Don't always play slap bass, but when I do I look pretty white doing it 
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Who uses slap in real life?
- Thread starter Happynoj
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After playing in a funk band for so long in the 70's-80's I became to dreaded it for awhile but as the years have passed, I'm cool with it.
I think they are for the most part, it's just the ones that aren't are so strident and militant. Also, they post continually on the same topic so it looks like there are more people whining than there really are. One guy posted twice about how bad the Ampeg PF500 are in the same thread so I did a search and he has posted about them 5 separate times. Some clown keeps posting about a bad experience he had with Rickenbacker, I looked it up and he's been in 4 different threads complaining. Every time there is a relic thread the same idiots get on those too.
Since I started using the ignore feature more liberally, I've weeded out a lot of the time wasters and trolls.
I use basic slap techniques occasionally, slap and pop with slurs and scratch notes, and I can go at a pretty good clip. I only use it when it was recorded that way or fits the song.
But those players who have really refined advanced techniques have my total respect and appreciation. At that level, it's like a percussive melodic art form, a genre unto itself.
But those players who have really refined advanced techniques have my total respect and appreciation. At that level, it's like a percussive melodic art form, a genre unto itself.
Well, I love slap, and I try to use it on my current band... My fellow band members are always encouraging me to use slap on some tunes, but after I tried something on slap, I ended using finger style, because I like it better than the slapped "version"...
I never use it and never will. My slap chops are pretty bad anyhow and I don't play music it fits. To allot of players the only way to show off the bass which can sound boring at time is to be a slap monkey. Nobody likes a slap monkey.
My thoughts on the overuse of slap were made clear on the other thread. I'm not a fan "slap bass" per se.
But, I was tracking a bass part this morning. I put a little flatwound P bass slap on a chorus part for emphasis. Very basic technique. Thought it sounded pretty good.
But, I was tracking a bass part this morning. I put a little flatwound P bass slap on a chorus part for emphasis. Very basic technique. Thought it sounded pretty good.
FUNK YES! Double thumb Funk Yes! And I can sing simultaneously as well....Mark King Wanta-Bee.
Like all techniques, it has its place...Contrast, dead-notes, rests and letting the composition breath.
What ever the doctor (the song) orders is what a good bassist can and will deliver.
Like all techniques, it has its place...Contrast, dead-notes, rests and letting the composition breath.
What ever the doctor (the song) orders is what a good bassist can and will deliver.
Don't always play slap bass, but when I do I look pretty white doing it
Lol...I do to. Just like a robot!
I slap on a few songs, nothing real crazy though. I tend to use slapping for fills not for entire sections of songs . We have one song where I'm pretty much slapping all the way through the bridge but normally i use it sparingly and in my mind tastefully
I slap some when I take a bass solo- and occasionally will do it for small accents in songs. (Ie pop a high note here and there or a couple slaps)
The funny thing is some of the "classic" funk songs that people think are slapped ACTUALLY weren't. Like Boogie Ooogie Oogie--- the only part she slapped on the recording was the solo part- the rest is fingers...
The funny thing is some of the "classic" funk songs that people think are slapped ACTUALLY weren't. Like Boogie Ooogie Oogie--- the only part she slapped on the recording was the solo part- the rest is fingers...
Ha...I see what you did there.
I was a slap monster as a kid. I could play most of the Primus catalog, with the correct "strum in some places, pop in others" techniques, per the original songs, before I could comfortably pedal 8ths finger style.
Part of this was due to my fairly quick "ramp up" time on bass. I was in a band with my 50+ year old guitar teacher and some other older cats by the time I had owned a bass for like 2 years, and was expected to play at a fairly high level technically in that role. That music rarely required "basic" bass parts, and I was often allowed to write lead bass type lines.
My first few bands were super prog-y and let me get away with that. I was pretty competent harmonically, and could play fairly fast parts, but again, I never sat and just pedaled 8ths, and when I needed to it would feel uncomfortable and sound a bit off. Folks seemed to like it, I'd toss in lots of cross hammer triplets, and other odd stuff that normally doesn't really work in a hard rock context.
After realizing though that some of the lack of success in those bands could potentially be traced back to my approach I decided to step up and become more well rounded.
My next band after those earlier ones, was one staffed with 80s hair metal vets. They respected my technique, but correctly thought I sucked anytime I needed to pedal 8ths, or just play a "standard" part.
I spent about a year working closely with that drummer, refining my technique. I can now slip between Les and Cliff Williams in the same song.
I can still slap fairly well, and do when I'm bored or want to show off, but 90%+ of my playing now does not involve a single bit of slapping.
TL;DR don't suppress it, but don't develop it at the expense of "normal" bass playing.
Part of this was due to my fairly quick "ramp up" time on bass. I was in a band with my 50+ year old guitar teacher and some other older cats by the time I had owned a bass for like 2 years, and was expected to play at a fairly high level technically in that role. That music rarely required "basic" bass parts, and I was often allowed to write lead bass type lines.
My first few bands were super prog-y and let me get away with that. I was pretty competent harmonically, and could play fairly fast parts, but again, I never sat and just pedaled 8ths, and when I needed to it would feel uncomfortable and sound a bit off. Folks seemed to like it, I'd toss in lots of cross hammer triplets, and other odd stuff that normally doesn't really work in a hard rock context.
After realizing though that some of the lack of success in those bands could potentially be traced back to my approach I decided to step up and become more well rounded.
My next band after those earlier ones, was one staffed with 80s hair metal vets. They respected my technique, but correctly thought I sucked anytime I needed to pedal 8ths, or just play a "standard" part.
I spent about a year working closely with that drummer, refining my technique. I can now slip between Les and Cliff Williams in the same song.
I can still slap fairly well, and do when I'm bored or want to show off, but 90%+ of my playing now does not involve a single bit of slapping.
TL;DR don't suppress it, but don't develop it at the expense of "normal" bass playing.
I pretty much only slap when we are writing a new song and I'm trying to be obnoxious. It gets a laugh like 20% of the time.
PS:I have no problem with slapping
PS:I have no problem with slapping
The styles I have played never called for it, so I have never really put much effort into learning it. I can get some popping and tapping sounds when I need it with finger style, sort of faux slap 
I admire the hell out of the people that do it well though. I have to say that Jamareo Artis, the bass player that plays on Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, should get an award for most restrained slap in a Pop/Funk song. Is that a Grammy category? If I had his chops I would have been popping and slapping all through that song. But he gives you just enough to leave you wanting more.
I admire the hell out of the people that do it well though. I have to say that Jamareo Artis, the bass player that plays on Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, should get an award for most restrained slap in a Pop/Funk song. Is that a Grammy category? If I had his chops I would have been popping and slapping all through that song. But he gives you just enough to leave you wanting more.I have never slap outside my bedroom, but I would love to do it If I have the chance.
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A local "metal" band, the bass player plays like 90% of what he plays as slap - but no popping...it is weird. It seems to work for this dude, though, so I'm not knocking it.
I use simple slap techniques for emphasis a few times per song- generally for emphasis. It works okay in my bluesy band, because we have a funky jazzy drummer. It has also found its place in a more straight-ahead rock cover band I play in- on the chorus of Living Colour's Cult of Personality. They also play Higher Ground, so I've been working up to that, too. It seems to be more of an exercise in stamina than dexterity.
