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"Slap is overused"
- Thread starter Traynor
- Start date
It is like trumpet players playing the highest notes possible. If it is done well, and it is done musicaly fine, but if it becomes a demonstration of technique, and some sort of contest not so much. For some reason some trumpet players think that is is impressive if they can hit a very high note even if it out of tune and not done well. both are not a substitute for good music.
It is overused. Does that make it a bad technique? I don't think so. Some of you are a tad too defensive.
Also, the comparison to why fingerstyle and picking aren't also considered overused? C'mon… slap is an effect and sounds obnoxious as hell when used in the wrong situation. Fingerstyle and picking are much more subtle and you'll never hear anyone complain about fingerstyle being too harsh on the ears.
Also, the comparison to why fingerstyle and picking aren't also considered overused? C'mon… slap is an effect and sounds obnoxious as hell when used in the wrong situation. Fingerstyle and picking are much more subtle and you'll never hear anyone complain about fingerstyle being too harsh on the ears.
I recommend listening to better bass players! With the ease of access to music that the internet allows, there's really no reason to listen to players who can't keep time. There are countless players, just on Youtube for example, who lay down solid, tasteful slap lines with great tone, be it covers or originals. Live..well, if the bass player can't keep time, I'd wager it's not really a band worth watching either.
I'd ask is this on the local music scene because if it is, therein lies the problem. Many folks who play on the local scene are not well rehearsed musicians and it also depends on the level of musicians in your local scene. In my area, we have an amazing amount of really good bass players and the competition is tough! Many folks get left out who are still amazing musicians. So when you guys are saying you rarely see or always hear 'sucky' slappers....that's a testament to your music scene. In addition your scene may not be quite as diverse as you may think. There is a whole lot of R&B, Funk, Gospel, NeoSoul and Jazz being played where I live as well as all the other styles such as Blues, Rock, Metal, Hardcore. Most of the bands here have kickass musicians in them! If you're gigging......you definitely do not suck. And those who slap are really good at it. Yeah, some may over do it but they definitely do not suck. I'm really sorry you guys are subject to all that horrible slapping in your music scenes.
Well, yes, slap is very square wave-ish. But fingerstyle (or pick playing) can produce a very similar effect. Just listen to someone like Marcus Miller or Stanley Clarke fingerpluck hard towards the fretboard.
I actually look at it as the "tapping" of the bass world. A useful technique when used appropriately, tastefully, and sparingly - but mostly overdone and used for flash and not musicality.
One of the reasons I don't go out to see much live music these days. I'm not saying there aren't lots of good players out there, but there are many more (musicians in general) who don't have great time.
For sure - you live in a place where all of the styles you mention are happening. My impression is that most people on Talkbass live in places where rock or country are more the order of the day. I live in Montreal - which has quite a diverse music scene (probably a lot more music from around the world represented here than most places in North America) but the R&B scene (which wasn't too bad in the 80s and 90s) has all but dried up. There are still some good slappers around but they're more difficult to hear because the venues don't exist for the kinds of music styles those guys shine in most.
It's not an effect, it's a technique. Massive difference.
Any technique on any instrument sounds obnoxious if it's used in the wrong situation. Conflating bad musicians playing badly with the general use of a particular technique is a pretty limiting viewpoint, in my opinion. And I've heard plenty of people complain about unsubtle fingerstyle.
I think people get defensive because topics like this pop up all the time, and the reasons most people give for disliking thumping/plucking are no deeper than them having heard Higher Ground played loudly in a guitar shop somewhere.
A lot of these comments have me shaking my head. I guarantee everyone that has an issue with it probably cannot not do it to well. And it seems that slap is attributed to showing off. Hey look what I can do.
What about guys who play fast with a pick or do really fast runs fingerstyle? Is that more in some of your wheelhouses. Slap is just a technique like picking or fingerstyle. You are just focusing more on the percussive aspect of bass. If you are really good you can form a serious lock with a drummer if you know what you are doing. I also slap at GC but I guarantee you I do not suck and I will have you bobbing your head to the groove!!!
What about guys who play fast with a pick or do really fast runs fingerstyle? Is that more in some of your wheelhouses. Slap is just a technique like picking or fingerstyle. You are just focusing more on the percussive aspect of bass. If you are really good you can form a serious lock with a drummer if you know what you are doing. I also slap at GC but I guarantee you I do not suck and I will have you bobbing your head to the groove!!!
I KNOW it's not just slap bass...but this is a thread on slap bass... And I don't 'hang out' with those musicians...I do not waste my time/$$$ with posers on any instrument or in musical styles I don't care for.
Techniques are like flavors or seasonings. Fingerstyle is like butter, works in a lot of different recipes, can cook a lot of stuff in it. It's usually pretty damn good. Picking is like olive oil, maybe not as versatile, and it definitely has some flavor, but still works all over.
Slap is like... cardamom or something. It's got an interesting flavor, yeah. Occasionally you have it and you're like "mmm!" in the right situation. There are a few people that will shake a little cardamom on everything they eat and probably love it. There are a good number of people that will spit it out when they taste it. Your knowledge of cardamom is probably impressive to other bakers, but maybe not to the everyday food eater. And if you used cardamom on everything, it would be disgusting.
It's a damn shame! But I feel lucky to have come up at a time when there was still an R&B scene in this city (and I was able to learn from some heavy local players).
Proposed alternative thread title:
"Slap is overdiscussed"
Do it, don't do it...like it, don't like it...whatever. :scowl:
"Slap is overdiscussed"
Do it, don't do it...like it, don't like it...whatever. :scowl:
