The Beef with Slap

[Dr_Funkdamental]

So basically, ppl bash a technique because other ppl suck at it? Got it.

 

[DWBass]

I'm an old school funk, R&B bass player who (slaps) thumps quite often. I've seen the technique from the beginning and have seen it evolve to what's going on today. The biggest issue that annoys me is that at the beginning, it was a rhythmic, melodic sound that worked very well in the context of the music. Then it started being played faster and faster to the point there is zero melodic content. I can appreciate the skill it takes to be able to play so fast but it waters down the style and the rhythmic aspect is no longer there. Play some Larry Graham and dance. Play some modern day slap fest garbage and most folks are just standing there staring either into it or not. I'm in it to get the booty's shaking. Like it was intended to be.

Old School Thumpin' & Pluckin=Good
Modern Day Slappity Dappity=Bad......very bad.

As always.....just my personal opinion!

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Name a technique that bass players utilize that has the same level as hate towards it as Thumping (slapping) does?

 

[lowfreq33]

Name a technique that bass players utilize that has the same level as hate towards it as Thumping (slapping) does?

Playing with a pick?

 

[phillybass101]

So basically, ppl bash a technique because other ppl suck at it? Got it.

I think it's more of a thing where the people bashing it, suck at it. The technique has to be studied and practiced. It took me YEARS to be able to slap like I do and no I'm not the greatest slapper in the world. Am I competent, hell yeah. But that was after a lot of questions, a lot of going to see cats play it live, a lot of listening to recorded songs etc. For the longest I couldn't play triplets. One day while flii[ping though the channels on the TV I came across of all things a Yanni concert. It was right in the middle of the bass solo. They did a closeup of the bass players right hand and BAM!!! he did a triplet and I got it right then and there. Sometimes poeple need to see it first hand, up close to really get it. I don't Tap at all, but I think it's an amazing technique for bass and I'm in awe of those who do it well. I can honestly say it's not that way for slap for some reason. I can't ever recall a thread where folks are hating on Tapping

 

[Joe Nerve]

I once knew a dude who hated slapping cuz he was a racist. I was checking out his Ric, went to do some slap stuff on it, and he grabbed it out of my hands saying, don't play any of the n s**t on my Ric. I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't.

 

[dalkowski]

Tasteful playing is the goal using any technique. You should be in command of the technique and not let it play you.

Not a slap hater here, but a little goes a long way for me as a listener. But that's my personal taste that I'd never wish to impose on anyone.

As a player, I'd like to be proficient enough to slap pleasingly in tasteful moderation when the occasion calls for it.

I once knew a dude who hated slapping cuz he was a racist. I was checking out his Ric, went to do some slap stuff on it, and he grabbed it out of my hands saying, don't play any of the n s**t on my Ric. I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't.

That's messed up. Did you tell him that Rick James was a funky Ric man?

 

[silvertone]

I don't know you Joe Nerve - but I dig that Faik Video... Great playing, cool song and nice bass....

 

[zfunkman]

"You need to be a drummer and have a groove to really use the technique effectively"

I play bass, not drums, and I slap occassionally and when I do I am in sync with my drummer and have very good rhythm. In fact, I can't paly drums for beans.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A DRUMMER TO HAVE A GROOVE TO REALLY USE SLAP TECHNIQUE(S) EFFECTIVELY. You just have to be a good bass player who knows how to slap and when and when not to slap.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I recently caught a band where the bassist played slap dominantly throughout the night (as in 90+% of his playing was slap). Sounded awesome and groovy. I plan on bringing a lot more slap into our playing.

 

[zfunkman]

When I said that one has to be a drummer, I meant that in the sense that every musician needs to be a drummer. Exactly as you say, the other instruments require no less rhythmical sense to be effective.

Then just say ALL musicians who play any instrument have just as much responsibility to have good rhythm as does any drummer. I have excellent rhythm but can't play drums for sh*t.

 

[kevteop]

I think it's more of a thing where the people bashing it, suck at it.

I think a lot of the people who slap too much are... the kinds of people who think other people are jealous of them. To put it kindly. You'll just have to trust me on this: We're not.

Similarly, Al Qaeda are not "jealous of your freedoms". I can imagine that would be an easier assumption to stomach, but Occam's Razor really needs to be applied in situations like this.

 

[callofcthulhu]

Just thought I'd point out that Les Claypool breaks almost every rule you listed, and his music is pretty much the only time I can stand listening to slap bass.

 

[DWBass]

There are lot of reasons it is disliked. I really don't care how people play or what they use to play but for me, I don't want folks standing around staring at me or the band. Music is to be enjoyed and danced to. If you can make folks dance, more power to you.

How 'bout we stop the hate. It's ridiculous!

Back to the OP.....I agree, you have to have good internal rhythm and some sort of a drummer's mindset to be able to play in good rhythmic time but keeping the melodic content. Don't get so involved in trying to play at subsonic speed! Who cares but other bass players with similar mindsets!

