Why so much hate for slap??

[jamro217]

Just to clarify the "another tool in the toolbox" analogy. I have this rusty old 4mm wrench that I found in the bottom of my fishing tackle box. No idea where it came from. I cleaned it up and put it in my toolbox. I have yet to need it for anything, but it's still there. I named it "Slap".

 

[eureka kid]

Bruce Springsteen?

Who else!

 

[mobdirt]

Who else!

the og

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Why would you think that? Because in all the movies we see artists are open minded lefties and businessman are closed minded righties? Why would someone's artistic ability pre-determine their views on social mores, finances or a country's approach to crime?
seems a bit prejudicial...

ZenG said that you don't need slap to make money saying McCarthney and Kaye and Jamerson never slap and they are probably the richest bass player around as if the only reason to do anything is to make money. It shows how he is closed minded toward anything that didn't made money.

 

[JimK]

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!

Abuse, as others have mentioned, is a big reason.
Anthony Jackson (in one of my favourite interviews, Guitar Player, 1986) talks about Producers over using the technique...what should the bass play? I know, let's do that slap/pop thing.
AJ mentions slapping on ballads, playing minor 7th figures over Major tonalities, always in "E"...

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??

Do not lump Motown in with Disco! Please!!!
Motown, at least in my mind, is Detroit and flatwound strings.
When they moved to Cali? I might give you that one.

It should be a tool in every bassists arsenal, to my way of thinking.
Not the only tool, just one of several screwdrivers...

Couple things I learned over the years...
1) Be as versatile as you can &
2) To thine ownself be true...if Slap ain't your thing, it ain't gonna work.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I'm disappointed by the comments ... but at the same time I'm not surprised at all.

Bass player still love Fender P and J bass more than anything else ... they are stuck in the past and slap is a modern thing.

 

[easyj]

I am disappointed when i am checking out a demo video of a pedal, effect, or something bass related that I am interested in, and the whole thing is bippity-bippity-bippity.

 

[WhenTheDrumsStops]

Because we have drummers?

When the drums stops it is time for a bass slap solo (except if your name is George Anderson).

 

[JimK]

I'm disappointed by the comments ... but at the same time I'm not surprised at all.

Bass player still love Fender P and J bass more than anything else ... they are stuck in the past and slap is a modern thing.

Modern?
Almost 50 years on the electric...longer than that with the URB.

 

[Doug4321]

Slap is great.

What really should be hated is playing harmonics.

Bing. Bing. !!

OMFG if I hear another bass player doing harmonics I'll freak out!

 

[phangtonpower]

I remember being asked to do a slap solo in a 50s cover band. I argued that there was no slapping back then and my bass wasn't setup for it. It was strung with flats. I watched a video of the the guy I was subbing for. He had a stingray and that slap solo was sooo bad. The audience loved it though :/

 

[stratovani]

It's cool if you slap, so this is not a criticism of any slapper. But to me slap sounds like BOING-BOING-BOING and is definitely not my cup of tea, and I'm sure a lot of players feel that way. It's another tool in the toolbox, one that I don't own.

 

[Bijoux]

I heard Marcus Miller say that he got into slap because his mom would listen to music he recorded on her little radio and she'd tell him she didn't hear any bass. and of course you can hear the plucked notes in any speaker.

 

[JSBassman61]

Slap and Funk go hand in hand, if you are not a funk fan I can see where "Thumping" as us old heads call it wouldn't appeal to an individual. I use it where appropriate and I admit I don't have a need to use it very often, usually just to add a little color here and there or when the song dictates it. I agree its a very useful tool to have in the arsenal, I don't tap....having said that last Saturday I got with one of my Mentors to see if I can learn how, again it's just another tool to add to the tool box.

 

[Novarocker]

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...

Shhhhh....gotta catch a few folks first

Just dropping in to say hook line and sinker! You're reeling em in like you're at a fish farm! Folks get so heated by the 70s/80s comment they can't be bothered to read the 3rd post to see that you weren't serious.

Congrats kind sir, well played.

 

[AlexBassMP]

I respect the talent fine, but I'd be annoyed listening to a song with that style for 4 minutes.

That's because that guy is not playing a song.

He just programmed a drumm loop and played all those "Mark King signature chops" whitout no sense or musicianship at all.

THIS is exactely why some people hate slap. Don't play slap to show how you play play a F****ng song!!!! .

 

[Novarocker]

Slap and Funk go hand in hand, if you are not a funk fan I can see where "Thumping" as us old heads call it wouldn't appeal to an individual. I use it where appropriate and I admit I don't have a need to use it very often, usually just to add a little color here and there or when the song dictates it. I agree its a very useful tool to have in the arsenal, I don't tap....having said that last Saturday I got with one of my Mentors to see if I can learn how, again it's just another tool to add to the tool box.

I agree it works well in funk, but I never slap when I play funk in a band environment. Unless I'm playing a RHCP tune that "has" to have it. Even then I still just use my fingers most of the time.

Did what you mean by hand in hand, is that slap fits so well (can sound great) with funk? At first I thought you were implying that funk has to have slap. But after reading your whole post I think I understand what you mean.

I gotta say that I highly prefer non slapping funk songs. ie Cissy Strut

 

[chadds]

There’s a time and a place for any technique. (Love some Primus) I saw Mary Ann Redmond many times. Once she had this fusion bassist on a multi string wonder. The problem in this juicy Americana, funky blues music, this bassist was never in the pocket.

Slap & Pop? I thought it was going away like breakdancing. You can often tell if something has staying power because of an intrinsic art sensibility or is a fad. When it got used in John Tesh concerts I knew it was the end of civilization.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Modern?
Almost 50 years on the electric...longer than that with the URB.

it is too modern sounding for their Tort Fender P bass with flat they use on their rock cover

 

[DWBass]

Let's keep it real. How many black bassists don't like slap bass???? All this sugar coating is annoying. I can't stand when these threads pop up.