Pete Academy Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Larry Graham has always been credited for having invented the slap style for electric bass, due to him trying to fill in for the absence of a drummer while playing with his organist mother in church. However, I've read a couple of interviews with Louis Johnson, whereby he claims that he learned the style himself without ever hearing Graham play. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 (edited) My guess is that people have probably been using similar techiques for as long as there have been stringed instruments. As to who was first out of Larry & Louis, I can believe that they both developed it separately, they both have very different styles, I'd say Larry is more melodic whilst Louis really took the rhythmic ghost notes thing to the next level. Edited May 16, 2016 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Guys on upright were using the technique to a lesser extent, for a percussive feel way before Louis J or Larry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I dunno. My memory is that all of a sudden around 1975 every one was trying to do it, and nobody knew where it came from it was just out there! My memory is not what it was but I do remember you Pete Academy and it's good to see you back and posting again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Good to see Pete back again also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Sly released Thank You in 1969 and it was at #1 in the US charts by the beginning of 1970. I believe that was the first slap bass line on an electric bass. I don't believe Louis Johnson didn't hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 I used to slap on the guitar before I knew what slapping was. My teacher saw me do it and told me to buy a bass. So, yeh, I doubt it's possible to know who the first one to slap was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Wasn't Colin Hodgkinson doing it back then as well ? He was also doing chordal work along with soloing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Bartokian Pizzicato - a term which instructs string performers to play a pizzicato note to pull the string away from the fingerboard so that it snaps back percussively on the fingerboard. http://www.imusicdictionary.com/definition.php?term=bartok%20pizzicato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 I saw Back Door in1973 and Colin Hodgkinson was doing chordal stuff then.....they all signed me a copy of their album too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.