Who uses slap in real life?

[Gizmot]

I'm not a regular slapper at all and I'm not opposed to it. However, I think that its more of a show-off tool than it is useful in a band context.

 

[groovatron]

I grew up listening to Stanley Clarke records that my uncle gave me. Between that, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and Pork Soda, I was sold. I don't generally play in cover bands, but my main project for the last 15 years has written over 100 songs. I probably do some kind of slap, tap, whatever thingys on about half of them.

I consider my style of slap to be fairly original as I am self taught, but there are obvious influences that shape my style. I appreciate folks from the Wooten school of technical slapping skills, but it's definitely not my thing. I lean towards heavier funk rock style grooves and percussive arrangements. I am not a soloist by any stretch. To me, it's all about where you place the note and when you place it, not "how many notes" you can play and how fast you play them.

My specialty is pocket funk rock. I have always considered myself a drummer on a stringed instrument (drums come naturally to me.) Melodically, I'm a simpleton, but leave your metronome at home and give me a good drummer

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

I only slap on ballads.

 

[groovatron]

I don't know, but plenty of people on TB seem to have major issues with all sorts of things and go out of their way to let everyone know how much they dislike them. Common examples include slap, picks, Fenders, Fender copies, effects pedals, 5 string basses, narrow string spacing, etc, etc, etc...

Welcome to the world of internet forums

Please check your feelings at the front desk. You may encounter random bumps and turbulence from time to time due to internet troll commandos hiding behind their computers, but you'll eventually learn to ignore them. Or perhaps after a few drinks one night, you will decide to give it right back. Use this for entertainment purposes only

Really though, don't let a few annoying posters perturb you. It's generally only a small percentage....they just happen to have big mouths. It seems like there are some real good folks on this board......better than average as far as forums go in my experience.......and I have a decent amount of forum associations and history.

I enjoy it here. I'm just after good information, meaningful discussion, and freedom to learn.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I'm so old I remember thinking it was just a fad that would go away. (35 hrs ago) Haha, WRONG I think I suck at slap but still do a bit. But I hate the fact that a lot of people don't really consider it a bass solo without it. I also do a fair bit of hammer ons, pops, chords and harmonics and two handed stuff, so I do mix it up. I even play over the top of the neck for fun, it's a challenge to the mind playing upside and backwards! I like to think I can play a solo structured to start simple and develop to hopefully a climax at the end but can't help thinking people need the instant gratification the slapping brings to the table. I have several instructional videos but get frustrated after a while and quit practicing. I can't help but think I could work on it till I die and still not have great facility. It sure seems harder and more time consuming to learn stuff the older I get. Of course I didn't think twice about spending a few years working out a lot jazz tunes and a lot of Jocos stuff and used to be able to play some tunes on Portrait of Tracy note for note. Sadly I've forgotten far more than I can remember now. Nobody wants to hear that "Jazz" stuff on the gig so I spend most of the time playing finger style and in the pocket. I actually just talked to a young local bass teacher about slap lessons, I think if I am paying for it instead of doing it on my own I might try harder!

 

[StayLow]

I fall between regularly and occasionally advanced. Two of my projects calls for some very difficult slap parts in songs, one per the band leader and one per my own creation. Plenty of more rudimentary old-school funk parts too, playing covers. It's groovy and keeps the dance floor moving, and people respond well to it so I'll make no apologies and I'm thankful to be essentially forced to do it. To push myself, I learn all of the parts finger style also.

If you're asked to take a solo in a funk/soul band, it's de-rigueur to slap a bit. Cheesy, sure, but again people dig it. Stanley Clarke took an upright solo on the Return To Forever reunion tour a few years ago, and offered some sublime stuff. No one much seemed to care or "get" it until he broke out some cheeseball slapping with a big grin on his face to end it, and the crowd erupted. That's a pro entertainer.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I'd bet that most experienced players that are non-slappers can get this line down without too much effort...and Louis Johnson is a legendary slapper. I dare say you are unlikely to hear more complicated slapping than this in a popular song. So all of those YouTube/music store chops, while impressive, are so much musical masturbation. I enjoy a good slap solo as much as anyone, but what impresses me even more is a guy who can walk over changes. Great walkers get little love, yet that is a truly useful skill.

The Brothers Johnson: Strawberry Letter 23 (Isolated Bass)

 

[BassistNATE]

I think slap is so cool! I love the way it sounds. I do enjoy listening to long insane slap solos, but I think it is best when it is used tastefully and not overused. Some of the Gospel bassists do it best, they'll use finger style for the majority of the song, but then whip out one or two slap fills in a really intense section of the song and I think that is the best use of it... It's what I try to bring into my playing, don't do it for the sake of it, but do it if it tastefully adds to the song!

 

[anavar]

not really. the only time i would any slap if i was jamming a song that used it. i wouldnt go out of my way to play slap bass.

but if i were going to, it would be in a slighty aggressive method like this (provided i had the talent)

 

[Mark_70]

Out of 40-or-so songs on an evening, maybe two or three involve some slap.
Regards
Mark

 

[I Need a six...]

So true, narrow spacing gets bashed really bad, more than most things. I like narrow spacing, and I can slap better with narrow spacing than wide,
It's a matter of preference. As for this issue, I slap whenever I can, but in the bands I play in it's hardly possible all the time.

 

[BassistNATE]

it would be in a slighty aggressive method like this (provided i had the talent)

I reckon half the talent is figuring out your aggressive slap bass face... then the rest of it just falls into place!

 

[anavar]

I reckon half the talent is figuring out your aggressive slap bass face... then the rest of it just falls into place!

Link Removed

working on it!

 

[bassrich]

It is the easiest method for me A.

 

[stratovani]

I never slap, I don't know how nor care to learn how, and I really don't give a schitt if anybody else slaps or not. The music I play does not require it, so I have no incentive to learn it.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Even if you don't slap, how can you not like this?

 

[loveandbass]

Couple things:
1. I really love some slap bass
2. I hated that video
3. I wish i could do that
4. I would never play something like that

 

[*ToNeS*]

I used to be obsessed with this technique, and tapping too. I barely do either of them now, though. As I went along, I just couldn't find a musical use for them in any of the music I was involved in/making. They're obviously a mainstay in certain styles, but when you play filthy abrasive muck and you start thumbin' the rest of your band get to looking at you like, "Stop that immediately or we'll kill you with our bare hands."

 

[TonyP-]

I'm not opposed to slap. I inappropriately pull and pop all the time!

I like this post 10 times I would

 

[TonyP-]

I subscribed to group 2 and dig it.

However I have a Guilty pleasure and enjoy it when people say they don't like it.

Lol