Slap bass and compression

M

Mayers

Sep 28, 2007
1,071
4
4,531
#1
Hi Adam,

After 12 years of playing jazz or classical music I've finaly put my head into learning slap. Some days ago I've started to learn Classical Thumb by Victor Wooten. I've got the triplet thing ( really it is easy to do ) and I already know the majority of the song but sometime it doesn't sound loud or even. So I've discovered that on the vast majority of recording, compression is used ( yeah I know I'm still a newb in the effect departement ). So is compression a necessity in bass world and in particular in slap bass world ???

I ask because, I feel like cheating if I use one. In 12 year of music I haven't use one ( nor do I know it existed ). I've got the tone I want out of my basses without one.

Thank
 
#2
Yeah it makes the slap tones nice and even especially in a mix. Otherwise notes will jump out and scare ppl and others won't even be noticed. You can spend a lot of time working to even them out but if vic couldn't do it... Its defintely good to learn how to use one.
 
#4
It all depends on technique and what you're wanting to achieve. I am sure Adam will comment but if you watch Adam's technique for slapping. He has very little motion but gets a great sound. I think he calls it economy of motion or something like that. If you practice it you can have a technique similar to his. You can look at the opposite spectrum and check out Louis Johnson. Still grooves but I personally prefer Adam's technique. Here's a link to Louis Johnson just so you can see the polar opposite of Adam's style.
 
#5
For now I want to achieve the " slap mute, tap, slap" effect in the triplet passage in Classical Thump. I was wondering if you can achieve it without any compressor.

And I already play with minimal motion like Alain Caron
 
#6
I've been to an Ampeg sponsored show in a music store.

Victor's bass was plugged directly into the amp.
He comment was that the only compression was in his fingers and I agreee being 10 feet away from him and the amp.

That being said, I'm sure there's compression on the mix down of recordings, but that's different than using it on the in board side.

john m
 
#7
Too much compression will make everything sound TOO even. You want certain notes and thumps to jump out when slapping. But a touch of limiting will even it out a bit. It's something you have to work with.

Compression isn't really an "effect" in that it doesn't color the sound.
 
#8
before you determine whether or not you need a compressor, first determine whether or not you have developed your playing enough to be able to control your dynamics with just your hands. you have to be careful, because you don't want to get to a place where you are completely reliant on a compressor when you play. a lot of players forget how much dynamic control we have with our hands. this happens because we are so used to playing through an amplified source, and subsequently can get conditioned to regulating our playing volume solely with our gear. i'm kind of in the same mindset as victor w. in that i agree you have at least the main source of your dynamics come from the hands, themselves. keep in mind compressors are 'dynamic processors' and in effect shrink the threshold of dynamics you are working with by applying a buffered ratio that limits the resultant perceived 'volume'. for this reason they are great for smoothing out transients if you are trying to seat the bass a little better in a track or in a mix. however, you want to be careful not to use them as a crutch. :)

there's a great exercise that i like to get my students to do when they are working on their dynamics. i first have them play a familar groove using fingerstyle, and then i have them play the exact same groove using slap techniques, instead. i then challenge them to match the volume of both versions of the groove, having them alternate the technique back and forth for each pass without stopping. it's amazing how quickly players will compensate by either lightening up on the slap 'effort', or digging in a little more with their fingerstyle. the goal of course is to try to get them very close. of course, the sounds of both versions of the groove will still be different due to technique, but you can successfully match the dynamics if you pay attention to how your hands are working together.

like any other effect or processing, too much compression can be a bad thing. a compressor can be used as a great tool, but if too much is used the bass tone becomes 'squashed' and will even lose its roundness. it's also a great idea to experiment with playing through many different types of compressors. some of them actually do color your tone (i've got an old HHB tube compressor that does a really nice job of adding subtle body and growl to my bass), and personally that is more of what i use a compressor for on sessions in which i am targeting a particular vibe with my tone.

anyways, a bunch of rambling but i hope that helps somewhat. comments that have been posted before mine offer great feedback, as well. happy practicing! :D

adam
 
  • Like
Reactions: atquinn, ErikP.Bass, White Funk and 2 others
#10
You are quite welcome. Remember that there are not any 'rules' to follow here. Just because myself or anyone else uses a compressor in a particular way, it doesn't mean it is the 'right way.' Go with the approach that fits the sound you are going for. I think as long as you make the priority striving for excellence in your playing, phrasing, communication, technique, tone, etc, the nuances of your gear choices are up to you. Have fun exploring!
 
