Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Slap Happy Chappy? No, Cos I'm Crappy :(


Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, Cato said:

 

Top Tip: It's all in the ghost notes.

Hahaha that thumbnail is just every reason  you shouldn't slap... you'll look like that guy... :

I've actually seen some of his videos and hes knowledgeable and a good instructor but oh gods that strap! Gurl! Are you trying to hide that shirt cos I can see why, but seriously you're making George formby's ghost wonder about trademark infringement..!!

Edited by operative451
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went through this in the 80s, slap was everywhere so I thought I'd better learn how to slap if I wanted to be taken seriously as a bass player. Had a few lessons but I could never get to grips with it so gave up trying to slap.  A few months later I went to an audition and the guy who was trying out while I waited was giving it the full Mark King treatment  Trace rig and a JD on a strap so short the bass was almost under his chin. I went in for my turn and said to the band if you want some one who can do all that stuff then I wont even bother setting up. They offered me the job straight away, they said I was the first one to audition who hadn't gone straight into a slap fest. Since then I've never tried to learn slap and have never been asked if I can do it.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Oh balls, was gonna offer you a brew and a slap lesson for nowt.

I did the heck out of it for years and recently have called upon it again.

It’s due a resurgence...

Ahh damn, that would be tiptop. I'm moving to the south coast in a couple of months if that's nearer..? 

I just need to figure out why my timing keeps going wrong, I must be doing something fundamental wrong, be buggered if I can work out what it is. 

I know it's not popular these days and I'll rarely if ever get to use it in a band situation, but I want in it the tool box. I feel like I'm almost there, just need that push to get over the edge. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As has been said its just practice to get timing nailed down ...I think slap is a lot harder than people think so they tend to give up but it is well worth persevering as it will help all aspects of your playing ..more or less everyone of the top players can slap even if they don't use it a lot of the time..

I would suggest going back to the originator of slap bass himself and learn Larry Graham ...

You can hear his influence on Marcus in this filthy funk rock masterpiece from 1973 

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It’s funny how some see slap as a completely different way of playing. I mean it kind of is but I like my slapping to sound similar to when I dig in, and blend it in with normal playing. I think when people hear the word slap bass they think of super fast nail gun antics rather than something more subtle. Think about a John Entwistle’s typewriter technique. That’s basically slap. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

I would most respectfully disagree!

 

The chaps from Mudvayne, Incubus and Fieldy from Korn also spring to mind.

I know Fieldy is very clicky and possibly has the “worst” bass tone ever...but listen to his rhythm.

Dirk Lance who was in Incubus really is a bit monstrous (think he left them a while ago)

 

 

Edited by AndyTravis
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, Unknown_User said:

I learned to play with a plectrum and only about 18 months ago started trying to learn to finger pick.  After I got to a stage where I could do that without making too much of a balls of it I thought I'd try having a go at slapping.  A couple of Internet instructional videos later I decided it was far too complicated and a skill I'd never, ever use.

In fact this week I've decided to stop finger picking altogether and just use a plectrum.  I realise I may have to turn in my badge and gun for saying that.

Corrected this for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love slap but done tastefully , when slap is done like this master it makes more sense as just another technique.. Melvin's use of the technique is just perfect.  But lets face it, it depends on the song. Look at Chuck Rainey's part on Steely Dan's PEG. He thought a slap part would work on that certain part of the record. He was right. Then again I love MK. Its just how you apply it in the musical context. There is no way im going to slap over a Carpenter's record. 

 

Edited by bubinga5
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I love slap but done tastefully , when slap is done like this master it makes more sense as just another technique.. Melvin's use of the technique is just perfect.  But lets face it, it depends on the song. Look at Chuck Rainey's part on Steely Dan's PEG. He thought a slap part would work on that certain part of the record. He was right. Then again I love MK. Its just how you apply it in the musical context. There is no way im going to slap over a Carpenter's record. 

 

Weird, I've been watching that exact clip for ages and have learned the tune - it's always on my YT recommended page!! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I love slap but done tastefully , when slap is done like this master it makes more sense as just another technique.. Melvin's use of the technique is just perfect.  But lets face it, it depends on the song. Look at Chuck Rainey's part on Steely Dan's PEG. He thought a slap part would work on that certain part of the record. He was right. Then again I love MK. Its just how you apply it in the musical context. There is no way im going to slap over a Carpenter's record. 

 

Thats exactly it, I want it in my locker because in some situations it is just right for the song. 

Its not always appropriate, I get that, I was listening to a new R&B track the other day and for no discernable reason, the bassist was putting little pops in, seemingly at random. It just sounded crap, these random clanks which added nowt to the song. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

89638c4d51859242eeed3a0e6a3a166c0cc87b11

 

Slapping the bass is a lot like like making love to a beautiful woman. There's a time and a place for it. Get it wrong and you'll never get a second chance. You've got to build the mood and, only when it's absolutely appropriate, do you make your move. You can't just whip it out any time you feel like it and whack it off everything in sight.

  • Haha 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, ped said:

Weird, I've been watching that exact clip for ages and have learned the tune - it's always on my YT recommended page!! 

 

57 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I love slap but done tastefully , when slap is done like this master it makes more sense as just another technique.. Melvin's use of the technique is just perfect.  But lets face it, it depends on the song. Look at Chuck Rainey's part on Steely Dan's PEG. He thought a slap part would work on that certain part of the record. He was right. Then again I love MK. Its just how you apply it in the musical context. There is no way im going to slap over a Carpenter's record. 

 

Well, that is truly perfect - and there's my homework for the next few weeks!  But I guess I'll never nail it quite like this guy 😥

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slap is an audible sexy experience. Everyone loves to hear that sound. Do you have to have to play it. Nope. Just like you don't have to tap, play slides, Trills. Super cheesy slides on every bar of a song. The notes are the importance. Yep use those techniques sparingly. 

Reminds me of that guy from Guitar Guitar in Glasgow that I asked if I could play a bass. Before I could play it he gave me a not so good slap masterclass. I just thought he was a Richard.. After 5 minutes I asked if I could actually play the Sadowsky. He was trying to show me and the shop how many chops he could fit into 5 minutes. That there in a nutshell is what  I thought you shouldn't do musically. 

Edited by bubinga5
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...