"Alternative-Thrash-Funk-Metal" Slap Bass

[SadieScarlett]

man you are siiiiiiiiick at slapping. you've just made me give up all hope in anything xD

[metalchick101662]

.......This is amazing:D if infectious grooves needs a bassist i'll suggest you

[StandInVoidZones]

hurry up and get signed so i can get your cd.

[TheHorselover909]

totally reminded me of black eyed blonde - rhcp

[LP0FireBird0LP]

Badass. (:

[Fazioma00]

Are you Les Claypool?

[joeyjordisonsteve]

Awesome Do a tab! :D

[ItMightBeAChicken]

you in a band? you should be.... this shits sick

[colt078]

Dude u rock

[Motortallica]

Wow it's Les Claypool.

[wxb200]

@Motortallica - Nah, unless Les Claypool is Cuban/Italian... But, it's just me...

[guitarbinary]

cool tune thanx mate

[Antisyzygy]

Fuck man. I may as well give up bass. How did you get so fast on the pop and click?

[wxb200]

@Antisyzygy - Well, I've been playing the bass for about 11 years now, so it's just through years of practice... But, there is a trick, when you slap and pop, dont let your rebound go too high away from the string, keep your thumb close and dont go more than 2 inches away. Another tip is try not to exert too much power, be nice and easy with it, otherwise you'll get tired and strain the muscles in your hand. I learned by watching Les Claypool and Victor Wooten. Flea is good too...

[Antisyzygy]

@wxb200 I have been playing for about 8 years. I think my main problem here is that I practice only a couple times a week. But I do notice that my thumb comes up too high. I can only play slower slap riffs, about maybe 1/2 to 2/3 that speed. Thanks for the tip, Ill try it out.

[mosher1mosher2]

@Antisyzygy

its relatively easy once you get it just do speed excersises on a riff that you like



[joeyjordisonsteve]

Wicked man :D

[deformedhell]

What bands inspired you besides Primus? 

[wxb200]

@deformedhell - Sorry for the late reply, but aside from Primus I get inspiration from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Mr. Bungle, Victor Wooten (Flecktones and solo stuff), Doug Johns, Jaco Pastorius, Geddy Lee (Rush), and Larry Graham. Hmmm, there's more, I just cant think of them right now...

[ElectricBlueOil]

@wxb200, cool bass playing!

[metalgodjosh26]

sick:D

[Cowturdstudio]

Okay, you win! Awesome playing.

[dirtman42o]

Yo, fun riff homie, jammed it with a drummer was hot shit.

[snubbs741]

0:30-0:45 is badass

[VinceVonVicious]

very kool! i cant even believe there are 4 people living who dislike this.

[0mnis14sh]

That's so awesome

[snikttles]

haha les claypool

[nikos190813]

very good man..is this a riff from your band or for fun?? :D

[wxb200]

@nikos190813 - This is a riff from a break-down jam that my band throws in the middle of cover songs or original tunes that we do...

[Jacobiskoby37]

Wow, sounds like the Les Claypool bass solo during One Better @ Wakarusa '06 video.

Good work.

[punkrockeur13]

very good player!! ;)

[Ant3W]

shit shit shit~ so great!

[lizerdspherex]

Primus?!

[wxb200]

@lizerdspherex - ... Inspired, yes.

[brucenatelee]

I forget that funk music uses a thumping bass sound. Pretty damn awesome. Is there a sound you get with a guitar or bass where you scratch the strings, or would they just break?

[wxb200]

@brucenatelee Scratching? Yeah, just scrape the heaviest string with your finger nail or a pick...

[SlayEmAll1986]

That had a great groove to it. Good job.

[Tarkonin]

A tip: get a 5-string bass and do some slap on the B-string. It gets really fuckin heavy =D

[fairlystupidjello]

Nice! hey is tha a Kahler bass tremolo?

[wxb200]

Nah, its a Hipshot Bass Tremolo...

[fairlystupidjello]

ah well that's still awesome lol

[wxb200]

Hipshot is alright, but I'd still rather have a Kahler, something with a longer tremolo arm...

[fairlystupidjello]

can you buy a longer whammy bar for the bass?

[wxb200]

yeah, I can get a Fender Jazzmaster tremolo arm, but it might bend too easy because of the higher tension of a bass trem...

[fairlystupidjello]

make one haha

[sandiegoDM]

great stuff man I dig it alot. Going to try and learn this one off the video. 5 stars/thanks!!!

[wxb200]

Please do! Post a video response when you learn it, I'd really like to see it!

