slap basse larry graham About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features © 2020 Google LLC As you expand your skills with the bass guitar, you might be looking for techniques that let you really flex your musical talent. Sure he invented it and all, but some many have taken it way farther. History Late 1960s. Larry Graham - GCS Click HERE to see the video 12-28-2010 Prince picked one of his musical inspirations as the opening act. Going back to the beginning of this technique for the bass guitar, bass guitar enthusiasts generally point to two individuals: Larry Graham and Louis Johnson. Sly and the Family Stone is famous for being the first major rock group to be racially integrated. Both are really great, groovy players. Purchase Larry Graham's albums or use the almighty streaming services to earn some pennies to the copyright owners of great music. I thought slap bass had gotten much farther, but really, it never really did. Most artists who use slapping techniques combine slapping and popping to create the iconic sounds associated with it. You have to watch the video because it’s a pretty interesting story. James Brown music was about. Some players have developed a way to pop the strings with their thumb while slapping with their other fingers. From Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to the Japanese artist known by the stage name Miyavi, slap bass is alive and thriving. . Some artists play around with this bass guitar technique to add groovy color to their music, while others develop their own methods to make unique sounds with their bass guitars. What song did James Brown release in 1968 that impacted black people. Nowadays, you can hear slap bass techniques used in a wide range of music genres and by an ever-growing list of musicians. The only reason I started playing like that and not the regular overhand style was because I was thinking that the bass thing was only temporary. But you might be interested in learning more about slap bass and what it has been able to offer the music world. Who would have thought you could produce such sounds by doing that slap? Larry Graham’s iconic basslines became the driving force behind many of Sly and the Family Stone’s groundbreaking hits and paved the way for slap-bass playing the world over. Today, he remains one of the most influential bass players of all time. With this technique, the bass player slaps and plucks the strings to create a strong rhythm. … I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had discovered possibly the most comprehensive source for information […] Unfortunately, the historical record does not have much to say about the links between early jazz double bassists and funky bass guitarists. He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique on the electric bass guitar, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as "thumpin' and pluckin' ". The invention of slap is generally credited to Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham. Graham is the forefather of the rhythmic electric bass-slapping technique utilized by many modern bass… Copy link. FBPO: How about if we start from the beginning? Advertisement It can be assumed that most bass players begin […] Close. Larry Graham. In fact, he found a way to make the slap of his thumb on the string sound like a bass drum and the “popping” sound was similar to a snare drum. In addition to having been the bassist for the ’60s supergroup Sly & the Family Stone, Larry has led his own band, Graham Central Station, for the past forty years. “It came about out of necessity. “I always squirm when people say ‘slap bass!’ I was a guy who grew up watching Larry Graham, and he used to have a song called The History Of The Bass, and in that song he talks about the thumpin’ and the pluckin’. Share. Larry Graham describing how he invented slap bass in the form of a song. Larry Graham, ex- Sly & The Family Stone members & Bootsy Collins talk about, L.G. On the Larry Graham article, it states, "He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as "Thumpin' and Pluckin'."" The bass. We Supply. MusicianAuthority.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. He was jamming with Marcus Miller, but Larry's showmanship, feel, pure power was a serious force to be reckoned with. This video is a little long, so if you don’t have the full 9 minutes to spare, watch the first song, then fast forward to 7:15 where he gets real nasty. Working out the demons. On this show. Larry Graham did invent it (was the first anyways) but Stanley Clarke invented the slap style we know and use today. I wasn’t trying to invent something new. When they talk about the popularization of slap bass methods, many bass enthusiasts mention both Louis Johnson and Larry Graham. He also founded the funk band Graham Central Station and worked with Prince on various records and tours. How did you get started with slap technique? The slap bass technique has been around since the late 1960s and produces one of the most iconic sounds. I think this should be resolved somehow. The slap bass technique has been responsible for altering the music landscape forever. Not sure if he "started" the Slap Bass Style or not. Why do drummers put pillows in bass drum. thanks. You’ve probably already seen this many times – bass players showing off their slapping technique. 