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To slap or not to slap/why I hate it
- Thread starter JAUQO III-X
- Start date
I love to slap for a number of reasons.
Sometimes I'm playing funk tunes that are made to be slapped. I also use it to add interest occasionally in other rock/indi stuff, in a fill or similar. I also play jazz/fusion duo gigs with just a guitarist, and with no drummer slap can be a good way to buff up the rhythm sound.
I also use it to show off in the music store
Sometimes I'm playing funk tunes that are made to be slapped. I also use it to add interest occasionally in other rock/indi stuff, in a fill or similar. I also play jazz/fusion duo gigs with just a guitarist, and with no drummer slap can be a good way to buff up the rhythm sound.
I also use it to show off in the music store
I think it sounds really cool I just haven't figured out how to do it yet! Every time I try my bass rings really badly.
This could change a lot of people's stance on just how meaningful or overly flashy a slapped bassline can be, well either that or it will certainly shift everyone one way or the other on the whole love it/hate it question........enjoy..........LOL
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Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
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Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
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I used to slap quite a bit, but I really don't do it too much anymore, so I chose rarely. I think the technique itself is fine, and I enjoy lots of music with slap in it. L Graham, Bootsy, Flea, L Claypool, Meshell, D Lance, B Gould, etc. (and yes even Fieldy 
).
I will say that style-wise there was so much slapping going on in the 90s that it just got to be a bit trite, to me. Seemed like for a while everyone was a slapper. Maybe that's part of the reason I got out if it, I don't know.
I will say also that the style can lend itslf to wankery. A little bit of practice and you can make some fairly impressive noise. And with a lot of practice you can really go over the top. But to each their own.
So it's still cool, nothing wrong with it for sure. But not my bag presently.
).I will say that style-wise there was so much slapping going on in the 90s that it just got to be a bit trite, to me. Seemed like for a while everyone was a slapper. Maybe that's part of the reason I got out if it, I don't know.
I will say also that the style can lend itslf to wankery. A little bit of practice and you can make some fairly impressive noise. And with a lot of practice you can really go over the top. But to each their own.
So it's still cool, nothing wrong with it for sure. But not my bag presently.
I use it regularly. I play Smooth Jazz, R & B and Gospel so every other song has atleast "some" slap in it.
I have a low opinion of slapping as a right hand technique. My experience is that it is, in practice, more often done poorly than done well. Flash over pocket.
I also have been to too many stores and get togethers where all I hear for three hours is endless pops, which really gets on my nerves.
A great teacher once told me--slap bass should be a choice of right hand technique, not an entre to a new style. Learn the line, then play it with fingers and play it slap style. My experience 100% of the time is that exact same line sounds cleaner, tighter, and overall better when I use fingers.
I also have been to too many stores and get togethers where all I hear for three hours is endless pops, which really gets on my nerves.
A great teacher once told me--slap bass should be a choice of right hand technique, not an entre to a new style. Learn the line, then play it with fingers and play it slap style. My experience 100% of the time is that exact same line sounds cleaner, tighter, and overall better when I use fingers.
Just like spices added to food used properly it can add taste and give it a kick. Slap is like that a bit is enough in music too much and...
...you ruined the whole dish!
...you ruined the whole dish!
T
Tired_Thumb
Guest
I actually restrung my fretless and found that it has a great slapping sound now, as long as I don't wham my thumb into the fingerboard, which sounds far worse than the worst of the Fieldy clicks. I really don't use the technique now, but I could see myself using it in certain venues.
That said, I used to play trumpet with a bassist who completely killed the purpose of the style by overplaying with it in the worst way possible (literally made Tetsuo Sakurai look like Adam Clayton, no knocks to Tet' as he's one of my favs.). Worse yet, he was my bass instructor, and the whole time, his entire message to me was basically how utterly good he was, and that I should stick to trumpet, as everything revolved around "something I could use on trumpet", and nothing revolved around actually playing the bass. Needless to say, that never happened.
That said, I used to play trumpet with a bassist who completely killed the purpose of the style by overplaying with it in the worst way possible (literally made Tetsuo Sakurai look like Adam Clayton, no knocks to Tet' as he's one of my favs.). Worse yet, he was my bass instructor, and the whole time, his entire message to me was basically how utterly good he was, and that I should stick to trumpet, as everything revolved around "something I could use on trumpet", and nothing revolved around actually playing the bass. Needless to say, that never happened.
I said I use it very rarely, which is accurate, because I do. Usually it's when I'm practicing and need to get some blood into my fingers, or when I'm jamming with my band and get into a rut with my grooves. That said, it's a nice technique that is good in sparse use. Bass is a support instrument. If you wanted to lead a band with your bass, you'd better play funk or get a tenor bass.
I've loved slap style ever since i read YNGWIE MALMSTEEN saying it was a horrible technique
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Seriously, I love the slap style, just wish i could do it better.
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Seriously, I love the slap style, just wish i could do it better.
I like slapping a lot, it can sound awesome when done right. Some people like to overboard with pops and wonder why things end up thin-sounding, gee, I wonder why. I also don't understand why many bass players hate this technique so much. Some guy on another forum said he doesn't slap becuase he doesn't feel like rendering his drummer jobless. Following that logic, percussionists would be useless as well. The trick is to keep your slap lines simple and you won't get in anyone's way.
Switching from fingerstyle to slapping in a live situation can often be difficult though, because in my opinion, fingerstyle and slap need to be EQed differently. If you just change from fingerstyle to slap, you're in danger of ending up sounding too thin.
I happen to think Flea recorded like two good slap lines, by the way.
Switching from fingerstyle to slapping in a live situation can often be difficult though, because in my opinion, fingerstyle and slap need to be EQed differently. If you just change from fingerstyle to slap, you're in danger of ending up sounding too thin.
I happen to think Flea recorded like two good slap lines, by the way.
I personally feel that there are very few players that sound good when they go off on slapping ventures. Most of the time with most players, I just think it sounds awful; their tone is ugly because they're either not good enough at what they're doing, or their tone is just ugly, period. 
Not many years ago I thought even mediocre slap play was the coolest thing ever. Tastes change, I suppose?
When it comes to me, I only do random slap exercises in my bedroom, for fun. There's no place for it in the music I play and like playing. Besides, my slap tone is ugly.
Not many years ago I thought even mediocre slap play was the coolest thing ever. Tastes change, I suppose?
When it comes to me, I only do random slap exercises in my bedroom, for fun. There's no place for it in the music I play and like playing. Besides, my slap tone is ugly.
