I agree with you that slapping is getting old, but things are being done about it, like combining popping with the slapping to give it a more original sound. But the fact that there are a million Les Claypool and Flea wannabes who suck at these styles of playing is true, and unfortunately nothing is being done about that.

It's getting dangerous too. I was a music store here in Calgary last night and I was checking out basses. They had an Ibanez 5 string BTB something or other that actually felt pretty good.

There were gouges right through the finish below the G string between the pickups. I asked if the bass was used and the sales guy said no but "some guy who thought he could slap tried it out". Crazy.

Hang out in a music store for a while and you will inevitably hear someone start slapping like crazy... and not a clean, clear note/tone to be heard.

Like anything else it has got to have "soul" (for want of a better word). I was just listening to some live Marcus Miller (Spinner.com, great Fusion channel) and his notes were sharp and clear and filled with great bluesy string-bending. And don't get me started with the insane slapping that Alain Caron does on his six-string basses, just wicked. Check him out if you like slapping...

Later,
Glen

slapping will start to die down, just like guitar
tapping and whammy dive bombs. not that i don't
like slapping,i do! in the right hands like alain
caron/marcus miller/will lee ect,slapping is only
a small part of thier whole style, they can do everything! some of marcus's funkiest playing is
finger style and muted thumb style.
aloha, jerry

Finally, someone thinks like me... that Alain Caron is insane...

Randy Jackson summed it up best: "Slapping is the ketchup of the bass world." That's true, and it doesn't belong in every situation. I'm not tired of it, I'm just tired of all of the Les, Flea, Fieldy wannabe's. I don't think that it's slapping that is boring, I think the lack of skill, taste, & restraint is more noticeable. I only slap about 30% of the time, and just like the guy said earlier, I'm sick of seeing new basses in stores that are in used condition.

Yeah, it is like hot fudge topping.Sweet and delicious at first...just dont eat too much or youll be over the toilet. HaHa

But seriously, it needs to be used tastefully...

I have to say that personally, I haven't seen much slap playing. All the bass players I know, don't know how, or don't care to learn, or don't want to learn to play it " Right"..or don't play styles that warrant using that technique. I do a little popping, but I don't do any slapping. Flea does make it look awfully easy tho....it's not.

Hey Lesa, slap your bass once in awhile,when it gets out of line... ; )

You know...I really should! Keep it in line and let it know who's boss around here!! Haha

Less is more aplies to so many things in life
and a good slap is one!

This conversation is getting a bit kinky =)

Paavo

I know what you mean, I thought we were
talking about a tonal quality that a slap gives
your bass not punnishment for your bass!
Rob