Funk Bass: Slapping or Popping? (bass, pop, effect, guitarist)

berlisishott · 02-26-2008, 05:39 PM

Question to all fellow bass guitarists:

Do you prefer to slap or pop anything below E (the largest string). I myself find popping much easier.

**Seltzer** · 02-26-2008, 10:34 PM

I find it easier to pop D and G strings, but that's coming from someone who doesn't use those techniques very often at all, so I'm not good at them. I've always preferred funky fingerstyle grooves like Battlestar Scralatchtica.

tkpb938 · 02-27-2008, 06:58 PM

Usually I use them in combination i.e. one right after another quickly.

EVAD · 04-04-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berlisishott

Question to all fellow bass guitarists:

Do you prefer to slap or pop anything below E (the largest string). I myself find popping much easier.

I find it hard to get a good tone if you slap on anything but the E string. I was using this technique quite a bit in the early 90s. I was just starting to get good at it when it went out of style.

EVAD

mosesandtherubberducky · 04-04-2008, 06:26 PM

I can't pop for sh*t so I have to slap everything, and slapping G doesn't have the same effect as E or A. Also I'm screwed when I play a 5 string because then the strings crowd in and I don't have ample slappage room

mr dave · 04-04-2008, 06:43 PM

the funkiest bass i've heard has ALWAYS been fingerstyle. not slapping and popping. bootsy collins - fingerstyle. jaco pastorius - fingerstyle. - james jamerson - fingerstyle. flea's funkiest lines have always been when he relaxed and played with his fingers.

as far as the technique goes. i never saw the need to slap on any but the E or A strings. you also have to tweak your tone quite a bit to get it to sound decent. cut lows, boost mids.

the ONLY time i slap and pop now is if i feel like messing up the groove to 'higher ground' for poops and giggles between jams with my friends.

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02-26-2008, 05:39 PM
berlisishott Destroyer of Guitars Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 148	Funk Bass: Slapping or Popping? Question to all fellow bass guitarists: Do you prefer to slap or pop anything below E (the largest string). I myself find popping much easier. __________________ Teenage angst has paid off well Now I'm bored and old Self-Appointed judges judge More than they have sold If she floats than she is not A witch like we had thought A down payment on another One at salem's lot

02-26-2008, 10:34 PM
Seltzer Mellifluous... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Born in Australia, Living in New Zealand Posts: 1,408	I find it easier to pop D and G strings, but that's coming from someone who doesn't use those techniques very often at all, so I'm not good at them. I've always preferred funky fingerstyle grooves like Battlestar Scralatchtica. __________________ Last.fm

02-27-2008, 06:58 PM
tkpb938 Fait Accompli Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunny Phoenix Posts: 413	Usually I use them in combination i.e. one right after another quickly.

04-04-2008, 06:26 PM
mosesandtherubberducky butt say x Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: so i read the question as "Where YOU live" which was kinda funny instead of "Where you live" Posts: 1,655	I can't pop for sh*t so I have to slap everything, and slapping G doesn't have the same effect as E or A. Also I'm screwed when I play a 5 string because then the strings crowd in and I don't have ample slappage room __________________ Can I have a youtube video for a sig? There's a thing that says "Wrap [youtube] tags around selected text"

04-04-2008, 06:43 PM
mr dave Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: everywhere Posts: 292	the funkiest bass i've heard has ALWAYS been fingerstyle. not slapping and popping. bootsy collins - fingerstyle. jaco pastorius - fingerstyle. - james jamerson - fingerstyle. flea's funkiest lines have always been when he relaxed and played with his fingers. as far as the technique goes. i never saw the need to slap on any but the E or A strings. you also have to tweak your tone quite a bit to get it to sound decent. cut lows, boost mids. the ONLY time i slap and pop now is if i feel like messing up the groove to 'higher ground' for poops and giggles between jams with my friends. __________________ i am the universe