I strongly disagree. I think it has to do with what genre you're focusing on. Not a lot of slap in Supertramp, Led Zeppelin, Genesis or Talking Heads.It's almost impossible to play anything from the 70's & 80's without
using slap...
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Claypool is a technically amazing player. I don't see it as very musical, though.
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...
bolded..i think you need to go back and listen to that stuff.
I just really don't like the sound of a slapped bass very much.
Majority of slap I see/hear is just way over the top and done too much. I think it has a place in music, but most people abuse this technique.
Even Stanley...a lot of what I hear him do is a bit much for me.
petrus61 nailed it, IMO. (#52)
i'm with the group who supports slap as a useful skill/technique when used tastefully in support of the moment/tune/production. like any other technique.
me either!
i'm with the group who supports slap as a useful skill/technique when used tastefully in support of the moment/tune/production. like any other technique.
To directly answer the question, I would say there is hate for slap due to it’s extreme overuse in internet videos and by people showing off bass technique.
In my opinion, the true strength of the bass guitar lies in it laying down an interesting and tasteful low-end melody that ties the drums and main melody together. Often, well-done bass lines in great songs are going to be something that would not be exciting to listeners or viewers, especially if you are trying to show off to people that don’t understand bass. Very often a bass player doing a fantastic job will go completely unnoticed. That is where slapping really shines. It seems to be the go to technique for demoing your chops. I think that where the hatred by many bass players may come in. Slap is on this pedestal, but it is such a small part of great bass playing for most music styles. However, it appears to be SO much of it.
In my opinion, the true strength of the bass guitar lies in it laying down an interesting and tasteful low-end melody that ties the drums and main melody together. Often, well-done bass lines in great songs are going to be something that would not be exciting to listeners or viewers, especially if you are trying to show off to people that don’t understand bass. Very often a bass player doing a fantastic job will go completely unnoticed. That is where slapping really shines. It seems to be the go to technique for demoing your chops. I think that where the hatred by many bass players may come in. Slap is on this pedestal, but it is such a small part of great bass playing for most music styles. However, it appears to be SO much of it.
I don't hate slap bass. Three of my favorite bass players are Louis Johnson, Freddie Washington, and Larry Graham. But even these guys knew how to use it, and when it was appropriate.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...
As a working bassist, I basically view slap bass as a "trick". Similar to trick shots in billiards, it can be fun to do, but it doesn't really have much practical application...unless you're playing a cover of "Forget-Me-Nots".
You never saw me on coke
like you said, he is accountable. That's what being a professional is all about. He can't make mistakes and get away with it. He'll lose his audience. He'll lose his students. He'll lose his authority.
That's what it's like being a professional at anything. I am sure you understand that. It will be interesting to see what he becomes. He's 21 or 22. Whether he breaks out of his shell or not is all up to him now. But I seriously doubt he will slap around like he used to when he was a kid. LOL
I think most people hate on the the things that they don't like when those things also get so much attention - especially if it's something they don't (or can't) do themselves. I'd like to think that a mature musician (let's just say he/she is not a slapper) hears Marcus or Victor or whoever and says, "good for them," while being completely comfortable with the fact that it's just not their 'thing.' I'd also like to think that a mature musician is not bothered by the fact that millions of people are wowed by it. Not to say that if you're vocal about it then you must be insecure - obviously, there's jokes and humor and whatnot - but there might be something there. But I'm no doctor 
Where's the bass. Nothing below 600 hz. Just bang pieces of scrap metal together.
Well, he is just a kid. Nice to know a full grown adult can complain about how a little kid isn’t as good at something you’ve been doing longer than he’s been alive. Kudos.
The Genres I have played have absolutely no slap. Unless your trying to show off and it comes off bad lol.
it's an extreme sound
considering the bass sounds we're used to - starting from lets say, early jazz, plucked upright bass sounds, all the way up to the 60s and the first time hearing slap. it's an extreme sound, the strings are being smashed basically as hard as one can play them.
anything thats an extreme is likely to displease some - ESPECIALLY when it's over used, or mis-used. it's like a wanna-be gourmet chef that uses truffle oil in everything. it's just not appropriate all the time.
considering the bass sounds we're used to - starting from lets say, early jazz, plucked upright bass sounds, all the way up to the 60s and the first time hearing slap. it's an extreme sound, the strings are being smashed basically as hard as one can play them.
anything thats an extreme is likely to displease some - ESPECIALLY when it's over used, or mis-used. it's like a wanna-be gourmet chef that uses truffle oil in everything. it's just not appropriate all the time.
Basically this.
Flea, Claypool, P-Nut, Dirk, that dude from Korn, Wooten, and other cats like that were the "in players" when I first started playing. All of them slapped. A lot. And other players wanted to play with bassists who could do similar things. It got old quickly, and I almost became anti-slap for nearly a decade just to get away from it. I think there's more room for it now, and I have started working on it again.
+1. Non sense slap is crap. Period. Actually i felt Slap is the most common technique bassist want to have in their arsenal. Because it is the easiest way to "trick" and show off yourself. As Billy Sheehan once stated in one of his videos " its almost embarrasing to me to show this at slow time becuase it is so easy"
What he meant is that a practice exercise done at nice speed is easy to do at some point.
I am not stating that Slap and some advance slap techniques are easy But with some practice you'll get very far. But honestly, double or triple or etc etc double thump slap pop is going to speak for you? Sure some will say " WOW this guys is amazing" but it wont articulate in too much...
I dont really care too much for Slap, but i am honest enough to admit F.E One of the nicest slap sounds and groove i have always liked is the End of G3 Live Manhattans Eric Johnson 1997 by Roscoe Beck. Its so articulate, meaningful. It speaks for the song. I have tried to play it fingered and doesnt do justice to the end. So RB (my guess) felt that part was better FOR THE SONG being slapped. Some Fleas grooves also. Its not just about slapping the crap out of the bass, its about giving the importance it deserves to the song.
