Pete Academy

I hate to say this, but I think many a young player would have given up playing if slap hadn't been invented.

Apologies for stating this again, but I first saw Pops Popwell slapping on the OGWT and thought he was pinging the strings with his finger ends, Cue a few weeks worth of finger-end pain.

[quote name='Higgie' post='825813' date='May 2 2010, 07:33 PM']I know it sounds strange, but I could instantly do it from day 1. My dad is a bass player and I grew up watching him practice. He's not a slap player at all though, he just used to try and do the odd bit, but as soon as I picked up the bass I had the right motion, and was pretty accurate. The only thing I've had to work on was speed and groove. The actual technique just always came naturally! It took me longer to learn pick and fingers than it did slapping![/quote] Lucky bastard!

[quote name='Musicman20' post='825807' date='May 2 2010, 07:27 PM']No thats a good idea, thanks. I must admit, I was taught the basics by a bass tutor. This was a long time ago though. I used to be better at 15/16. I just need to sit and copy/play along....that how I enjoy and pick things up. Then Ill try and read a few things as well.[/quote] Just be patient with it.

I know there are forum members that hate slap, but it's still a great style to learn, and it sets us apart from the rest of the band.

[quote name='urb' post='825801' date='May 2 2010, 07:22 PM']I learnt how to slap by watching lots of Wooten and Stu Hamm vids (on VHS) when I was younger - I just got better over time but did get slightly obsessed with the Wooten thing which I can now do so I suppose it was worth it but I still think there are no short cuts - ie watching lots of Youtube vids - to learning any technique or any aspect of music you just gotta shed man! M[/quote] Yep.

Sorry to derail the thread into another major one, but I hope it will help your request.

[quote name='purpleblob' post='825794' date='May 2 2010, 07:17 PM']You know what. I started to reply to this a few minutes ago but I couldn't for the life of me remember how I learned to slap. I think you probably sum it up quite eloquently as "hit and miss". I remember seeing the likes of Larry Graham and the brilliant Mark King live on "The Tube" doing a solo piece. I sort of remember bits of (was it called) "Rock School" but I seem to recall I could slap before seeing that. So I think yeah, hit and miss sums up the way I learned. Playing along to Stanley Clarke's School days, day after day probably helped as it's not the most complex slap piece (not like Mr Pink from Level 42).[/quote] Nice reply. I think that when you're passionate about learning something, you don't really notice how long it takes - you just do it.

I think it's one of those styles that you start to play in a haphazard fashion and then it suddenly evolves. One day you're crap, the other it seems to have happened. Regardless of what the majority of players think about the style, for a bass player it becomes somewhat addictive.

This seems to be a popular request. 'Building up slap technique' by Musicman20.

The recent thread on how to learn slap bass made me think about how I managed it. Without the requisite tutor DVD/books etc it was really hit-and-miss in those days. How did you manage to master it? Was it hard work?

I remember trying to decipher this style when it first came out. Regardless of what people say, it's bloody hard to master. I had to bluff my way through it, and I remember my brother saying how bad I sounded in the early stages. You just have to persevere with it. It all depends on which style you want to approach. The US classic players like Louis Johnson, Larry Graham, and Marcus Miller use a more thumb-heavy style, whereas players like Mark King use a drum rudiment approach using left and right hand. I would definitely recommend a teacher or a good DVD tutor like Stuart Clayton etc. The key is not to give up.

I would just start with simple octaves in a disco style. This way you'll practise a clean thumbed note and a precise popped octave at the same time.

Many years ago we had a great drummer with a fantastic groove - a real joy to play with. However, when the D'Angelo album came out, he developed a bit of an obsession with the 'behind the beat' groove. Don't get me wrong, I love that album, but I don't always appreciate how far behind the bass plays. It's an acquired taste. This drummer started to play 'Black Cow' more and more laid back, and kept insisting I play quite a bit behind the beat. I found this was unecessary for the song and annoying to play. In the end the rest of the band just couldn't cope with what felt like a decrease in tempo.

[quote name='Doddy' post='825441' date='May 2 2010, 12:42 PM']I'll hopefully be there. I'll bring my sheep with me,but we might be a bit late.....you know what dates are like. [/quote] Guest list...sheep plus one.

This is not an easy technique to learn. There are some good DVDs out there, but I would recommend a good teacher.

I can imagine the guys on Drumchat having a similar conversation to this.

[quote name='ziggydolphinboy' post='825048' date='May 1 2010, 06:56 PM']mmm bass drum I had a terrible experience with my main band that actually alterd my mind about my drummer that then led me to think of it as another reason to leave the band. we done a gig where the whole band was miked up and the bass drum was thuding all through my head all the way through the gig, the trouble was it highligted that when the drummer done a fill hes bass drum stopped !, he was out of time , and limited too (same bass beat) i looked at the walll all night and refused to play the venue again . obviously when we played in pubs etc the bass drum was always lost. after that i could never lock in with him again no matter how hard i tried to relax and get in with him i even reverted to stop playing runs when he did!!! my limited experiencse is i play less notes when the drummer is good!!!! simply beacacuse he or she will clock the space and either use it or sync with you. and if the feel is there its there!! (im also contemplating having drum lesons!!) I played with a drummer in a soul band who was so nervous about the tempo of the tunes it was a bit daunting but boy when he played it just was wicked, then ive played with a funk drummer who just does it and he listens to what youre doing wich is awesome when we get it right we both smile, id hope that a drummer is checking out what the bass is doing and alll the best drummers ive played with seem to listen, and i do love the hi hat especially when you clock it and the drummer knows youre listening, i had a drummer telll me that i was the first bass player to notice hes hi hat!!!(hope thats what he meant)!! or maybe im a crap bass player talking gibblygooop!!!!!!!!![/quote] Great post.

As part of the town's annual arts festival, Nearly Dan play The Swan in Leek, Staffs on Friday 7 May. Tickets £12. Free admission for sheep.

I started on guitar and never even thought about bass. I was part way through Bert Weedon's Play In A Day book, using my brother's acoustic, when he (my brother, not Bert Weedon) turned up one day with an old Vox bass he'd bought for a tenner. He thought it might be worth me playing the bass and jamming along with him. Loved it straight away. I remember one of the first songs we jammed was Hey Joe, with me playing it wrong, of course.

Just been watching Young Musician on BBC2. There are some ideal examples on there. Unbelievable!

Nearly Dan play The Swan in Leek, Staffs, next Friday the 7th of May. Free admission for sheep.

Some interesting replies. In the past I've always just played and not really concentrated on any one thing in particular, but if I stopped to think about it, it was always the kick drum. I have to agree with the overall statement: listen to everything.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='823832' date='Apr 30 2010, 10:57 AM']It's not that I concentrate on the right hand, it's just that I think that's where I get my "feel" from.[/quote] Time from the kick, feel from the hats?

[quote name='Musicman69' post='823795' date='Apr 30 2010, 10:31 AM']Hats and bass are good to listen to and play off, provided the drummer knows what he's doing. A lot of blues and rock have the snare slightly ahead or behind the beat so bear that in mind. Would be inclined to listen to the whole kit myself... better again, listen to the whole band! [/quote] Yep...that's why bass players are generally MDs.