[l3ftov3rblunts]

i have trouble trying to describe which genre i fall into myself. check some of my stuff out and see what you think. i'm not saying i doubt you, you should put up a video with a more metal edge to get a sense of your usage. this one portrays more of a funk feel

[wxb200]

Well, then I am most definitely a funk bassist, but I think my style of funk dips more into the metal side rather than old-school funk, if you know what I mean...

[Tylerismyname100]

well, i wouldnt say 'metal', but its def. funky. sounds good man. keep it up.

[blaa757]

if les claypool was more hardcore

[teby95]

ai guana quil llu, coma guant llu faigt guit mi, sorry for my spanglish xD

[wxb200]

Eu não quero lhe lutar , mas por que você quer me matar? Desculpo-me, o meu espanhol não é tão bom... Você compreende?

[teby95]

no xD but not what i meant, is a song called I Wanna Kill You xD looks much like this song

very good for the rest, respects dude

[TheDarkRomantica]

well, i am playing cello and keys and perhaps i want to begin with the bass playing too ;D

[4stringFanatico]

omg i didn nw toby mcguire culd play that good!!

[wxb200]

Toby McGuire? Thats a new one...

[MrJimmy667]

@4stringFanatico Die in a fire

[4stringFanatico]

why cuz your biteer and have no sense of humor??? suk me up!

[piledriver89]

this sounds like mario man fucking quality nice bass tone aswell

[caroffcliff]

very nice but not thrash i recomend playing in 64ths for the thrash quality most lookfor

[wxb200]

Yeah, I know its not thrash...

[RATMfan92]

That... was... fucking amazing.

Good job dude, I really like your style.

Keep it up!

[apocorporation]

Niiice, so awesome!

[Hairysteed]

The bass is a percussion instrument!

[jordanbassp]

That was pretty fucking good. But I think it sound even more bad ass faster.

[DANGERMIZE]

nice, sounds cool!

[massgilms]

thats so awesome

[JoelDAnger11815SN49]

I like the style of your playing because it's funk/ fusion slap bass, but it is also fast and frenetic (accompanied by a melodic progression) like one might see in a thrash or metal band. The best way to describe your approach would definitely be "alternative" or, at least, quite original.

[shaneisabeast22394]

dude this was pretty sweet

[wolfman3993]

not bad

[SocietyOfDysfunction]

yeah, it's not recorded too well. lack of equipment and such, but we did the best with what we had.

[SocietyOfDysfunction]

Don't let people sandbag your skills, man. That was tight. It'd rock having a bassist like you in our band. We'd sound like Slayer and Primus got run over by the same truck, and the unholy roadkill that survived would be us.

[wxb200]

Thanks man... Sandbaggin' S.O.B's like "imtherooster713" hate on people for their own gratification... But hey, you got any clips of your band? I'd like to check them out!

[imtherooster713]

uh..... where do u get the "thrash" and "metal" from? Cuz i certainly dont hear it. Thats just slap with some chords thrown in.

[wxb200]

Ok. You'd have to hear it with the guitar... If you don't hear it, then you must miss out on a lot of things...

[imtherooster713]

?? No, trust me, I play bass, mostly metal. The only real "Metal" that would use a bassline like that would be Circus metal. Other than that, it's just slap. Decent slap but dont try to be more than ur.

[wxb200]

Ok... "Dont try to be more than you are?" Yeah, ok... Traditional metal bass lines are boring and lack feeling...

[imtherooster713]

Then obviously YOU are missing something. I don't see the feeling in slap but I know there must be some. You think there isnt any feeling in metal bass just because you dont hear it.

Face it. That is not a metal bassline. End-o-story

[wxb200]

Alight...  Its been great arguing with you! Post some videos and we might actually have something to talk about... Sandbag...

[imtherooster713]

Sandbag? wow...you're a fag.

[wxb200]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, ok...

[MissNovemberTuesday]

"It is far better to remain silent and appear a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" ~ Mark Twain. Your choice of words betrays your ignorance.

[bullishvirus]

i wish somebody played bass like that where im from.

[SCarsonSOAD]

Very nice feel bro

[hailmetal16]

Good flow, dude.

[Keyframe3D]

Is this Galaxy Force medley? Sounds awesome

[wxb200]

Eh? Nah man... This is a part from one of my band's songs...

[Keyframe3D]

dude, check then this out - same style to my ears. I'm not saying you copied or anything like that, I'm just saying you might like this bass lines that dude is slapin' -> watch?v=tBX04suh5iA

[wxb200]

It may be a similar style, but the feel is completely different...  Sounds good though... That guy has more of a Traditional-Style single-thump Slap technique, whereas my style is more like a fusion of Claypool, Wooten, and Pastorius...

