bassace Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 I’ve always thought that slapping the bass is like the guy who plays the spoons. Or the female contortionist. Doesn’t add much to the whole scheme of things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKing Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 I guess I could be labelled as a slapper, certainly in my rockabilly past. There was some definite rat-a-tat going on then. I use it very sparingly now, because in anything other than trad rockabilly it can sound pretty unpleasant, I agree. But I use the same playing technique to keep up that percussive, bouncing energy throughout all my pizz playing. It completely changes the energy and definition of the bass line when I switch from classic finger pizz to whole-arm pizz. Its a much more physical, defined sound that punches through the mix like a bass guitar ... yet is so far removed from bass guitar. As for the clicks and slaps, they become like ghost notes. I agree with Jack and co, you don't want to be clacking away constantly like a pile-driver when you've got a drummer, unless you're playing psychobilly. The EQ is crucial too, you want to tame the harsh clack (or plastic boing depending on your strings) so that you get a lovely organic woody/gut-like clunk that just gives the note presence and rhythmic attack, rather than sounding like metal plates banging together. Then those ghost notes and the percussion blend in with the bass tone, and supplement the drums rather than clashing. None of this helps the OP much ... to develop the style I'd encourage you to get your thumb off the finger board. Its not the only technique, as the more restrained video above illustrates ... but its worth cracking it. Free up your arm, think of your whole forearm producing each note, with the return of your hand landing back on the strings giving your line that fluid, swinging, bouncing percussion, avoiding robotic mechanical clatter. Done right its tasteful, appropriate, driving, percussive, but not metallic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 I've recently realised that when recorded, just tapping my fingertip onto the fingerboard between strings sounds much better than whacking the whole string. Pluck, usually with two fingers for me, with an action a bit like squashing the string down, pulling it aside and releasing it; then at the half-beat my fingers come back for the next note and land with a little tap on the fingerboard, just with the fingertips. It gets a lovely woody pop instead of a great big clack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 I realised the sound required was (as is suggested above) a percussive style of pizz. I must admit, I struggled a lot at the start, but setting the bass up properly helped. It’s a useful tool to have (although I prefer playing jazz). Gigs done, money in the bank, booked for more. Can’t ask for more then that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 If it's of use or interest, we'll be in Surbiton tonight Tuesday 9th.. https://www.stevetilston.com/upcoming-shows/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 On 14/01/2023 at 08:38, Burns-bass said: Yeah, that would be amazing! I’ve seen Keith play. Be great to see you when you’re down here gigging, so please share details. Hi again, it's taken a while, but finally we're coming to Bristol! Bristol Folk House on Saturday 9th December If anyone's free it'll be great to meet up albeit briefly. https://www.stevetilston.com/upcoming-shows/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 In my 25 year bass life - i got so much problems to learn slap. At first i tried Flea way and got it in elementary position. After 4 years i had a big period where i didn't need to play slap/pop bass, so i got to restart from zero. Last years i only played fretless where slap is not the best sounding style. About a half year ago i reset my main bass should be 5 string fretted and i tried to slap again, but dahh - i was a slut. I tried some youtube learning videos, but somehow it didn't work. 4 days ago i bought a book - ''Acid for a children'' - Flea life biography. There was some part telling that Flea once seen a black bass guitarist playing slap/tequinique. And he just wrote - I like it and i will learn it. And he said he did it. Today i took my 5 string Yamaha trb 5p II and tried to slap and somehow the elementary things got right. So now i decided to learn it very well and believe i will be able to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 4 minutes ago, nilorius said: In my 25 year bass life - i got so much problems to learn slap. At first i tried Flea way and got it in elementary position. After 4 years i had a big period where i didn't need to play slap/pop bass, so i got to restart from zero. Last years i only played fretless where slap is not the best sounding style. About a half year ago i reset my main bass should be 5 string fretted and i tried to slap again, but dahh - i was a slut. I tried some youtube learning videos, but somehow it didn't work. 4 days ago i bought a book - ''Acid for a children'' - Flea life biography. There was some part telling that Flea once seen a black bass guitarist playing slap/tequinique. And he just wrote - I like