Top 10 Slap Bass Players EVER (*through the years*)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
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Nearly every bassist I know wants to get better at slap bass. It's a technique that you simply must learn if you want to call yourself a true bass hero!
In today's video, I count down the 10 slap bass lines that you MUST learn. From Larry Graham (the godfather of 'thumping and plucking') to Flea's furious slap bass on RHCP's Higher Ground and, of course, the phenomenal Marcus Miller.
As always, see you in the shed…
===
Video breakdown:
00:00 - Intro
01:17 - Larry Graham
02:50 - Stanley Clarke
04:32 - Bootsy Collins
05:34 - Louis Johnson
06:25 - Alain Caron
07:52 - Mark King
09:16 - Marcus Miller
10:26 - Flea
11:54 - Les Claypool
12:20 - Victor Wooten
13:18 - Honourable Mentions
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I've always enjoyed watching Abe Laboriel play. Man's got a wicked slap style. Definitely worth an honorable mention in my opinion.
100% agree
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I concur. But it is a pretty good top 10 list. There are certainly some really honorable mentions.
Agree !! Nice video but he absolutely missed
Yeah 🇲🇽 💪
Nice for Les Claypool to get a mention, but would love to see you or Ian do a deep-dive into his playing.
Literally my all time favourite bass player.
Did you watch their Les video yet?
@@sephiroth7818I did!! 🎉
Fell in love with the bass at a very young age, but the moment I heard Frizzle Fry, I knew I would be a bassist till I was dead in the ground. Les Claypool is absolutely one of, if not, my all-time favorite bassist. Just an insanely unique bass player.
Les is THE MAN! 🤘🏻🔥👊🏻
He is garbage and primus is hella cringe
Alain's D-code is INSANE! TOP OF THE TOP TIER RIFFS!
Don't fall for this scam
Mark King: also sings and leads the band while doing his thing, plus he is an amazing drummer (check out his solo album, Influences...pretty much all Mark). Saw Level 42 live a few years back, he'd just turned 60, still did a 2 1/2 hour set...legend!
King has superhuman talent! 👽🔥🤘🏻
Saw Level 42 in Glasgow last week..Mark King playing on bass was insane 🔥🎸🔥🎸
I'm a terrible slapper but I love listening to it and marveling at the greats.
HONORABLE MENTION - Ryan Martine of Mudvayne. Dude is a MONSTER!!
Great player! Check our video on the 10 Greatest Metal Bass Players of All Time where Martine gets a mention! 🤘🏻
th-cam.com/video/4TWXqQxN7BI/w-d-xo.html
Check out Brown Mark, Prince's bassist for his fabulous "rumble" technique and of course, the modest young genius who came along, took all the trophies and simply sprinted off the chart with the whole lot - Charles Berthoud!
I was going to comment about Brown Mark and then saw your comment. Good shout! Brown Mark's rumble is 😬😬 🔥🙌🏽
@@cassisbrook It is! His yt videos are hilarious as well
@@martinheath5947 for sure - subscribed with bell notification on! His 'America' cover gets regularly played, that rumble tone is absolute 🔥🔥
Yes, Charles has taken bass to the next level!!
@@martinheath5947 👋🏿"SMAK!!!"💥🤕 🗣📢" PAY ATTENTION!!! " COOKIN' IN DA 🍳!!!🎸...
Mark King: the only bassist whose bass smells like his right armpit.
I love him though! ... Level 42 was criminally under appreciated here in America.
😂
So glad Alain Caron was mentioned 💚💚💚
Don't fall for this scam
@@adamwalcott_official no worries. Thanks though for the call. 👍
Alex Al is a monster slap player. His tribute to Louis Johnson is awesome! 👍🏾
I just saw the Wooten Brothers last night in Atlanta, all four of them are still absolutely killing it
I totally agree that Victor Wooten's first bass has such a warmer sound than his ying yangs. It might comes from the HAZ preamp. His tenor bass has it too onboard and the sound is both clear and warm.