[W4RW017]

I came, buckets

[wxb200]

I'm glad that I could do that for you? I appreciate the comment? What? Thanks?

[W4RW017]

I usually feel that the bass is hard to listen to just solo, because so few can write interesting melodies with it. But damn you did a good job doing a melodic bass lick!

[wxb200]

Its all about 2 things, thinking outside the box and tone... Most bass players have a very muddy sounding tone, I usually keep the bass and treble turned somewhat low and the midrange up. The midrange voice on the bass and amp really project the sound, and that's what I go for, a little (very little) distortion also allows for the bass guitar to cut through the drums and the guitar... I also like things to sound weird and strange, but at the same time, to be very musical... Thanks!

[jj57347]

that was sick

[F00dle]

i love how someone neged your comment

[funkidelicslap]

primus sucks!!!

[wxb200]

I couldnt agree more! I am a Primus-freak!

[SythDarK08]

i cant wait for some retard to thumb down your comment lol

[metalscottsman]

you fit into claypools genre. has no name and no one does it like him but you are copying his timing and note choices to the letter

[wxb200]

I wouldn't say copying... More like emulating... I am a Claypool-freak, so, thanks!

[achickensandwich]

oh come on. there should be more claypool-style bass in music. this guys awesome. get a goddamn band.

[metalscottsman]

i agree he is very good. it id judt to similar t not notice. and no time for a band in the military. no room for a 14 piece kit either

[wxb200]

@achickensandwich - I'm gonna reform my band once I get to Nashville... Right now I'm in Sarasota, FL and there's not much going on down here. It's too hot all of the time and boring as hell!!!

[soptamer]

check out my new vid bro.. it's Rock Funk all the way..

good playing +5 :)

[bassist88]

yeah man thats such a solid beat and technique. do you play alot with other people?

[wxb200]

Nah, not alot of guitar players here in Chicago that I know of... I played alot in Florida, though...

[douglasbermouth]

you make this look easy

[wxb200]

I've been playing bass for about 8 years now, the straight thumbing part at the beginning was somewhat hard for me... The double plucking took me about 4 years to get proficient at

[SegalMonster]

Fucking awesome

[soptamer]

great job man. if you are interested in hearing my new rising funk/metal band please visit our myspace. i don't want to post the website here because that would be kinda spam-y :) but you can find it on my page. +5

great job man!

[caneggia]

incubus stile

[driftwood963]

Awesome.

[wxb200]

I used my practice amp behind the point & shoot camera that I used to record... I had that setup so I would actually record the sound! But, my main amp is a Behringer Ultrabass 180 watt head through a 2x10 and a 1x15... Loud as hell!!!

[greenirishhatsbass]

awsome, thats what im trying to learn to do Lmao, i really like funk, but im in a rock/metal band so i want to be able to slap and pop and stuff to that.....so what bass/amp did you use

[commiesmasher]

u write that urself?

[wxb200]

Yes Sir...

[stupidplants]

Very Primus-esque

[kevermanslap]

i really didnt hear any alt thrash funk lol then u did the strumming thing Les Claypool does and it clicked lol great sound totalyl favorited this

[ferpur]

Muy bueno, where are you from? Ì`m from Uruguay, i like that bass. I `m also bass player and i love funk metal

un saludo de Fernando

PD: I hope that you can understand me my english is not very good

[wxb200]

¡Muchas gracias! Yo hablo espanol, no te preocupes, te entiendo muy bien. Yo vivo en Los Estados, en Chicago...

[ferpur]

¡Què impresionante!me imagino lo que será la movida con la música allá...Bueno te invito a que pases por mi video se llama FBC ENTER SANDMAN es corto pero bue...saludos

[Jekabson2]

basist in a closet wow! I like music as well as gun in background.

[wxb200]

Closet? That was my living room with only the kitchen light on...

[zwenes]

w00t that's awesome!! Very... VERY NICE!!! ^_^

[Shacalbolt123]

F***ing sweet!

now all you need is an electric harp player, a drumer who uses live animals as drumb sticks and a russian opera singer, and you have yourself a band! =D

[hop3lesss]

nice

[Mudturtle771]

Nice man, I wish more people played like this and not just playing the base notes. By the way, You have great style, and great influences.

[wxb200]

I really appreciate the comment, thanks!

[dioornodio]

dude im trying to disengage this, im done argueing with some one with the maturity of a 7 year old. why cant you jsut admit you lost? and stop spamming at me.

