Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think all of us bass players should learn to slap ... but playing that way can becoming annoying and everything becomes a slave to a mindless beat

I agree Jeff. The technique is pretty cool when used appropriately. I have always been in awe of expert slappers with Flea being one of my favorites. I added it to my practices a few years ago but I still suck at it.

Doug Rauch (1950-1979) was a pioneer of double thumbing (the technique the guy is demonstrating in that first video), he did some amazing things in the seventies.

I prefer to use the slap technique for accenting my bass playing, not making a whole song out of it.

This guy is pretty good at it. Too bad he's not using a Rick:

I'm surprised that no one has yet to mention Louis Johnson. LJ was one of the cats that brought this technique to the forefront along with Stanley Clarke and Verdeen White. If you've never seen Louis' instructional video, you should certainly check it out; the man plays this style in a multitude of ways.

Interesting stuff! Too bad my hands aren't that smart.

teeder wrote:Interesting stuff! Too bad my hands aren't that smart.

LMAO
I know how you feel...

peewee wrote:I'm surprised that no one has yet to mention Louis Johnson.

Thunder Thumbs! Louis Johnson is great.

I'm not a big fan of slapping though, mainly because the majority of the time I hear it being done, it's in a wanking, guitar store chops manner.