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Tasteful and well done slap lines.

SpankBazz

SpankBazz

Nov 23, 2022
417
767
#1
I know a lot of TBers hate thumb style playing. (I don't like the term slap for some reason. Probably because Larry Graham doesn't call it that)
*shrug*
I never tried my hand at this line and decide to give it a go. It was more challenging than I thought.
Most of it is about staying on time.
This song was written and produced by Rick James.
The bassist is either Allen McGrier or Oscar Alston.
I'm leaning toward Allen McGrier. He played a Stingray back them and Alston played a P bass, but this sounds more like a Jazz.
I suppose I could ask Allen


I'll post up more tasteful slap parts.

Written and produced (and guest vocals) by Prince.
Bass by Prince on his trusty Fender Jazz.



Written by David Paich
Bass by David Hungate. Most likely a P bass.
Fun fact: Steve Lukather hates this song and video.


Written by Charles Fleischer and Michael Mugrage
Bass by Marcus Miller. He would have been 19 or 20 years old when this was recorded.
Fun fact: Charles Fleischer is the voice of Roger Rabbit.


Seawind was an excellent band.
They're best now for their famous horn section led by Jerry Hey, but they made great records.
Bass by Ken Wild.
 
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#4
Written and produced by Jesse Johnson, the former guitarist of The Time.
Co-written by Gerry Hubbard, who replaced Terry Lewis in The Time and played bass in Jesse's solo band.
I'd guess either Gerry or Jesse played bass here.
 
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#7
#10
This is an extended remix that highlights the bassline in some parts.
The song was written by Michael, Tito, and their touring bassist, Mike McKinney.
McKinney is on bass here.

Okay, that's enough for now.
 
#12
I didn’t check out any beyond the first post, but I like the first one best (Mary Jane Boys). I can’t say I’ve ever heard a “slap-pop” bass line like that one; it sounds like a non-“slap-pop” part. Very cool.

The other four all feature the tired, over-used and clichéd “pop on the off-beat."

BTW, "Light the Light" - that’s my absolute favorite Seawind album!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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#13
I’m going to submit “Lessons In Love” by Level 42. The bass part is unique among all slap lines I’ve heard because he outlines the chords I-III/iii-V-I for pretty much the entire tune. And sings lead vocals by the way.

I covered this tune back in the 80s a little. Never very well - it requires confident technique and tremendous endurance, and yet it’s not exactly a flashy part despite the difficulty level.

 
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#14
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#15
LowendG said:
There's plenty of tasteful slap on record. I think the bad rap comes mostly from the shredding/wanking stuff, which has only gotten way worse with Instagram, etc. When a song calls for it and it's done with the same taste any pro would use with any other approach is a great sound. When a song calls for it (Oh, I said that already...;)
Click to expand...
You're right. Those who over do it or are bad at it contribute to the bad rap.
I also think that the faster or more complex slap lines may confuse some folks.
Then, there's the unspoken but very real disdain for R&B and funk music.
Slap is mainly a technique used in funk, but it has spread to pop, rock, jazz, and a few other genres.
Of course, there's always personal preference.
I'm not always jazzed to hear a cat hammering eighth notes with a pick but I realize that technique serves that style of music and to each his own. Right?
 
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#16
Altitude said:
I’m going to submit “Lessons In Love” by Level 42. The bass part is unique among all slap lines I’ve heard because he outlines the chords I-III/iii-V-I for pretty much the entire tune. And sings lead vocals by the way.

I covered this tune back in the 80s a little. Never very well - it requires confident technique and tremendous endurance, and yet it’s not exactly a flashy part despite the difficulty level.

Click to expand...

This is a great choice. Staying consistent WHILE singing? Wow.
I know Mark played the lines from this era live but aren't the studio versions a synth patch?
 
#19
SpankBazz said:
This is a great choice. Staying consistent WHILE singing? Wow.
I know Mark played the lines from this era live but aren't the studio versions a synth patch?
Click to expand...
He definitely had a synth double on the 2-3 records that got the radio airplay. But if you listen to that closely or with headphones, the bass guitar is very much there.
 
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