Jamesrt2004 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 It sounds horrible :/ and rubbish to me. Ne'er heard a single Song and I always end up thinking of 'normal' playing that would sound just better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Its probably the most annoying way to 'test' a bass. There is more to the bass than slap sound! I dont mind it, but its more important to hear the different finger/pick tones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Oh Joy! I'm going tomorrow. Gonna take my plugs. I kinda see slapping in music shops and shows the equivalent of going to the motor show in an old ford escort with a big spoiler and one of those shade banners across the top of the windscreen with "Kev" and "Sharron" written on it. In a handful of songs it fits well but by christ it don't impress me. Maybe we should start a forum based "Slap Is Crap" action group and start shaming these twangers into hiding? EDIT: As someone who plays slap in 4-5 songs maybe I should change that to "Slap Is Crap - when used as a vehicle for self promotion" Edited March 12, 2011 by mrtcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I'll be there tomorrow - is there an earplug vendor there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gub Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Seems like a fair few of us are pretty unimpesed with the slappers out there ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [size=1]I like slap[/size] But I just don't seem to be able to do it I'll get me coat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The height of good taste is being asked to slap and saying no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [quote name='purpleblob' post='1159547' date='Mar 12 2011, 05:05 PM']I like slap, but what I hate is those guys busy trying to slap as fast a possible as it somehow it proves their manhood or something. This said I don't think they're much worse than those people who play ridiculously loud trying to drown everyone else out (and don't even get me started on horrible distorted bass noises ).[/quote] +1 I like slap. A lot. But not for *everything* and certainly not as an exercise in gymnastics or something. But I am a bit surprised/amused at the strong responses it elicits in some people, judging by some of the posts. Now, what I'm going to say won't apply to many here (I hope!) but here I go: I have met a good few people who play bass (as opposed to bass players) who detest slap, are very vocal about it... these people who play bass tend to play in indie/rock bands mostly pumping 8th notes following the guitar, and a good proportion of them got to bass after starting on guitar and got the position because there was a better guitarist in the band so they were relegated to the "more lowly" position of bass player. Once there, rather than discovering what bass is about, they take refuge in root notes, in cliches about holding the band together, and would lash out at anything that they may see as a threat to their comfortable position (i.e.: they can't do much more beyond what they do, and have no inclination to learn anything else because they really don't feel for the instrument)... It gets boring. I found the same in guitar players lashing out against twiddly players and defending their "just two notes, but with feel" They are right, mostly, because music without passion, music that's only mathematical noises, it's boooooring. But lash out against the bad player, not a particular technique that can be used effectively and with a lot of taste. Rant over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 A gentleman is a man who can play slap bass. And doesn't. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 My apologies, my rant about this particular subject is in the other thread about the Olympia show! I've no personal objection to people playing slap as fast and loud as they can whenever they try something out, if that's what and how they play, which i somehow doubt. It's also the looking around / up to see if anyone is watching and approving which also grinds my gears. Hey ho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Old Skool slap is great in moderation but the kind of double thumping madness you see at these shows is like being shot at with a machine gun, just want to run and hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [quote name='Bassassin' post='1159641' date='Mar 12 2011, 06:04 PM']A gentleman is a man who can play slap bass. And doesn't. Jon.[/quote] +1. I dont mind it, I prefer to hear some nicely phrased finger stuff. I play it sometimes, but only when needed. Like any style, there's a time and a place. The club band I work in plays Ashes To Ashes and Brick House, thats about as slap as we and I go. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The reason you need to slap is its the only way of impressing these young vocalists or guitarists with a bass guitar. You can have all the music knowledge and feel in the world but a good slap line is all their after. If you cant slap and show off, its unlikely you'll be offered the gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I'm so glad I didn't waste £64.00 on the train fare to London today...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Donnyboy' post='1159519' date='Mar 12 2011, 04:44 PM']Same - i've walk out of guitar shops because some floppy haired ponce has been showing off! Me, envious? ... well maybe about the hair The Status Quo bassman was there - hope he wasn't slapping - he'd get shot.[/quote] MB1. John Rhino Edwards! a Status Player who doesnt slap! (Well not in Status Quo anyway) Edited March 12, 2011 by MB1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd_david Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The only tasteful and really functional slap i can think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) A time and a place for everything. And less is more and all that stuff. Never ceases to amaze me though how non-bass playing members of a band get all giddy and excited when you slap a couple of notes. I was mucking about at practice the other night and thumbed 3 notes on the E string and then all of sudden "we could do a Level 42 song!" someone said My reply was short. EDIT: thumbing 3 notes on the E string is about as far as my slapping goes Edited March 12, 2011 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I'm with Pete, slagging off an entire technique is ridiculous - slap bass <b>in the right context</b> is effing awesome. For me that context is Old School Funk. I can't really see the point of it in metal or punk, where it adds nothing rhythmically, but then I can't really see the point in metal or punk full stop I was just listening to Pleasure earlier, that man Nate Phillips grooves! A whole hall of people slapping without context would do my head in though. Mind you, any room of people playing disparate unmusical parts loudly on any instrument would have that effect, the only saving grace of them all playing trad walking bass lines would be that you could talk over it still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 The purpose of my OP was not to demonise slap bass (I like Ashes to Ashes for example) but really just to express my incredulity that so many of the bass playing community come to shows such as this and seem to think their virility is proven by super fast double thumb technique at ear splitting volume all day long. It wouldn't honestly matter if they were playing a £200 Squier or a seven grand Fodera as it would still be a godawful noise and I doubt blind tested many could tell the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [quote name='Bassassin' post='1159641' date='Mar 12 2011, 06:04 PM']A gentleman is a man who can play slap bass. And doesn't. Jon.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I don't like slap because of the actual tinny sound. Give me John Paul Jones sound any day. One of our guitards was dead impressed by seeing a bassist in a band slap a 10 second solo. He's never impressed with the intro to Doctor Doctor which starts off with me playing part of Jaco's version of Blackbird (the chordal stuff). Still ain't going to slap Mr. Guitard . Actually, there's a thought. Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Ha ha! Plus 10000 to this - I was at the bass bash today. Was thinking about posting about it on the bus home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [quote name='karlfer' post='1159758' date='Mar 12 2011, 07:44 PM']I don't like slap because of the actual tinny sound.[/quote] It doesn't have to be tinny. Larry Graham's tone is meaty as a hog-roast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Slap can be all things to all people. I know this to be a fact, because I agree with myself on this point. Horses for courses, etc. Done with taste and tact it can be beautiful. I stopped going to music (and especially bass) shows many years ago for this very reason. The last one was back in 1987, and the Goodfellow stand sounded like a typing pool. I quote: "Yuckity-yuckity-twat-yuckity-yuckity-twat-yuckity-yuckity-juckity-juckity-yuckity-yuckity-twat-twat-twat". Bastards. Edited March 12, 2011 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 [quote name='Conan' post='1159793' date='Mar 12 2011, 08:10 PM']I stopped going to music (and especially bass) shows many years ago for this very reason. The last one was back in 1987, and the Goodfellow stand sounded like a typing pool. I quote: "Yuckity-yuckity-twat-yuckity-yuckity-twat-yuckity-yuckity-juckity-juckity-yuckity-yuckity-twat-twat-twat".[/quote] Wow, exactly the same as today ! And also Bass Day 2008, 2009, 2010... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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