  • Like
Reactions: KDK and Floyd The Muppet
#13
To learn slap bass, im going to need a few things... Steel frets, an american stadard jazz bass, a compressor and a low volume amplifier (neighbors) rotosound strings, don't have time to fine tweak the way i slap the bass, besides i don't even have the proper gear, i have a 2008 fender highway one with rusty frets and dented (i don't want to waste money fixing it, besides tuning issues are not there yet) and the other one is a or WAS a brand spanking new fender cabronita bass 2013, and im not putting any dents on this bass mind you, i need a very cheap squier jazz bass (or american standard jazz bass i would prefer) a cheap compressor, with the cheapest labor on steel frets....... "alright sir that's going to come down to $700" WHAT? KEEP YOUR DAM FRETS MAN AND THE COMPRESSOR AND THE SQUIER
 
#14
Adam is rite, while my slap is super weird, I use compression slightly but not because I need it but because I like how it rounds out my notes. Another thing you could look into is practicing with an acoustic as well, this way you can hear your notes and slap and all that and you can work on the slap and not worry about the electronic side of the rig for now. Adam thats a good idea with the practicing with different finger volumes, I do that every now and again but I never showed anyone that because I don't teach that often. Thanks for the ideas as well.
adamnitti said:
before you determine whether or not you need a compressor, first determine whether or not you have developed your playing enough to be able to control your dynamics with just your hands. you have to be careful, because you don't want to get to a place where you are completely reliant on a compressor when you play. a lot of players forget how much dynamic control we have with our hands. this happens because we are so used to playing through an amplified source, and subsequently can get conditioned to regulating our playing volume solely with our gear. i'm kind of in the same mindset as victor w. in that i agree you have at least the main source of your dynamics come from the hands, themselves. keep in mind compressors are 'dynamic processors' and in effect shrink the threshold of dynamics you are working with by applying a buffered ratio that limits the resultant perceived 'volume'. for this reason they are great for smoothing out transients if you are trying to seat the bass a little better in a track or in a mix. however, you want to be careful not to use them as a crutch. :)

there's a great exercise that i like to get my students to do when they are working on their dynamics. i first have them play a familar groove using fingerstyle, and then i have them play the exact same groove using slap techniques, instead. i then challenge them to match the volume of both versions of the groove, having them alternate the technique back and forth for each pass without stopping. it's amazing how quickly players will compensate by either lightening up on the slap 'effort', or digging in a little more with their fingerstyle. the goal of course is to try to get them very close. of course, the sounds of both versions of the groove will still be different due to technique, but you can successfully match the dynamics if you pay attention to how your hands are working together.

like any other effect or processing, too much compression can be a bad thing. a compressor can be used as a great tool, but if too much is used the bass tone becomes 'squashed' and will even lose its roundness. it's also a great idea to experiment with playing through many different types of compressors. some of them actually do color your tone (i've got an old HHB tube compressor that does a really nice job of adding subtle body and growl to my bass), and personally that is more of what i use a compressor for on sessions in which i am targeting a particular vibe with my tone.

anyways, a bunch of rambling but i hope that helps somewhat. comments that have been posted before mine offer great feedback, as well. happy practicing! :D

adam
Click to expand...
 
#15
Resurrecting an old thread, I realize.

I want to highlight Adam's apparently innocuous sign-off phrase, "Have fun exploring!"
All the technical advice is helpful, but imho, we struggling bass mortals get so caught up in our deficiencies that we forget how important it is to keep fun and creative flow in our practice endeavors.

Folks like Adam sure bring discipline and intelligence to their craft; but what cements it all together is the joy they take in improving and growing!

adamnitti said:
You are quite welcome. Remember that there are not any 'rules' to follow here. Just because myself or anyone else uses a compressor [approaches something] in a particular way, it doesn't mean it is the 'right way.' Go with the approach that fits the sound you are going for. I think as long as you make the priority striving for excellence in your playing, phrasing, communication, technique, tone, etc, the nuances of your gear choices are up to you. Have fun exploring!
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back