[wxb200]

Who said this was a game? You... Who started this gay shit? You... If you "won" then you would have stopped responding... I dont care if I "lost,"  I just hate it went little bitches leave unnecessary comments on my vids...

[dioornodio]

lol this is just primus, dont watch this, just listen to primus its the same shit.

[wxb200]

you obviously dont have an ear for style, technique, or for that fact, music.... And besides, your mom has a hairy ass, prick...

[dioornodio]

wow, are you 7?

seriously your ripping off primus, your style is that of les claypool, and your techique is les' thumping popping strumming, and all the times iv seen claypool he does stuff that sound like that but pulls it off better then you ever will

[wxb200]

Are YOU serious? Who the hell do you think you are? I am a fan of Claypool, but I am definitely not ripping off Primus... I have my own style and for one thing, Claypool doesnt double-thump or double-pluck. If you know your bass players (which you probably do not) you would know that Claypool is not the only one that strums, Geddy Lee, Abe Laboriel, Jaco Pastorius, all strum the same way that Claypool copied them... Prick...

[dioornodio]

i do know my bass players geddy lee doesnt flemeco style strum he lightly strokes down with him thumb pads, and jaco and claypool go down with fingernails up with finger pads, bu no dude the name of the video is primus' style, jaco is mainly a harmonics player and is known for playing at the bridge of the bass. les didnt copy them he mainly took influence, the only difference between taking influence and ripping of is that your trying to take credit for it.

[wxb200]

Bravo, you are officially a fuck-head... Who said I was trying to take credit? Les Claypool is one of my influences, why are you ripping on me? If I'm ripping off on Claypool, then he ripped off on Geddy Lee... Whats your deal? If you dont like my videos, dont watch them, again, prick...

[dioornodio]

okay this is like argueing to a 5 year old im done, im going to be the bigger man and end this even if you comment back and say well your mom still has a hairy ass prick which is irrelevent to anything having to do with this, im not going to answer, you lose.

[wxb200]

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Bigger man, you're only a kid, you're 19 as your profile says... I lose??? Yeah, ok...

[dioornodio]

and yet im the one whos acting more mature

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

[wxb200]

Are you?

[rubzone]

sick shit bruh

[rudisimo666]

EXCELENT DUDE, CONGRATS!

One guitarrist palm-muting simple chords would be awesome.

[groovybassline]

What kind of bass is that?

[HerrFischauge]

wow, nice!

[homgen4]

Damn, this is what funk metal needs to launch into the mainstream.

[wxb200]

I've only played with one guitarist who was able to hold this kind of funk...

[homgen4]

Don't worry guitarists are a dime a dozen you'll find one who can.

[BenandAdriansWorld]

That Shit is the Schnizz hahaha

Seriously though that is awesome!

[NapoleanXV]

this is great! awesome lick!

[ramon709]

nice lick and play

[zakryan79]

now I have a question about the whammy tremolo you got there, now I was thinking about getting one and I was wondering does the one you have another hole on the other side say for like a left handed player,cuz Im lefty lol. Um and also what kind of bridge is that? awesome vid btw.

[BlakeBoseph]

the next les claypool!

[wxb200]

I am only about 10% as funky as Claypool, if not less... Thanks for the comment, much appreciated!

[ninjapolarbear124]

nice gun

[davepwnzmore]

looks like a soviet sks i think

[rockybaxter]

coooooooooooooooool

[gangstable]

smoooooth

[RemainingSheep]

nice skills =D

[HandOfBlood31]

that was awesome man!

[soulslicer0]

les claypool style!

[eyeflow9]

right on man.

[sc6rp]

that is so cool, funk metal, bass slap its awesome!

[pandapaultube]

w00t. Nice thumpin! Very cool.

[xrawalmondbutterx]

do you play the gun too?

[wxb200]

Sometimes...

[autopreneur]

now, that's talent

[wxb200]

wow, I appreciate the comment...

[sutman]

that was fuckin cool

nice sound!

[capncrunch537]

Fucking sick dude, nice. Claypool would be proud.

[xsoul1]

yeah....bien tocado....me da gusto ver a gente como tu....sigue asi.....good response

[andNino]

dude you own:P

[wxb200]

you should hear my guitarist rip on this tune...

[AntropoxShredder]

whoa! does you bass have a whammy bar on it? i thought i saw one at the end. great job by the way!

[wxb200]

yes sir...

[Spinn14]

Dude, great job. Some of the best slap bass I've ever heard.