Charles Berthoud is another very talented bassist. His TH-cam videos are jaw dropping. Seeing Mark King for the first time at Massey Hall in Toronto was insane. How can this guy slap so fast, lay down a killer groove and sing. Great list Scott.👍
Agreed Charles is completely inspiring. Thanks for checking out the vid! 👊🏻
th-cam.com/video/6-iQd_u7Djo/w-d-xo.html most of the bessists on this list cant even do this on bass. lol maybe les and woo
Victor woo woo and flea have always been my inspiration..even if i dont play bass 😋
What's with Wojtek Pilichowski?!
Yes , he def should have been on here..
Yes. Couldn’t believe he didn’t get a mention. He’s phenomenal !
Finally got there. Great to see Mark King . At last!
Great list, but you have got to mention Mark Adams from Slave! Marks bass Lines are legendary. From Slide, Stellar Funk, Just of Touch of Love, Sizzlen Hot, Stone Jam, Party lights and Steal your Heart Away just to name a few. Marks style was raw in your face bass lines which are still listened to around the world today. He knew how to make his Jazz bass growl... (RIP Mark)
I'm going to go down a Mark Adams rabbit hole now & check out some of these tunes!! Thanks for watching! 🔥
@@devinebass Please let me know when you check out his work, I am sure Mark's you will find amazing, he's a legend . When he did Slide he was 17 yrs old.
Would love to see you do a video on him. He was a favorite among those in your top 10 list. When he past away Victor W was truly sadden by his passing. His passing was felt around the world.
I was jus saying this b4 I saw this comment. His slap and finger and slide combo is very original
Mark King is top notch, I love how he can sing and slap. I am a big fan of Level 42, they’re so underrated!! 😀👍
Louis "freaking hands"Johnson.
hahahahahaha
Insane!
Thanks to Larry Graham to present us this amazing technique.
That's a great list and some great clips too. It's always Mark King for me, can't beat that incessant percussive sound. But loved to see Stanley Clarke too.
I know he doesn't always slap, but I'm a huge fan of Tim Commerford. He just has such groove and feel, as well as an intensity that even slower tempo lines seem to have such an effect on me. One of my favorite bass sections ever is the bridge in What You Are by Audioslave.
Straight up beast. Check this video we put together on Commerford's basslines 🤘🏻
th-cam.com/video/peZ_JYViSS8/w-d-xo.html
The lightbulb moment for me was hearing Marcus Miller. He redefined tone and musicality for slap bass.
👋🏻🔥
possible finding out that music title?
Love the list...a HUGE fan of them all and I've been around since the Larry Graham days...but Michael Manring should have gotten an honorable mention. Thanks Scott!
Manring is his own list....totally amazing bassist.
Le grand, l'immense, le phénoménal Alain Caron.
I never see anyone in these vids mention Squarepusher/Tom Jenkinson , He has some AMAZZZZING and extremely creative and intricate lines. Check out his song Deep Fried Pizza.
I put this on “watch later” bc I thought it was an old video that I haven’t seen before. Just realized it came out few hours ago and now I’ve paused the life just to watch it.
Great to see Stanley Clarke. I always thought that he seems to be a bit under represented on your channel. Not criticizing, you cover a huge number of amazing players (and have exposed me to many players I hadn't heard much of).
I don’t he really think he likes Stanley. Given Stanley’s impact and influence as the top and first real bass super star he seldom mention him.
I saw Stanley Clarke in concert several times and even talked to him for about 5 minutes in Toronto. Also saw him playing with the late George Duke in an awesome show. School Days is one my favorite Stanley basslines. I mentioned him for one of these lists several times and glad to see he is on this one.
Great list man. My favorite Larry Graham moment is not slap though. It's the scene in Mike Gordon's Rising Low documentary where Larry is stomping his foot on a (I think it's a fire escape) and MAN, that sound is ridiculous! You have to check it out
I was getting a lil nervous since my favorite rock players weren’t on there, but I felt very satisfied when Flea, Les Claypool, and Victor Wooten made the list!
I was getting really nervous when we were so far in and there was no sign of Les.
Honourable Mention, also: Verdine White 😊
Verdine is not a good THUMP bass player.
