People who whine about slapping

[Paul New]

If you think a distorted guitar will get you in trouble, try showing up with a J bass.

Ack-shully, J bass is the closest electric bass to tradition in bluegrass. John Cowan played a Jazz. Charles Sawtelle of Hot Rize often played one. Back when it looked like the bass guitar was bound to replace the upright in bluegrass, a jazz was the most common choice.

 

[Acoop]

"What are you doing in this house of ill repute, Pastor?"

I kick myself now for not including "LOL" in my post to help people, without a sense of humour, recognize comedy.

 

[Paul New]

I like slappin, but it's pretty much taboo now. I think Ed Friedland slaps so much in his excellent bass reviews because that's the only time he gets to do it.

 

[rashrader]

I slapped myself silly back in the 80’s and 90’s. It’s fine, but I don’t do it in public anymore.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Every time I get the nod for a solo, I’ll go in for a nice, intricate, melodic solo and you can see the people zone out. So I build it to a very basic, repetitive slap groove and people literally start cheering. If I throw in a couple of full neck slides on the B or E string, they absolutely eat that stuff up.

Slap on electric is a crowd-pleaser. And if the crowd is happy, I’m happy. Slap on!!

Agreed. It can be a show stopper.

But here is why. People still go nuts over the drums on the song Wipe Out as well. Most people can identify with rhythm patterns and rhythm intensity easier than differences in pitch. The reality is most people can’t tell difference in pitch.

For the record, I have no problem with slap and some artists I find truly amazing.

 

[2thAche]

 

[carsonchilders]

We periodically get the random person super grumpy about slap bass in our videos. We do not have a single video that features ONLY slap though...

 

[bassGtar]

Thank you.

IMHO this should really be in off-topic since it is more about hating whiners than any technical aspects of slapping.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

11 pages and counting of pure gibberish.

I love slap, when it’s used musically. The problem is, so many who use the technique do lack the musicality to do so tastefully.

 

[Sortarican]

Chris Rock hates it.

 

[Hot Rats]

It's a skill I never worked on but wish I had. It's too late for me now. Slap 'em if you got 'em. I hold no ill will for musicians that can. Peace everybody!

 

[dougjwray]

When I hear too much slapping, I feel like I'm reading an online post which is in ALL CAPS!!!!
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was monumental, but since then, it's all gone downhill.
(I will say that in the '80s era of walls of keyboard and HUGE drums, I did use a slapping attack to try to be audible. No popping. It worked really well. But even then, I was playing melodic lines, not playing the instrument like it was a pair of congas with only two pitches. )

 

[Paul New]

Chris Rock hates it.

I’m finally breathing again.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Really, who cares about how someone plays as long as it gets the job done!

When I watch a bass review video, I'm always listening for clues about how it might sound in my hands. I don't slap, so videos in which the playing is all slap, hold no appeal for me.

This isn't because I personally dislike slap. I'm an old man who came along decades before slap came along, and none of my gigs called for slap; it's simply not one of my skills.

 

[cataract]

For a second there I thought the thread title was People who whine about people whining about slapping

 

[SpankBazz]

For a second there I thought the thread title was People who whine about people whining about slapping

Broh, you totally won't believe it but you're like the 16th person to make that joke in this thread!
You're awesome, dude!!!

 

[fhm555]

Ack-shully, J bass is the closest electric bass to tradition in bluegrass. John Cowan played a Jazz. Charles Sawtelle of Hot Rize often played one. Back when it looked like the bass guitar was bound to replace the upright in bluegrass, a jazz was the most common choice.

Yep, I used one with a little 60W cube in a hillbilly string band where i was the only amplified instrument. Most folks were accepting but there were some hardcore folks who wouldn't put up with it. I also played a lot of folk and bluegrass with my dad and it was usually a J with him as well.

 

[pfschim]

11 pages ... funny stuff. TB is good for a laugh sometimes

 

[thebandcircle]

I've heard that slap bass is the ketchup of the bass world. Not everyone likes it but you have to put it out on the table for those who do. I find it difficult to play certain things at speed while string skipping unless I'm double thumbing and plucking alternately. I think of it as a gourmet ketchup with top notch ingredients.

 

[slagheap]

Great, now we're going to get into the age-old Tsugaru vs. Shinnai bachi style (Of course, real shamisen players play only kouta with their fingers!) argument.

Zatoichi plays a mean shamisen.