 

[LakeEffect]

So, a lot of people dislike slap, and if it's simply not your thing, that's fine. I'm not here to talk about that. I'm also not here to talk about the general feeling that slap is "so freakin' cool" and the "paragon" of playing. I feel that many dislike slap style for some wrong reasons.

This is just a sort of thought on my part, but I feel like some of the negativity towards slap technique comes from the fundamental nature of the technique. The techniques themselves are not difficult, and there are a variety of different ways to do it, and they all work. But the other element is harder to see, especially for beginners, and that is the fact that ultimately, it's a rhythmical technique. You need to be a drummer and have a groove to really use the technique effectively, as it's characterized by a very strong attack that is diminished by a percussive strike on some part of the bass. The initial attack IS the note. I feel like many people use it as a tonal technique, simply utilizing its different timbre. Due to its nature, this becomes grating and boring, because the sound itself is nothing but a harsh attack. Thus, it requires repetition and speed to be effective.

Another problem is that people sometimes stop there. It's not simply speed that makes the technique effective, it's RHYTHM. The line has to work both as a bass part and a drum part, separately. If it would sound boring if played on a drum, it will sound boring when played with tone. Another aspect to this is that it's effective to use syncopation, as it provides rhythmical interest. HOWEVER, if the drums are already providing a lot of syncopation, it can easily get cluttered. For this reason, slap is best used over a simple, driving beat, and not when the drums are getting into the busy territory.

Speaking of business, the only time when the bass should get busy when slapping is during a solo, and then only at the peaks. Otherwise, keep it subtler, and if not soloing, repetitive and groove oriented. Rhythm always trumps tone. This is starting to get into general soloing/playing mentality, so I'll cut it short here.

This sort of became a little personal guidebook as to when and how slap technique works. Maybe it will be useful. I often use slap when I'm playing alone, but rarely when playing with others. Most of the time, if there's a drummer, slapping is unnecessary and detrimental. If you learn to be an ensemble listener, you'll know when it works and when it doesn't.

So that's why I think many people look down on the technique. It's flashy, and easy to pick up, but requires a great deal of musicianship to actually use effectively. I would never discourage use of the technique, but would advise anyone to make sure they can do anything MUSICALLY if they are going to do it at all. And again, it's perfectly okay to not like the sound at all, and this isn't directed at people who just don't jive with it. But I'd consider thinking about why you dislike the technique before you really decide to hate it.

Discuss.

This entire post is prescriptive in nature, not descriptive, as you strive to gloss it as. I am glad you're passionate about music and the role bass has in it, but be accurate. You have no epistemic basis for the assertions you just put forth, they are only your beliefs and opinions - begin phrasing them as such.

I really don't feel that a prescriptive outlook, especially on a topic founded on subjective perceptions, is good look for humans. We are fully capable of acknowledging the scope and limits on our own knowledge, and categorizing our thoughts as such (assertions, facts, descriptive accounts of the way we see things, prescriptive ideas, beliefs etc...), try it out sometime.You may be amazed at how unpretentious you sound, and how productive the ensuing conversations may be.

 

[David Jayne]

Given the OPs definition, I'd love to hear opinions and thoughts regarding my slap fest in the video below.

Your thing is cool; sounds great, you play great, and it fits the musical context(somewhat frantic rock music).

The problem is with inexperienced players trying to throw it in everywhere--I'm talking the Sweet Home Alabama/Brown Eyed Girl kind of everywhere, where the bassist is clearly bored and is showing off and/or displaying his disdain for his particular musical situation, AND can't even do it well.

 

[aguacateojos]

Given the OPs definition, I'd love to hear opinions and thoughts regarding my slap fest in the video below.

Had a nice Primus-y feel, nice job!

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

I just observe alot of blind hate to it (esp on TB) without consideration that its just a technique. One that some utilize alot more than others. One that takes development. Which also makes me think theres often a sort of genre bias that goes behind some of it. I mean, as stated before, there are guys have been playing decades and hardly ever used it because of the music they play. Yet there are others like me and DW that thump almost every time we play because of what we mainly do.

I remember in the general instruction forum a guy asked about slapping to the real book and got bashed by some, including one that said "its never a good idea". Its actually an awesome idea as it teaches cleanliness of the technique as well as putting it more of a musical context. Ive done it for practice and have gotten great multifold results.

 

[David Jayne]

I once knew a dude who hated slapping cuz he was a racist. I was checking out his Ric, went to do some slap stuff on it, and he grabbed it out of my hands saying, don't play any of the n s**t on my Ric. I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't.

I used to slap a lot more than I do now(almost never) and I have heard people refer to my playing in those terms. Yep. People sometimes.

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

And say what you want, but THIS joint is greazy!!