• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why so much hate for slap??

#241
Here's my perspective. If I pulled out a groovy slap lick on my bass, in any of the songs by my current band, I'd fire myself.

Slap is something that isn't so terrible for everyone to know how to do. It's terrible when they don't know when to shut the hell up with it.

I like what was said above by @TrevorG about it being more a part of the vocabulary and not being the entire language. I think that's accurate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker and TrevorG
#242
Here's my take on it..

I learned to slap and was slap happy like every other player in 80's. Had fun doing it

Like a lot of trends that aged poorly, I literally cringe when I hear it now. Specially in a genre that it doesn't even remotely fit. I saw blues legend John Mayall at a festival last summer and the bassist was slapping away during blues songs and it sounded like fingers on a chalk board to me. TOTALLY the only thing that I could focus on when he played. Other non-musicians noticed and commented negatively (and usually no one EVER notices the bass player). Other than a occasional dose of flea, I find slap players unlistenable these days regardless of the skill of it.

My dalliance with pointy headstock basses, picks, slapping, hi-fi rigs with tweeters and treble boost, round wound strings, etc is over. All I can generally enjoy now is wooly James Jamerson sounding players..
 
#243
Here's another perspective. When ole Claypool was up there slappin' away, most of the time, I was watching Lerr or Herb. It all works/worked together, but I found those 2 to be the ones to watch, as quirky and entertaining as Les is.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mobdirt
#244
Carrots. Play whatcha like. However the majority of gigs I get requires fingerstyle with maybe a few slap songs. I pay no attention at all to any negative comments about slap as I am a Slapper. Where i come from you're expected to know how and to play it well. Different strokes for different folks. Most of my influences are excellent Slappers. IMO Slap is not a Trend but rather a technique. Peeps often dislike and downplay what they're ignorant to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FNHScar17s, PsyDocHill, Swerve and 5 others
#245
PullThePlug said:
Generally, those who can't slap well or at all are the ones who bad mouth it. It honestly feels like a jealousy thing with some of these folks. That's so weird.
Click to expand...

I’m sure there’s some of that with some people. But that ignores how most people generally won’t bother to develop a skill or technique they don’t like the end result of.

So while it’s true that some may dislike something they can’t do well; more often I think you’ll find if someone dislikes something, they won’t have any interest in learning it to begin with.


EDIT: Five pages in, and my prediction holds true. How trivial :rollno:
Click to expand...

Refresh our memory. Which prediction was that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bigbri and mobdirt
#247
40Hz said:
I’m sure there’s some of that with some people. But that ignores how most people generally won’t bother to develop a skill or technique they don’t like the end result of.

So while it’s true that some may dislike something they can’t do well; more often I think you’ll find if someone dislikes something, they won’t have any interest in learning it to begin with.
Click to expand...
Didn't think of it this way, makes sense though :)
 
#249
You hit the nail rite on the head with your last sentence!
"Not the only tool,
just one of several screw drivers!
in other words, its just a technique folks! (one of many)
just like any other technique if not used properly will not appeal to the listener !

Big Shrek said:
It's almost impossible to play anything from the 70's & 80's without
using slap...so why all the hate?? I get that some folks try to apply it
to everything, which slap really isn't meant for everything...but it does
have legitimate playing uses!

So is it a case of folks hating on it because it's really best for Disco/Motown,
and should never be used elsewhere?? Or just a general slap hate as a whole??

It should be a tool in every bassists arsenal, to my way of thinking.
Not the only tool, just one of several screwdrivers... ;)
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: mobdirt
#250
mobdirt said:
Didn't think of it this way, makes sense though :)
Click to expand...

Can’t speak for everyone, but I sat down and made myself learn to slap primarily because I did dislike it so much - just in case I was not getting something. (I’ve been wrong about bass things before.)

But once I developed some reasonable degree of proficiency doing it, I stopped doing it. And it’s been so long since I have bothered with spap that I doubt I could pull it off any longer without starting all over.

Like all skills, slapping requires regular practice. It’s a technique I explored and abandoned. Not out of any sense of personal superiority. I just don’t like the way it sounds when I ( or most people) do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mobdirt
#251
40Hz said:
Can’t speak for everyone, but I sat down and made myself learn to slap primarily because I did dislike it so much. Then, once I developed some reasonable proficiency in doing it, I stopped doing it. And it’s been so long since I have bothered with it that I doubt I could pull it off any longer without startinng over.

Like all skills, slapping requires regular practice. It’s a technique I explored and abandoned. Not out of any sense of personal superiority. I just don’t like the way it sounds when I ( or most people) do it.
Click to expand...
I like how it makes me understand the instrument better, more than the end result, i like the process.
I learnt reverse slap a few years ago, took ages to get semi decent but what it did was open up new groove ideas for finger style, like trying to play the same thing finger style was something new for me, its like one technique improved another :)
 
#254
40Hz said:
I’m sure there’s some of that with some people. But that ignores how most people generally won’t bother to develop a skill or technique they don’t like the end result of.

So while it’s true that some may dislike something they can’t do well; more often I think you’ll find if someone dislikes something, they won’t have any interest in learning it to begin with.




Refresh our memory. Which prediction was that?
Click to expand...

I go through periods of listening to Bob Marley and playing heavy Reggae. Listening to Level 42 and Ska in the 80's and slapping. I'm needing a 5 string spector to do some Graham Maybe/Natalie Merchant stuff so that will be for the next little while. Always love slapping some RHCP on the Stingray.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 40Hz
#256
In all my time playing with other people, I have only once been asked to slap, and after that the only times I've used it has been when playing with my own funk band where I choose the songs.
When I've gone to concerts in my life or any kind or shows, I can count on one hand how many times I've heard a bassist slap even for a really short time on a song.
I guess the hate comes from wanting to watch reviews online and never finding one due to the ones reviewing the gear not playing anything else than slap, that most people don't use at all and therefore don't see the need of reviewing the sound of, as well as it being seen as a newbie bass player thing to do really poorly, especially for long periods of time in music stores to most peoples annoyance.
It's a kinda steep learning curve as well before it doesn't sound horrible IMO, much like violin. Except that violin often takes several years instead of maybe weeks of practise before it sounds not so horrible.
I think it's kinda fun to play on some songs which had slap on it when recorded or played live by certain bands, but then you often have to maintain the slap chops, which I guess for most people like me who doesn't use it much is quite a pain in the nether regions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr.Ace
#257
Just kind of seems like every demo you click on, somebody’s going to town slapping the dog poop out of the bass. I get it, it’s cool. I slap a little myself here and there. Definitely nice to have it in the old bag of tricks. But, if your wanting to check out the tonal characteristics of a particular bass, or even amplifier: click clack smack pop. I’m pretty much over it at this point. I do like to hear Wooten slap though, and a few other choice bassists.
 
#259
I've never seen a bass player slap at an oldies concert. Seen 25 or so of the top bands from the 60"s-90"s. Can't rap my head around the thought of John Lodge slapping.
Slapping seems prevalent in guitar stores, Youtube vids and certain music. The only slap line I cared for was the opening to Seinfeld.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back