It's extremely rare to see Verdine slapping or thumping, he mostly plays overhand
Now, THAT is a top 10 I FULLY agree with, from one to ten! After number 5, I was getting more and more nervous: will you forget Les Claypool? will you forget Victor? No, all the top monsters are here. All others were inspired by these. I would have added Robert Trujillo (esp. for Infectious Groove) in the honorable mentions.
You gotta check out Marcus on David Sanborn's "Run For Cover" live cut from Straight to the Heart!
Thanks! Great list, Although... Henrik Linder should have had an honourable mention!
I've searched this page and no-one has mentioned Colin Hodgkinson (born 1945), of (British) blues-jazz trio "Back Door". They were drummer, bassist and saxophonist, so Colin had to fill out the sound (normally you have a guitar or keyboard inn a trio) which he did (magnificently) with slap bass chords. I'd also ike to give an honourable mention (or better0 to Darryl "The Munch" Jones who I know from his playing on Miles Davis' Decoy
One person that deserves to be mentioned is Norwood Fisher of the mighty Fishbone! Boy o boy can he slap a bass
One of the best early slap players was Jeff Berlin. He gave it up pretty quick though. I'd say Bootsie's strength was finger style. As far as skill goes I'm impressed by F Chopper Koga and Charles Berthoud is Da Man. But I'm a feel guy. I think slow repetitious grooves are the real test. Can you keep it up? I'd go for Skeet Curtis. The ones who have a share of both? Mohini Dey, Juna Serita, and Mononeon is the bass God.
I was going to mention F Chopper Koga.
I did miss Henrik Linder in the list 🤓
Alain Caron was my first introduction to amazing basists,so glad you included him! Loved UZEB!
Great video dude! Love all of them. I read the comments too and surprised that no one mentions Billy Sheehan!! His Mr. Big stuff aside...his understanding of harmonics is unparalleled. Check out his stint with Niacin!!
Great list, Scott! I’m glad you mentioned Brian Bromberg. That guy is sorely underrated!! It would be great to see you guys do a feature on him. I’ve been a fan of Brian’s since his first album came out in the 80s and he’s amazing. Very versatile player, switching between electric and the upright. Not to mention, a killer fretless player as well!!
Don't fall for this scam. After much prodding I convinced them to talk to me over the phone. They are definitely from Nigeria.
@@adamwalcott_official 🤔M'Butu & da gang @ it again ehh🤦🏿♂
I agree!
Piccolo Bass as well!!!
@@paulsteezo1772 Absolutely!!
Also honorable mention is “Ida Nielsen” she knows how to slap da bass!
Glad to find Alain caron in this top 10. IMO, he deserve it!
A crazily talented player! Has to be in the top 10 for sure!
@@devinebass he's also the most expressive fretless player I ever heard.
th-cam.com/video/Xi6sVCohQxY/w-d-xo.html
I need a bass soooo bad I played guitar for years lost my shit in a house fire now I love the art of bass but have a daughter and sick mother but I love these lessons regardless they are so educational multifaceted and easy to learn awesome job scott
I think we need some Norwood Fisher on this channel!!
Jeez Louis Johnson must need to replace frets often!
Scott, I just discovered a more melodic slap bassist recently. Aram Bedrosian. His playing is absolutely gorgeous. He slaps but also plays chords. Again, just discovered him, he should certainly be in a top 10
Don't fall for this scam
Stuff Hamm shouldve gotten more than honorable mention! His slapping and especially his syncopated chord tapping are insane!
Quite a nice list
Glad to see mention of Doug Wimbish! He's one of my favorites.
Oh yes! Killer 👊🏻
A very good list...Victor Wooten my favorite...he's ridiculous!!!
AWESOME vid!
Wow! 🙂
Awesome video!!! Love that you gave some of them some shine!!!! Abraham Laboriel is a monster with his own slap technique as well!!!
Thanks for checking out! We ❤️ Abraham - Incredible player!
I'd like to mention Minneapolis Sound legends: BrownMark, André Cymone, Sonny T., Terry Lewis and of course Prince Rodgers Nelson.
🔥🔥🔥
The greatest! Thanks for goofin with the Baddest Bassests!!!
Scott your reaction to Larry is priceless. Ughh!.
