What's REALLY Behind the Slap Bass vs Thumping Debate?

[@robertbradshaw8140]

Hi Ted 1st and foremost. I love your channel. love your commitment to teaching FUNK and all things bass. I also love your discussions/rants and general chats. I'm from the UK and started playing bass because of MARK KING in 1981 it used to be called slap and pop, but I like thumping and plucking, especially when you see Louis Johnson cos he's thumping the hell OUT of his STINGRAY. anyway, TED keep up the great work and I will keep on watching. Cheers ROB.

[@samsonwoods5448]

Yeah Ted, I'am sure you know Larry Graham has a vid called "Thumpin & Pluckin weather Slapin or the other it's all semantics, keep doin what you doin Ted, peace out!

[@darengraves1717]

I’ve never heard of him but I’m gonna check him out 👍🏽

[@KirkJacksonalpha]

The masters of Funk Bass in the 1970s called the style Thumpin & Pluckin.

[@orngejoos]

As Shakespeare once wrote: What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet. As Ted once said: You may calleth it a slap or thumpeth and plucketh, we doin it either wayeth.

[@TedTalksBass]

Damn straighteth

[@molovesmusic8072]

OK, Thump 👍🏿, Pluck ✌🏿, Slap 🫱🏿, is that right? Alright that's the Technique used to Perform this 1986 RIFF. I can Dig'it 🍷👑🦍👑💯

[@williammues8579]

hey Ted, when will you transcribe the rest of Buddy Hankerson‘s slap solo? I love your videos.

[@TedTalksBass]

Thanks brother. Working on it. Soooo many things to get done lol

[@GaryTisdaleFungkSta1]

Wasn't really called Slap until late 70's and early 80's Before it was known as Thumpin' & Pluckin' or Thunder Thumbin' before the "Slap" label which came more with Marcus Miller generation of bass players Byron Miller generation, it was Thump & Pluck or Thumpin'

[@josephkersey7084]

Folks take life & themselves wayyy 2 serious. Ted I saw Buddy's video a long time ago.He's a bad man! And so are Graham, Adams & Stanley Clarke. Keep teaching brother!

[@TedTalksBass]

Word up my bro. Buddy ain’t to be played with that’s for sure! Are you at NAMM?

[@carlosjohnson5778]

When I was in my teens & 20’s I was like a Louis Johnson Thunder Thumbs maniac as I got older my dexterity & stamina is different now I got away from “Slapping” & was more finger style Now the band I’m in now I had to get back to “slapping” again & me myself call it whatever the hell U want to call it Just do it or don’t Just Play!!!

[@TedTalksBass]

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY ! Do it, don’t do it, whatever lol

[@pillbug1657]

The only resolutoon: run a competition on THIS CHANNEL: Find a new name for Slap/Thumping. With all the young cousins doing double thumbing these days, somehow it's inaccurate. I put on a Marcus Miller video a few weeks back thinking I was sfe. And low and behold, Marcus was doing some double thumbing. There are a lot of BAD names I can think of. "Doing the Larry (or Johnson"). ClankSnap?

[@TedTalksBass]

Hahaha don’t threaten me with a Fun time!

[@stretchleeone]

I agree with you!! ( People) Lol

[@TedTalksBass]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@deanirwin3645]

People are really debating this? LOL

[@TedTalksBass]

Yup. One of the silliest debates ever lol

[@XCLent0]

@@TedTalksBass it is....i'm tired of it but will probably always say thump & pluck whenever someone says slap...

[@pillbug1657]

NO NO NO.. In Philly, It's Slap. If it's slap in Philly . . . Get's your goat? WTF? Existed before Primus. NO ONE. NO ONE in Philly says thumping and plucking. Now that I think about it, in Philly, it's just "Can you play?"

[@TedTalksBass]

Shiiiiiii - ANYWHERE it’s “can you play”. I personally don’t have an attachment to what it’s called. Does is sound good, feel good, appropriate to the music at hand?

[@Fleece3]

Are you serious!!! What part of Philly are you from????

[@XCLent0]

what? Where in Philly you from? It's T&P all day! We only say slap reluctantly.

[@pillbug1657]

@XCLent0 Center City at birth, then Cosbyville for high school, then West Philly, Then old Kensington, then Gayborhood, then Graduate Hospital (speaking of unpopular nomenclature)... oof forgot the rat-infested place near Pat's. Oof. I guess if I think bout. I dunna know that I call it anything. I suppose I am just recalling a more recent gig, and the Gentleman band leader asked specifically if I could "slap." He is a Peson who is Darker than Blue, to reference Curtis, and older. Just never heard TnP much. However I'll allow myself semi-corrected :)

[@pillbug1657]

@TedTalksBass Just joshing ya! Like your vids. What I'd like to learn is how to better cut through the mix when a guitar player is eating up the mids!