Non-Slappers?

[strummer]

I don't slap, ever, and MM basses are not made for slapping but for playing bass, in any way one wants to do that!

 

[justBrian]

I don't slap. It's just not appropriate for what I play in my bands.

 

[freedok]

Slap & pop & finger & pick

I was fortunate enough to start my education on the electric bass back in 75' when Stanley Clarke and Jaco were entering the musical arena as pioneers in their particular styles. So needless to say I was both heavy into the slap and pop technique with plenty of mid range to boot.

In those days the trend was to play exclusively with the rear pickup disregarding the front pickup altogether. It wasn't until recently that I started playing with a pick. I find that the pick tone compliments the kick drum to perfection and is quite percussive. I would say that I play with my fingers 90% of the time and 10% with a pick. Slap and pop is great for practicing at home or unless the band your in plays Level 42 tunes.

 

[bassmancb]

Non slapper here, never took the time to learn. I play aroundat home with slapping but out at a show it's just finger picking straight bass.

 

[EBMM7181]

The style of music I play doesn't '' require '' the popping and slapping technique. I do know how to do the slapping, not very well, but I can do it. I prefer more of a groove bass line. I am a Bass player, and slapping is one of the styles of bass, so I do plan on learning more and getting better at it, but as I said before, the style of music I play calls for your '' traditional '' bass style.

 

[justBrian]

The style of music I play doesn't '' require '' the popping and slapping technique. I do know how to do the slapping, not very well, but I can do it. I prefer more of a groove bass line. I am a Bass player, and slapping is one of the styles of bass, so I do plan on learning more and getting better at it, but as I said before, the style of music I play calls for your '' traditional '' bass style.

Well said, Billy. +1

 

[prickly_pete]

There's a Million Guys out there that have Mastered that Style

True, but there are very few players who can groove and make slapping sound good/musical.

 

[RitchieDarling]

Play the Grove and Have Great Time and the Band will love ya., and your phone will never stop ringing.

Damn! I knew I was doing something wrong!

All these years, I've been trying to play the GROOVE!

Ritchie

 

[leftymike]

I've been playing for 17 years and still can't slap. Like most of the people on here I mess around with it at home but I don't have any real use for it.

The place I hear slap bass most is GC. It never ceases to amaze me how many customers/employees there can ONLY slap. I'll have some guy come up , pick up a bass, slap a cool line for 30 seconds and then talk ****e. Then when you ask them to PLAY the bass they look at you like " Dude, that's what I was doing!".

It definitely has it's place but I agree that there are a select few that can actually pull it off in a musical context.

 

[bluesquidd]

I don't slap. I went to BIT (Musicians Institute) in the late '80s and it seemed everyone was slapping. My heros are players like Jaco, Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis and Stanley. His finger style is bar none.
I love the Jazz Bass sound with the Bridge PU soloed ala Jaco. But, I love the sound of my StingRay 5 in single coil position. Boosting the Mids and keep the bass and treb flat almost gives kind of a Bartolini growl.
I've read Dave LaRue played his Sterling in Single coil when playing finger style and parallel when slapping.

 

[russjm]

Nope, I'm a lousy slapper. I tried some in my last band, on a Thunderbird of all things, but apart from the odd slap or two at home (usually from my wife), there's just no room for it in my current band.

 

[Aussie Mark]

the odd slap or two at home (usually from my wife)

That's a spank, not a slap

 

[adouglas]

Oh BEHAVE!

 

[Baird]

I only slap when the song requires it which is pretty rarely.

I play in a heavier band and never slap (hard to do on a Bongo5 HH anyways) but I do slap a little bit on my SUB4 or a Fender Jazz in another band I play with when we play songs like "Play that Funky Music" or "Higher Ground".

I would say that out of the 50 or 60 songs I am currently playing, only 4 or 5 require slapping.

I woudn't slap at all if I was doing original stuff and not covers. I am pretty good at slapping as well but it really isn't needed that often. It is just annoying unless done right and not too often IMO.

 

[AnthonyD]

Non-Slapper Here...

Fingers and flats... Occassional thumb and/or pop accents but definitely not a slapper.

 

[SteveB]

I just bought Ed Friedland's instructional video on Slap Bass, and found out that I had been doing it all wrong!

I think slap is cool in the right context. It is also awful when played out of context. I know this because I once had a metal band with a slap bass player.

Err.. anyway.. the point is.. MM basses are certainly not piegeonholed for slap bass. They sound amazing with any technique.

 

[saxnbass]

Is it a good video? Is there someplace I could watch a clip or a few clips to see if I want it?

 

[dlb1001]

I have tried learn how to slap but have never quite got it down. However, if you do want to learn, Ed's DVD explains the technique very well. Another good source is the DVD by Alexis Sklarevski. But, even with all of this material, I still sound lousy so I just focus on groovin'!

 

[Fred E.]

I don't slap/pop--I don't do it well--but, nothing beats the pickup placement on a single pickup SR or Sterling if you want to do it. Plus, the 5 string SR is one of the only 5 stringers that I have played on which I feel that I could slap/pop, if I could slap/pop.

 

[SLUGGO]

The place I hear slap bass most is GC. It never ceases to amaze me how many customers/employees there can ONLY slap. I'll have some guy come up , pick up a bass, slap a cool line for 30 seconds and then talk ****e. Then when you ask them to PLAY the bass they look at you like " Dude, that's what I was doing!".

You are so right!! Guys go into GC, or any other large retailer, and just wail away with no rhyme or reason. (It is typically the same riff , by the way.) I gotta give props to the employees for comitting murder and/or suicide!! (I'm kidding, of course!)