129. I just played it the way it was necessary for me to do.”. “Larry Graham invented slap bass,” he says. Larry is especially revered by funk bass players, as he is credited for developing the wildly popular “slap bass” technique. Although Larry Graham is widely accepted as the originator of the slap technique on electric bass, he didn’t think he’d really created anything important until later in his career when he recalled: “I didn’t even think that my way of playing the bass was anything special, I was just doing it out of necessity. You pluck the string of the instrument hard enough that it slaps back against the body of the guitar. 4 years ago. About 15 years ago, I ran into an article that was published in Wavelength magazine in 1990 called “Slap That Bass! Larry Graham is generally credited as inventing slap bass guitar. You’ve probably already seen this many times – bass players showing off their slapping technique. Graham came out of that Group and Graham Central Station was a Wonderfully Fun Band. But how many of you know who started it and came up with such a wild idea? When you are playing, you take the bony ridge of your finger and slap the string down. This method is a little different from the first. You might surprise yourself with a hidden talent you never knew existed. Naturally, with a title like that, it immediately grabbed my attention. . The style sounds much more percussivethan regular plucking of notes with the soft part of the plucking hands fingers, and is also usually louder (although on an electric instrument, the volume can be adjusted with the volume knob or through compression), brighter, and more distinct than the sound of a bass guitar played with the usual pluckin… Simply put, there’s bass before Larry Graham, and there’s bass after Larry Graham. Yes, straight up created that shit. Larry Graham first invented the technique for mimicking the bass drum and the snare drum with slaps and pops. Watch later. While playing in Sly and the Family Stone, he talked about emulating the drum sound with his bass guitar. “There’s nothing you … The influence of Sly And the Family Stone cannot be overstated with everyone from Jimi Hendrix … Slap bass is the technique we use for making our bass shine through the mix and maybe solo with a rhythmical sense. Slap bass is a guitar technique that revolutionized the way people play their bass guitars. Larry Graham is a living musical legend three times over: as the bassist-singer with Sly & The Family Stone, where his innovative thumping-plucking style of bass playing became tremendously influential; as leader of the hit-making funk group Graham Central Station through the 70’s; and then as a top-selling solo artist in the 80’s.. And while it continues to be used today, it had humble beginnings with American funk bands and musicians. In this video, I'll talk about the man who started all that funky thumping and slapping on the electric bass... the legendary Larry Graham. Although it might be an exaggerated story, he might have been pushed to think outside the box after the band lost a drummer. Meet Larry Graham from the Sly and the Family Stone. Archived. He also founded the funk band Graham Central Station and worked with Prince on various records and tours. Say It Loud. Tap to unmute. As new musicians have picked up the bass guitar, they have been able to use the basics of slap bass playing to make the instrument their own. When the drummer quit, leaving only Larry and his mother to carry on, Larry began slapping to add a percussive element to the sound. This technique can be done with a double bass or a bass guitar, but it only developed for the bass guitar in the 1960s. the person who invented the slap bass technique. Larry Graham invented a new style of electric bass playing called "slap bass technique." I had seen bits of this video before, but I think this is the first time I've found the whole thing with this 'bass history' ... Log in sign up. And others have been able to mimic a drumroll by using both sides of the thumb quickly. Meet Larry Graham from the Sly and the Family Stone. Since the early days of Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, and 1960s funk and soul bands, the slap bass technique has been altered by numerous artists. For members, here is the GuitarPro5 file and the PDF ! User account menu. It’s always in the background and felt more than heard because of its relationship with the drum groove. In this clip, you can see Larry Graham doing his “thumpin’ and pluckin'” technique on his bass guitar. For example, pull-offs and hammer-ons are terms used to describe the method of pulling off the string and hammering back on the instrument to create a quick slapping and popping sound. He would go on to play bass for Michael Jackson on several of his famous albums. Posted by. When asked how he got the idea that he could do that with the bass guitar, Graham shared that it actually began when he was just around 14 or 15 years old. 129. Larry Graham is usually credited as the first bassist to develop and popularize the technique. Larry Graham: The Godfather Of Funk Bass,Interview by Rick Suchow Additional Comments by Marcus Miller There is really no other way to explain Larry Graham’s place in the evolution of bass