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The godfather of slap bass

Bassist for Sly and The Family Stone from ’66 to ’72, Larry Graham Jr is not only known as being an unbelievably good slap bass player, but is also credited with inventing the technique.

Below is a video of what Larry is all about, and he explains that the reason he started thumping the bass is to make up for a lack of drum accompaniment. It’s a sound that stuck, sounded great and has been that way ever since.

Now of course, the key to Larry Graham Jr’s sound is technique. While true we have many Jazz Bass style pickups to choose from (with many players having very good results with Bartolini pickups in particular,) it’s training the plucking hand that will make your slap bass sound come alive.

Something you will also immediately notice is that Larry is a very physical bassist. You will see many wide hand movements and many instances of outright grabbing strings and snapping them back to the fretboard hard. This is not a dainty bass playing style by any means.

The best information to take from what Larry says below is how he developed the technique in the first place. Approach your bass as if you had to be both the bassist and the same person providing the rhythm. Bring out the thumps, ghost notes and fret clacks and trade them equally (more or less) with actual notes…

…but Larry explains it a lot better than we can. 🙂

9 thoughts on “The godfather of slap bass”

  1. I play bass because of him listening to him with sly. THE way he played was so different and funkier than everybody else at that time plus he sang too.

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  2. He never gets credit for his funky fingerstyle abilities. That’s what I like the best about his playing, not his slapping. I think slapping is overused these days. I only slap as an embellishment. Not through a whole tune.

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  3. Larry Graham is the funkiest man on the planet, without a doubt (Ain’t No ‘Bout-A-Doubt It)! He doesn’t need a band behind him. Just give him a bass, an amp, and a microphone and he’ll put on a show for you. I saw him with Graham Central Station back in the ’70s, a life-changing experience.

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  4. I met him in the summer of ‘73 (grew up with his son), had my dad sell my sax and have been playing bass every since! Catch his show when it comes to your town. Concerts are 2-2 1/2 hours of driving funk! Bb

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  5. The reason why Brother Graham never ages is because of his religion. He will give you a lesson only after he talks about his God Jehovah.

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  6. I saw Larry the first time with Sly in Mannheim (Germany). I checked very quick, what he was doing ! I was one of the first Bass Players in our Region, wich played the Slap Bass!! Thank you so much Larry, you still a big influence till today!!!!!!

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