardless of genre.
 
I don't worry about it being "in" or "out" of style, frankly. As long as I'm doing it within the right context and it works for the song, it's simply "another" style.

I don;t slap a whole lot in my band's music, but I do like slapping. We have one tune that is slap-heavy (it's somewhat Primus-esque) and I'll do a little slapping in a couple other tunes, but if the music doesn't call for it, i don't do it.
 
Out of style? Please let it be so.

I don't think it will fall out of favor with those who are rabid about it. No reason it should, I suppose. I can respect the talent that goes into it (when it's executed properly) but I really only like listening to the old timers who didn't have good "slap tone." They just had good tone.
 
hah! I know this is going to get some ppl angry with me, but this guy is a perfect example of why slap/pop is cheesey imo! Just look at his bass! With LED's no less... the definition of class :rollno:

Your opinion is your opinion and I'm glad you have one. Mine is that Mark's great, and I love the bass, the LEDs and the sound. In terms of "class" I don't understand what "class" has to do with any of those things. From what I understand, he seem to be a nice guy. Maybe that's a place where the discussion of "class" should come into play.

No anger, but the discussion of "class" is, IMO, misplaced.
 
I have been working on theAlso, I came across a Mark King video on You Tubes that showed his slapping skills. Wow!



I assume that the metal guard on his thumb is to make the popping more clear.


As I understand it, the guard is (was) tape to perhaps make the slap a little clearer, but maybe more importantly to protect his thumb from blistering or other damage. I'd have to go back and check some of those Level 42 Digests to confirm it.