Thumb slappers

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:29 pm

I did Work Experience at the Bass Centre for a couple weeks the other year, everyone who came in to try basses slapped the things! No fingerstyle, no picks. Did my head in! While its a good sound in certain music, its usually just obnoxious and overly technical. I personally could never see it in my music! I like growl, but i like bass. Real bass. I was afraid to pick up a bass and play while i was in this place - thought id get laughed at for my "conventional" playing LOL!

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:34 pm

Perhaps a sign along the lines of "No Stairway To Heaven" is in order...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 2:25 pm

I think it's like a nervous twitch after a while.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:53 am

A lot of my thumb slapping is more like Entwistle's fingerstyle playing ... I am not for the most part a pop and slap funk player ... I use it as a way to get strong attack on 8th and 16th and quarter notes ... but once in a while a funky slap solo comes in handy ...

I will use almost any style to play my bass and get the job done ... plucking, fingering, tapping, whacking, slapping, picking .. etc ...

gpatt5762 · Post by **gpatt5762** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:15 pm

On my 4003S, strung with RotoSounds, I slap with my fingers only, a la Entwistle.
Makes a hellacious racket in a church band.
Other than that, I pick, even if Laboriel played the CD version.

Garry

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:56 pm

Tasteful slapping is fine. My favorite for that is Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire).

I don't personally use the technique, though. I have tried, and it doesn't fit what I do. At least not yet....

bosco64 · Post by **bosco64** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:40 am

I went to Atomic Music in College Park, MD last night after a long day in the office. There was a guy playing a Brubaker 5 string, and I thought that I was seeing a combination of Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten and Flea. He was popping, slapping, playing harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, he did it all. What impressed me was that he was very fast and very clean sounding. Then I realized that all that popping and slapping is just not my style, even though I would sell a kidney to play half as good as him! I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's room for every kind of style, whether you play with your fingers, pick, or slap. It's what Jeff said, use any style to get the job done.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:48 pm

Verdine White is a great tasteful bass player, those guys I like, Larry Graham, Chuck Rainey, etc. They still sound like they're playing bass. It's the wacka wacka guys that drive me up a wall. I'm telling you it becomes like a nervous tic for some guys, that's the only way they can play.

saxon · Post by **saxon** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:25 pm

Hey guys, picked up a bass for the first time a little more than a year ago. Shared with you the purchase of the white 83 4003 in January. I Play in band doing blues, jazz, funk and a little R & R. Any suggestions on summer camp type experiences for 51 year old guys like me with my bass.

saxon · Post by **saxon** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:28 pm

Rats, I thought I was posting this as general topic under basses. Will see the response and maybe move it over tomorrow.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:01 pm

Try Victor Wootens Bass Bootcamp, I think that's what it is called.

saxon · Post by **saxon** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:07 pm

thanks Jeff, I found it on the net

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:07 pm

Bob, I am with you 100%. Slapping can be nice as an accent. Lots of other important aspects to playing too, though.

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:14 am

As I implied earlier, it may be that slapping all the way through a Motown or blues track may sound ridiculous to many, but NOT slapping all the way through most Level 42 tracks would sound equally ridiculous. All techniques are only a means to an end, and are dependent on personal preference. Ultimately no one style is more important than any other, although obviously many will have their own personal preferences and their own ideas about what works and what doesn't. My advice would always be to do what works for you, but to realise that what others do, even where it is not necessarily to your taste, is equally valid.