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Why slap shouldn't exist

Great clip.

I feel the same way whenever I hear some slappetty whacketty piddly diddly bass through a whole album, like when I got sucked in to the SMV hysteria and plunked down my cash for that POS.

I like Brian Bromberg, Roscoe Beck, Billy Sheehan, and even that new gal Tal Wilkenfield, but the slappetty whacketty stuff drives me nuts.
 
Funny stuff. I personally think slap should only be used to accent a groove, not BE the groove. I'm certainly impressed by the slap virtuosos like Wooten and Miller, but I think they're having a negative effect on bass playing, believe it or not.

I say this, because as a young bass player in music school, I see so many of my peers that literally CANNOT play finger style, they're so into slap. When asked to just pluck, a combination of heavy fingers and low action for slapping results in a horrendous clank and noise finger style.

I think slap is awesome, but I think there's too many bass players focusing on fancy slap tricks over bass playing
 
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That is an extremely funny clip! Thanks for posting it.

I must say that in my extensive experience, the band can play Emo and nothing happends. Classic rock; the people just go for another drink. Classical; they fall asleep. BUT, just two or three slaped bars, and everyone starts to shake in their pants!

Slap will engage a female bottom like no other form of music on earth!!
In the name of Marcus Miller
Amen
 
Funny stuff. I personally think slap should only be used to accent a groove, not BE the groove. I'm certainly impressed by the slap virtuosos like Wooten and Miller, but I think they're having a negative effect on bass playing, believe it or not.

I say this, because as a young bass player in music school, I see so many of my peers that literally CANNOT play finger style, they're so into slap. When asked to just pluck, a combination of heavy fingers and low action for slapping results in a horrendous clank and noise finger style.

I think slap is awesome, but I think there's too many bass players focusing on fancy slap tricks over bass playing

I think what you're saying here is a partially good point, but I personally don't think slapping should be eliminated. People like Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller are making their living by slapping, so if it works for them, good.

But I think it all comes down to how people are learning bass. I think plucking should be learned first (IMO, fingerstyle over pick) and then slapping can be learned once the player is skilled enough at fingerstyle. Slapping should be another tool for the bass player. If they find a way to use it exclusively as Miller and Wooten have, then all the power to them.