guitar. Empowering black people. Since the early days of Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, and 1960s funk and soul bands, the slap bass technique has been altered by numerous artists. If you are interested in becoming the next famous slap bassist, you should find a teacher or explore videos online. Larry Graham Jr. (born August 14, 1946) is an American bassist and singer, both with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. But as you progress with learning chords, it is only natural to experiment with the kinds of sounds you can produce with your instrument. If you are just beginning to learn how to play the bass guitar, it might be a little bit early to introduce slapping techniques. I was dead wrong. Shopping. He was a member of the band the Brothers Johnson and, as a member, further played around with the slap bass technique. But how many of you know who started it and came up with such a wild idea? “This is a known fact.” In the end, no matter what approach you take to the instrument, “If your feel sucks, you just suck,” Thundercat says. Slap That Bass. You may know him from Sly & The Family Stone or his original band Graham Central Station. Artist: Stanley Clarke Album: Rocks, Pebbles & Sand Year: 1980 Bassist: Stanley Clarke. It was an absolute game-changer. Slapping as a technique has been around since the early 1900s for the double bass instrument. It started with Larry and ended with Larry to me. You're signed out. Who invented slap bass style of playing. – New Orleans String Bass Pioneers”. Info. Perhaps double bassists had a hand in inspiring the invention of the technique for the bass guitar. Although not often credited with the direct invention of the slap bass technique, Louis Johnson is considered one of the greatest bass players to have ever lived. With Larry’s debut as a part of the Family Stone in 1967, the man changed not only the course of bass playing but the course of modern soul, funk, rock and r&b music. I have read that Larry Graham "invented" slapping on the electric bass as a teenager. To finance free lessons, you can support me and buy cool bass t-shirts here . We won’t spoil anything here. I'll cover two of his songs (included the first slap bass line ever recorded on bass) and I'll also talk about his unique playing style. As you might guess from the name, the player will slap the bass strings to produce a unique percussive sound. Back in the days of the funk and disco genres, these two found a new way to create groovy percussive sounds. i will never forget stanely clarke's performance on no mystery and romantic warrior when he was with return to forever . The slapping technique has traveled all around the globe. Larry Graham invented the slap bass style. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Larry Graham - Hair Slap Bass Riff + TAB. He and his mother, an organist, played in a trio with a drummer. Other artists active in today’s music world include Marcus Miller, Bill ‘The Buddah’ Dickens, TM Stevens, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clarke, and Mark King. If Larry Graham had any idea of what impact he would have on bass guitarists in the decades after the 1960s, he might have documented the origins of his technique more. For Larry Graham, bassist for Sly & the Family Stone (Drake’s uncle, by the way), it’s a whole different story. Graham was a member of the legendary American funk and soul group Sly and the Family Stone. Graham has said that he was simply trying to create a drum-like sound to flesh out the rhythm in … The first method is simple. It is a technique used in several early precursors to classic rock, including western swing, jazz, and rockabilly. As new musicians have picked up the bass guitar, they have been able to use the basics of slap bass playing to make the instrument their own. it was Graham Central Station, whose leader, the legendary bass player Larry Graham, commented that it was his first time performing at the venue since he appeared as part of Sly & the Family Stone. Over the years, many bassists have played around with their instrument to stretch the tones and sound. Doesn't matter -- He was one of THE MOST TALENTED in ANY MUSIC Genre ( sorry -- ran out of caps ) Everyone is SLY's Band was a "Progressive" -- Ahead of the "Norm" as far as Experimenting and Style. Larry Graham–legendary groove master for Sly and the Family Stone and pioneer of electric slap bass–recounts the birth of thumpin'' and pluckin'' as well as his new Graham Central Station album, Raise Up, which features guests like Prince and Raphael Saadiq on 13 boot-shaking tunes. Being self sufficient. Billy Gibbons Releases New Song “Desert High”-…, Greta Van Fleet Release New Live Performance- Drummer Goes…, Genesis Announces North American Reunion Tour 2021, Ozzy Osbourne Is 15 Tracks In For New Album, 5 Iconic Riffs From Angus Young That’s Not…, 10 Classic Rock Songs That Are Actually Blues Songs. I didn’t really think I was, actually. Since the original development of the technique, there have arisen two distinct methods to achieve this sound. On bass guitar, slapping usually refers to a percussive playing technique most commonly used in funk, disco, soul, R&B, jazz, country music, rock, and many other genres. 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