Ryan martinie on the rock end for his weird proto tapping slapping technique… no one else does this that I know of
On the Mark King clip, you've also got the audio running from another solo (Mr Pink Solo Live at Reading 2001) which makes it even more insanely difficult! 😅 I can tell Scott's slap chops have massively improved though 👍
Mark Adams of Slave. Just put on Stone Jam, Sizzling Hot, Just a Touch(Of Love) and Steve Arrington “Weak at the knees.”
Bill "Da Budda" Dickens is a Baaaaaaaad Dude!! He could easily be moved from Honorable Mention to Top 10!!
I think your list needs to be 11 with Yoshihiro Naruse. Ryan Martinie should also be an honorable mention partly for his contribution for mainstream slapping, partly for improvising his own style with multiple fingers and partly for the way he switched constantly and seamlessly between slap and finger style. Brr brr Deng baby lol
I could not find two of the greatests on the list, Wyzard from Mother's Finest and Magnus Rosen former >Hammerfall.... Both very bad ass slap bass players!
That's why I made a boots on the ground pre late 70's list of the earliest known slappers
Top 5 Slappers pre late 70's in the Southeast rating among most bassists were, Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, Mark Adams, Rodney Skeet Curtis and Wyzard, most of the other slappers came after 78'
Majority weren't into the Jazz/Fusion scene which is why I didn't list Stanley among the top 5, since he became more mentionable via George Duke's "Reach For It" despite being in RTF but it opened the door to a lot of bassists exploring that genre and it getting airplay
Someone you’ll wanna check out too is Evan Brewer.
Was the bass player for The Faceless, a crazy metal band. Then studied with Victor actually and went on to release two solo albums. Some of the most unique lines I’ve ever heard. All techniques are covered.
I would love to hear an in depth analysis of Phil Lesh and his bass playing
Wish i could one of the basses scot gives out..always wanted a fender jazz to slap on.
It was pure hapiness watching that!
Great video
Sickening really 😂😂😂
Certainly the most popular bassists. There are so many great bassists out there to make a list! Keep on keeping on peeps!!!
I'm don't believe, you forgot Growing by first John Patitucci solo album ...
Sadowsky/Vigier sound slaps lines, they still run around in my mind ...
I'm 90% sure that's the first time Claypool has appeared on the channel. More please!!!!
Great list! I missed two guys though 😀, Abraham Laboriel (who did a lot of " alien" techniques way before Victor) and Michael Manring (listen to " Funk and Disorderly" from 1989).
Amazing
6:05 The way every slap bass player plays in movies.
Futoshi Uehara from Maximum The Hormone. He's a monster but what sets him apart for me is his sync with his drummer Nao (also an intergalactic monster). Except for Bootsy and Claypool, these were all solo slap clips. Fantastic stuff!!! But hearing Ue-chan locked in with Nao live was possibly the single most supernatural musical experience of my life, the highest energy level, the most transcendent state of madness I've ever known.
another honorable mention: John Pattitucci... Saw him crush slapping a 6 string with the Chick Corea Elektrik Band some years ago. Mind. Blown.
John = 👑
Very cool video. These are real Pros. I love Abraham Laboriel! He inspired me to learn the bass!! Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and the others have also inspired us for years. Great lesson, good content all the time. Thank you so much Scott ! ❤
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Honorable mention… “Ready” Freddie Washington
That exact clip of Flea slapping I watched back around 91 or 92. I bought a bass immediately afterward and put my drum sticks away.
I am not into slapping, and every time I heard a bass slapped it is -IMO- relative to speed and soloing (or how to put as many note as possible in a short amount of time)... Even I can appreciate some of them, I wish to see and hear the top 10 very deep groovy SLOW slap bass.
In regard to your "how to put as many notes as possible in a short amount of time" comment, i think it's worth taking in to consideration how percussive slap is, and almost think of it as a drum solo with more harmonic elements, rather than just being to show off technical prowess. Although I do agree that a lot of bass slap solos tend to be quite busy
Great list Scott. Any chance of an Top list of modern slap Bassists?
Soo many great players didn't make this list.
