I hated Seinfeld, so I associate slap with it.
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Agreed, and I can't do it very well.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...
For me, I have long been of the opinion that there are a lot of non-musicians who have picked up a little bit of slap along the way as a type of hobby — not unlike rehearsing a card trick or fiddling with a butterfly knife. I am genuinely inspired by players who incorporate slap into a larger repertoire, but I don’t feel any musical kinship with bassists who only know how to slap.
I
Flea is probably doing fine financially.
Larry Graham has Sly, Graham Central Station and Prince mkney coming in. He probably does alraight.
Bootsy probably gets by.
There are other. But your point is well taken. You don't HAVE to do it to make it.
Flea is probably doing fine financially.
Larry Graham has Sly, Graham Central Station and Prince mkney coming in. He probably does alraight.
Bootsy probably gets by.
There are other. But your point is well taken. You don't HAVE to do it to make it.
I'm going to say Dave Chappelle impersonating Rick James... he slapped Charlie Murphy pretty... handily... in the skit they were in.
Internet. People have an opinion on this and argue about it because Internet.
But I believe in the middle way. I think, played at Warp 9, the style is so percussive that there may be room in some bands for a slapper and an actual bassist.
But I believe in the middle way. I think, played at Warp 9, the style is so percussive that there may be room in some bands for a slapper and an actual bassist.
I've been playing bass since 1975 (and are my hands tired. Thank you, I'll be here all week, try the veal.) 
Only had to play a few songs that required slapping. 'Happy Anniversary' by The Little River Band and 'Forget Me Nots' by Patrice Rushen were the ones I ended up playing the most. Both have relatively simple lines that are melodic and memorable. With over 95% of the songs I've encountered played either finger or pick style, I never gave the slapping technique much attention. Consequently, I'm not very good at it. As a listener, it's not my favorite style. The tone is too trebly and it doesn't fill up the bottom like a bass instrument should. (I can't imagine what the sousaphone's slap equivalent would sound like.) The whole concept of slap being synonymous with funky doesn't fly, either. Listen to some of the early '70's CTI recordings that Rudy Van Gelder engineered for proof. The overuse of the style by amateurs showing off in stores or on the internet is enough to turn anybody off. Ruined demos are especially annoying, owing to the fact that 95% of the music out there requires tonal properties which are the polar opposite.
Only had to play a few songs that required slapping. 'Happy Anniversary' by The Little River Band and 'Forget Me Nots' by Patrice Rushen were the ones I ended up playing the most. Both have relatively simple lines that are melodic and memorable. With over 95% of the songs I've encountered played either finger or pick style, I never gave the slapping technique much attention. Consequently, I'm not very good at it. As a listener, it's not my favorite style. The tone is too trebly and it doesn't fill up the bottom like a bass instrument should. (I can't imagine what the sousaphone's slap equivalent would sound like.) The whole concept of slap being synonymous with funky doesn't fly, either. Listen to some of the early '70's CTI recordings that Rudy Van Gelder engineered for proof. The overuse of the style by amateurs showing off in stores or on the internet is enough to turn anybody off. Ruined demos are especially annoying, owing to the fact that 95% of the music out there requires tonal properties which are the polar opposite.
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If I ever found it in my toolbox, I’d take it back for a refund due to defects.
I'm not a fan of slap in general as a lot of it sounds obnoxious to my ears. If I'm watching a bass demo I always skip the slap parts. BUTT I have heard some enjoyable slap here and there.
James Jamerson didnt slap.
Jaco Pastorius didn't slap.
Leland Sklar doesn't slap
Flea went through periods where he didnt slap.
I have an audition coming up and the set list is heavy funk and hip-hop. I am going to try and finger funk my way through this.
Jaco Pastorius didn't slap.
Leland Sklar doesn't slap
Flea went through periods where he didnt slap.
I have an audition coming up and the set list is heavy funk and hip-hop. I am going to try and finger funk my way through this.
These are the reasons that I think some people don’t like slap:
1. They suck at it and try to justify that by tearing it down any chance they get to make themselves feel better.
2. People that suck at slap are trying to buy a new bass and get immediately frustrated that a bass they might be considering only garners slap wankery on YouTube search.
3. It’s become a parody unto itself in that it’s like a dark cloud hovering over every self conscious bass player, and is pretty much the first thing that comes up when discussing it with anyone showing a pedestrian interest or just trying to humour us. Slappa da bass, man?
4. Some people genuinely have little interest in the style or technique, despite having the skills to utilize it.
5. Talkbass
1. They suck at it and try to justify that by tearing it down any chance they get to make themselves feel better.
2. People that suck at slap are trying to buy a new bass and get immediately frustrated that a bass they might be considering only garners slap wankery on YouTube search.
3. It’s become a parody unto itself in that it’s like a dark cloud hovering over every self conscious bass player, and is pretty much the first thing that comes up when discussing it with anyone showing a pedestrian interest or just trying to humour us. Slappa da bass, man?
4. Some people genuinely have little interest in the style or technique, despite having the skills to utilize it.
5. Talkbass
i think it was horribly abused by those who were lousy at it, which was most people. IMHO it's easy to do poorly, and very difficult to do truly expertly, with authenticity and musicality.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...
For sure. Back in the late 80's I worked in the keyboard department at a large music store, and the first time I heard the "Seinfeld" theme, I was like "Hey, that's a Korg M1!". "SlapBass" on the M1 is almost as famous as "FullTines" on the Yamaha DX7.
I don't slap my bass. It has done nothing to me.
Almost like Fred Flintstone running in clogs...
Slap is like sweep arpeggios on guitar: when done properly and in the appropriate song, it works great and people think oh that's great talent and musicality. When done improperly, it sounds like muddy garbage and people think youre just trying to showboat. Its like the skinny dude at the gym trying to curl 35lb dumbells with shoulder momentum instead of just using correct form on a smaller weight. He impresses no one but himself.
if you wanna blend with the Hi-Hat/Ride cymbal , as in slapping fastly , ... please ' be in/on time ' ...
then , it's cool ... if there's some meaty tone to go along with the fret noise ..!
then , it's cool ... if there's some meaty tone to go along with the fret noise ..!