it and i will learn it. And he said he did it. Today i took my 5 string Yamaha trb 5p II and tried to slap and somehow the elementary things got right. So now i decided to learn it very well and believe i will be able to do it. 1) Glad you’re making progress 2) Slap on fretless is a lovely style 3) This thread is about slap on DB 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 1 minute ago, Beedster said: 2) Slap on fretless is a lovely style 👍On fretless the string attack when slaping is a bit weaker and fretless got a lower string action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 (edited) 21 hours ago, nilorius said: It's just different, more organic although less twang. Personally I prefer fretless but they're both good! Anyway, back to the double bass.. Edited May 24 by hubrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 4 minutes ago, hubrad said: It's just different, more organic although less twang. Personally I prefer fretless but they're both good! Anyway, back to the double bass.. There's a big part of me would love to be able to play slap (well) on the DB, but I generally find that when I see other players using it, I find it something of a turnoff (although I did like the playing of Hugh Bradly you posted a few months back), as is very much the case with fretted bass. But slap on a fretless bass is a style I generally love both to listen to and to play 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 40 minutes ago, Beedster said: There's a big part of me would love to be able to play slap (well) on the DB, but I generally find that when I see other players using it, I find it something of a turnoff (although I did like the playing of Hugh Bradly you posted a few months back), as is very much the case with fretted bass. But slap on a fretless bass is a style I generally love both to listen to and to play 👍 Don't know why, some one could disagree, but fretless isn't made for slap and pop. Fretted works much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 6 minutes ago, nilorius said: Don't know why, some one could disagree, but fretless isn't made for slap and pop. Fretted works much better. Have a listen to Graceland and get a feel for just how great it can sound 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 22 minutes ago, Beedster said: Have a listen to Graceland and get a feel for just how great it can sound 👍 Just a good vibration, but i have no offence to fretless slapers. I just think for me - fretted is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckyincarnate Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 On 12/01/2023 at 18:07, Beedster said: Not sure I suggested you spend any money mate! A more percussive sound doesn't mean playing slap/pop either, I found my early percussive style organically when I switched from steels to guts; I often used my right hand to mute between notes to keep the rhythm tight - essentially using the fingertips to push back down on the string I'd just plucked usually on the off beat. Using high action and steels this was a pretty quiet process, but when I switched to slacker and lower guts I found I was pushing the string onto the fingerboard, causing a percussive slap tone on the off beat (one AND two AND three etc). We didn't have a drummer - although the guitarist used a stomp box usually on the on/three - and the guys in the band quite liked the two together it so i worked on getting it a bit tighter and it works quite nicely without ever being slap technique per se). Personally while I'm impressed by slap, I don't especially like hearing it, even when it's as well played as Nicolas Dubouchet This sort of playing feels like putting the cart before the horse, tbh... Impressive slappage but his time is atrocious here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 44 minutes ago, Duckyincarnate said: This sort of playing feels like putting the cart before the horse, tbh... Impressive slappage but his time is atrocious here. Agreed, it's not his best, there are some clips where his ensemble playing is perfectly balanced between creative technique and supporting the song, worth checking some of his other stuff out on that basis But yes, all too often slap shouts 'look at me' to an audience. Funny how the same audience member might cheer the upright player when s/he does a bit of slap at a gig, yet also turn to their mates in the audience and say how f***ing awful it sounded why can't they bassist just support the song (I know from personal experience.....🤔) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 I just rediscovered this thread.. how did the gig go, BurnsBass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 16 hours ago, hubrad said: I just rediscovered this thread.. how did the gig go, BurnsBass? Im still gainfully employed! All joking aside, it’s going well thanks. Something like 20 - 30 gigs a year which is about right for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 3 hours ago, Burns-bass said: Im still gainfully employed! All joking aside, it’s going well thanks. Something like 20 - 30 gigs a year which is about right for me. Excellent, always good to hear! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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