Slap bass

Nolanger · 01-12-2009 10:43pm #1

Any recent examples on release or was this an '80s thing? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Ea_FTBtew&feature=fvst

Bodysmart · 01-12-2009 11:43pm

Larry Graham is credited as being the main pioneer of the style and was actually slapping on albums in the 60s. Check out his work with Sly & The Family Stone. In the 70s, Chuck Rainey, Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clarke and Louis Johnson added their own approach to the style. It was all rather tastefully done though. For example, check out Rainey's bass on the choruses of "Peg" by Steely Dan.

In the 80s, it was all about excess so you had guys trying to slap as fast as humanly possible, with all the focus on speed and none on the actually music. Flea and Mark King played some great slap basslines though. Mark King is especially brilliant - he plays the bass like the drums (lots of deliberate dead notes) whilst singing at the same time! :eek:

In terms of recent bassists, I'd recommend you check out Victor Wooten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywXpPNTp0DU

Paul