Pete Academy

I'm not having a go at guitarists, but I just think bass playing requires a special kind of discipline.

There are a lot of guitarists that understand the discipline involved. Our guitarist is also a bassist and he's great.

Apologies if this has been brought up before, but have you ever had your guitarist have a go on your bass? Do you find they just widdle around on it? Do you also find that guitar teachers will admit to teaching bass because they get asked, and that they find it an easy way to earn some extra money? And how many times have you had guitarists say they've joined a band on bass because it's so easy, as they can already play guitar?

The amount of techniques on offer for the bass nowadays do indeed make it a very cool instrument. Imagine a world without bass?

Hope it goes well, Nige.

[quote name='purpleblob' post='1165389' date='Mar 17 2011, 08:57 AM']I think you're wasting your breath (virtual or otherwise) on trying to convert the anti-slap brigade. Ultimately it's likely they don't like the type of music that features slap either and will probably argue forever that even though some like RHCP, their best songs are when Flea's not slapping.[/quote] I think you're probably right.

If you listen to an example like Marcus Miller's 'Run For Cover' and try to imagine it played fingerstyle, the bassline would lose all its impact. There are many other examples, most notably a lot of Cameo songs.

Slap? Watch this space.

Been playing over 35 years.

[quote name='uke' post='1162608' date='Mar 15 2011, 12:11 AM']See when you hit 40, get a bit bald, or grey and undoubtedly the bass man gut! how unfair is it that you can now afford all those toys you could only dream of when you were 21! you went off the radar a wee bit when the kids came along and now you find yourself playing "Free" songs with a few numpties a lot less talented than you! At least we can take solace in that we have the best gear available, and have like minded friends on here! Rant over It's good to talk [/quote] You're as old as the woman you feel.

Have the people that hate slap bass actually listened to the brilliant exponents of the style, or have you gauged your opinions on music shop/trade show show-offs? Just a thought.

I've missed a lot of posts, as I can see what the general concensus about slap bass is. I reiterate: it's a unique style, but it has been overdone over the years. I got into the style in the 70s with Stanley Clarke, Louis Johnson and Pops Popwell (Crusaders). The machine gun technique was introduced mainly by Mark King in the 80s. At the time it was amazing, and I still think Mark is the best exponent of that particular style, as he is a drummer by trade, and introduced drum rudiments on bass guitar. But it's all about making it [i]musical[/i]. Don't concentrate on Victor's crazy triplet trade show licks, and listen to 'U Can't Hold No Groove' instead, and then make up your mind.

[quote name='Conan' post='1162227' date='Mar 14 2011, 07:44 PM']Exactly. Despite saying earlier that I like slap - I bloody hate what that Tourette's guy was doing. Impressive for about 20 seconds maybe, and then you realise that he is simply pouting and preening like peacock on steroids... Compare that with some of the beautiful, lyrical slapped basslines from the "musical desert" of the 1980s (yes, I was there too!) by the likes of Abe Laboriel, Marcus Miller, Freddie Washington, Byron Miller, etc - and it's like saying that Jaco and John Deacon are the same because they both play with their fingers!! Wake up and smell the coffee guys. This is not about playing style, this is about some people being attention-seeking turds and others feeling the groove. And, of course, everything in between![/quote] Good post.

[quote name='cetera' post='1160971' date='Mar 13 2011, 08:25 PM']I like slap when it's used tastefully and in it's place. Unfortunately what I heard today at the Bass Show was neither tasteful nor in it's place.... Lots of show-off bedroom bassists trying to outdo each other but not actually LISTENING to the tonal palette available from the instrument/amp they were demo-ing. Pointless and unnecessary.... and puts me, and many others, off attending future shows....[/quote] Reminds me of when I get young kids who ask to try out a bass. I explain the controls and active tones etc. Then they just turn everything flat out and slap furiously.

Early Flea stuff was manic, which influenced a lot of slap players. But listen to his slap part on Aeroplane - sublime and totally integral to the song.

I think it's like any style - it gets overused and becomes cliched. But as bass players, I think we should accept that it's a style that's unique to our instrument. Come on, we're stuck at the back of the stage making everyone else in the band sound good. We need to show off now and again.

[quote name='Clarky' post='1160764' date='Mar 13 2011, 05:40 PM']Chaps, I take you back to my comments as I wrote the OP. I was not demonising slap, just the mindless pursuit of machine gun, pyrotechnic slapping at deafening volumes at bass shows ... which frankly spoil it for most attendees (take niceguyhomer's comment - he came armed with moolah but didn't buy as he couldn't hear the gear the wanted to try out over the ear-splitting din)[/quote] Sorry Clarky, my thread was a touch misleading. I forgot to mention that you never intended to knock the style, just the antics of the players at the show.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1160626' date='Mar 13 2011, 04:10 PM']Why are people basing there hate around the slap bass they have seen at some show.?..baffling...?? as far as im concerned slap bass used properly and with taste has its place, like any other technique...sorry but this is a pointless thread.. [/quote] I totally agree with this post. I can imagine the racket at the show, and hate 'machine gun' slapping that's all technique and with no musical content whatsoever, but how can you criticise the style when it's played like Marcus Miller on something like 'Run For Cover' or Me'shell on 'Boyfriend'?. Even more complicated stuff like Primus' 'Tommy The Cat' and Larry Graham's 'Pow' are amazing grooves. I think Bubinga posted a thread a while ago showcasing musical slap grooves. Might be worth resurrecting.

Squier is Fender's licensed brand, made in the Far East, as opposed to being made in the US or Mexico. The Squier Affinity range offers great value for money, but the Classic Vibe or Vintage Mod Squiers are really good quality.

[quote name='AndyBob09' post='1158478' date='Mar 11 2011, 07:13 PM']Nice! Funky! And nice! Some man for getting all this together! I'm busy until Sunday but I plan on getting my Nate Watts chops on all day Sunday.[/quote] Is he cooking Sunday dinner for you?

Our singer sounds nothing like Donald Fagen. It gives a slightly different take on the songs. Just thought I'd mention, a fair few people that have been to SD gigs have not been happy with the different arrangements of their classic songs: Reelin' In The Years being a prime example. But they wrote them, so they can mess with them, I suppose.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1155769' date='Mar 9 2011, 08:04 PM']I draw the line at dressing up.[/quote] No disrespect, Cetera...you couldn't do your act without it.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' post='1155781' date='Mar 9 2011, 08:09 PM']Don't fancy the full on Kiss make up then?[/quote] I haven't got the tongue for it.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' post='1155763' date='Mar 9 2011, 07:52 PM']Nothing,unless I had to dress up like them and pretend to be them.Covers is different to Tributes.[/quote] I draw the line at dressing up.