Larry Graham's slapping

[Marc PG]

Which was the first song where Graham slapped the bass? The first tune in history in which he used the slapping technique.

Thanks.

 

[JimmyM]

Which was the first song where Graham slapped the bass? The first tune in history in which he used the slapping technique.

Thanks.

It was something at his mother's church. He slapped to imitate the sound of a drumset and add a little percussion. The first known recorded slap exists on their first Sly And The Family Stone album "A Whole New Thing," but "Dance To The Music" is the first hit that had slap.

 

[Marc PG]

It was something at his mother's church. He slapped to imitate the sound of a drumset and add a little percussion. The first known recorded slap exists on their first Sly And The Family Stone album "A Whole New Thing," but "Dance To The Music" is the first hit that had slap.

I've been hearing "Dance To The Music" and it doesn't seem to have any slap. The same with "A Whole New Thing", I can't hear a slap.

 

[Clark Dark]

I've been hearing "Dance To The Music" and it doesn't seem to have any slap. The same with "A Whole New Thing", I can't hear a slap.

Jimmy is right. Larry refers to his technique as thumping which a lot of people now call it slapping. Larry thumps on Dance To The Music but doesn't use plucks or pops as some refer to the string snaps. Hope I didn't make it more confusing.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The first actual thump and slap octave lick he recorded was this:

 

[JimmyM]

Yep, Larry never played finger style. He said he didn’t bother to Learn it because he never felt he was going to be a bass player anyway.So if he’s not plucking, he’s thumping.

 

[Marc PG]

Yep, Larry never played finger style. He said he didn’t bother to Learn it because he never felt he was going to be a bass player anyway.So if he’s not plucking, he’s thumping.

Well, I understand what you mean, but he certainly does fingerstyle in some tunes (at least, I'm pretty sure of it when I hear some songs). Do you know the first song in which he did 'thumping'?

I mean, 'slapping' was introduced in "Thank You..." (since 'slapping' is 'thumbing' and 'plucking'), but you guys said that he first started to just strike with his thumb, so what was the first song in which he used this only 'thumping' technique?

Thanks!

 

[JimmyM]

Well, I understand what you mean, but he certainly does fingerstyle in some tunes (at least, I'm pretty sure of it when I hear some songs). Do you know the first song in which he did 'thumping'?

I mean, 'slapping' was introduced in "Thank You..." (since 'slapping' is 'thumbing' and 'plucking'), but you guys said that he first started to just strike with his thumb, so what was the first song in which he used this only 'thumping' technique?

Thanks!

Don’t know. All I know is Larry never played trad finger style. Said so in his vid and interviews he’s done.

 

[JimK]

On a tangent, check out ?uestlove's Summer Of Soul on Hulu. Some great Sly & the Family Stone concert footage...better than Woodstock, IMO (the Harlem concert was in the daylight. Easier to see).