Gotta say that " Verdine White " from Funk Band " Earth Wind & Fire " ......... One Hell of ah " Bass Player "
I got into slap from guys like Flea and Les Claypool, those guys (as well as everyone on this list) are just absolute beasts
The hook has been set - Bring out the Slap Accelerator!
Dave LaRue would pretty much fit in the list as well. But from this list I was blown away by Alain Caron
NORMAN WATT-ROY !!!
I think, if we consider all the aspects of careers with gigs as a leader of the band, albums and sessions for years, not just technique in their heyday, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten are the best two "slap" bass players.
To me it definitely is Marcus as well. What sets him apart for me compared to other slap bass players is, that his slap lines ALWAYS groove and he doesn't use it just to be flashy or for soloing. Also Marcus might be known for slapping, but his fingerstyle and fretless work is definitely on par. For me he's one of the rare "complete" players.
Stanley Clark has more solo and feature albums than either Miller or Wooten.
@@brendanerskine4158 I agree. But I think he is more than a slap bass player.
Where is the beast polish player?!!
What I neeed is a great online slap bass course starting at the beginning ie I’ve never played slap before!!
Dude, you put Alain Caron on the list, at least somebody pays attention!! UZEB is awesome!
Couple things -
Alain Caron uses his pinky for an anchor when slapping. It helps keep the attack consistent and saves energy. I started doing this at some point just instinctively, I have no idea when! Davie504 uses his middle finger if you'll notice.
Second thing is, wasn't Joseph Wooten princes keys player ? Pretty close to Victor at least in blood.
I'm recording some tracks in a few days and this video was insprirational since I incorporate some slap in almost all the tunes. It's a great tool to have in the box.
Caron's right hand technique is something special man! I've never really played around with pinky anchor but might have to give this a try too! 🤙🏻🤙🏻
Joseph Wooten did play with Prince along with with TONS of other great artists, some serious talent running through their family!
Really glad you enjoyed the video Brian - Happy slapping! 👊🏻👊🏻
Great to see Brian Bromberg name checked . His track 'Minneapolis 1987' live is something else and well worth looking up on youtube
Don't fall for this scam
@@adamwalcott_official thanks Adam. Crazy that youtube aren't on top of this nonsense. It would be so easy to set up AI to word spot for things like this and filter them out
They are all the one and only
You forgot to mention Robert Trujillo possessed to skate 🛹 was is a sick MONSTROUS slap riff... plus just about every Infectious Grooves song ever.
Haruhisa Takahashi from the band Gotsu Totsu Kotsu is a great one for more recent stuff (even tho the band's been around since 2000 lol)
The songs Into the Jaws of Death, Harakiri, Insane Battlefield and Shutsujin (the opening to their first album) show off his style and how it works with the band quite nicely!
This is such a tease m8, I broke my thumb and it's still healing! Good video though!
Unfortunately no mention of Mitsuru Sutoh, truly one of the GOAT bass players, and an incredible slap player at that.
Severely underrated because widely unknown and as usual missing on any bass player list: Paul Hinklin from Seattle's Sad Happy. Go find Live Before We Were Dead and prepare to get blown away.
7:29 MONSTER!!!!!
Was not aware of Alain Caron. Impressive. Mark King and Adam Nitti pretty much impress me at the top.
A memorable compliment to me one night at a gig was a woman who regularly went to Austin City Limits with her fiancé said to me that I was the best bassist she had ever seen. Visions such as this video went through my head, old acquaintance Adam Nitti one of them, so many absolute monsters that I know I am nowhere near.
I had to say thank you in appreciation because I know she had been seeing a whole lot of A list players.
Monsters and Demi-Gods.
With all the respect,Am I the only one who feels that we talk about the same artists?I mean, in Japan there are crazy bassist with long and rich careers like Mitsuru Sutoh, Tetsuo Sakurai or Yoshihiro Naruse who plays 8 string bass! Or here in Spain with Pepe Bao, I mean of course this is "top" but It will be nice to see a shoutout to these bassist,just to name a few.Nice video as always Scott!
Yeah he’s been talking about the same subjects/lessons/players for years now
He also calls everyone “legendary”