How to play alongside slap bass?

[A Skater]

You know? I've been wondering how other guitarists accompany players that use the slap bass technique. I tend to either do distorted palm mute picking or clean jazz chord strumming (9th chords, etc).

How would you accompany slap bass? I'm sure it'll vary by the style and key, so lets say to something like Les Claypool?

 

[louthunder]

Re: How to play alongside slap bass?

My last band was a funk blues band, and we had the slappingest bass player alive! It was new to me too at that time. Sometimes a wah wah works well and I would play rhythem in a funky way, playing 7th,6th, 9th chords etc. kind of playing quickly in between what the bass player was playing. It's very important that the drummer is playing in the groove, or you'll have what I call a train wreck! Good luck and listen to as many good funk cd's as possible!

 

[tone4days]

Re: How to play alongside slap bass?

live on the one and on the downbeats - find a way to vary between longer and more staccato stabs ... lock with the kick and snare (basically take over what a traditional bassist would do) ... lush chords sustained with chorus are your friend too ... find some tight unison lines that you can lock in with him on ... have fun ... i'd love to play with a band like that

t4d

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How to play alongside slap bass?

I'd mainly use the 9th chords, and a vary staccato delivery...you don't want those chords ringing all the time, but only in parts of the tunes. The rest of the time it's like a drum beat more than anything.

 

[Blue_Fingers_Jay]

Re: How to play alongside slap bass?

1 - Remove guitar from shoulder
2 - Grab guitar by the neck
3 - Apply the guitar body to the bass players head until he stops slaping.

If I really have to i'll do what guitfiddle said, staccato delivery, alot of palm muting and make the rest sound funky-ish.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: How to play alongside slap bass?

funk is really fun to play, so just get into it and groove, listen to the chili peppers see what john does