Larry Graham Tells How He Invented The Legendary Bass Technique Of Slapping

Slap That Bass

You’ve probably already seen this many times – bass players showing off their slapping technique. But how many of you know who started it and came up with such a wild idea? Meet Larry Graham from the Sly and the Family Stone. He also founded the funk band Graham Central Station and worked with Prince on various records and tours. Today, he remains one of the most influential bass players of all time.

In one interview, he revealed:

“It came about out of necessity. I wasn’t trying to invent something new. I didn’t really think I was, actually. 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. I just played it the way it was necessary for me to do.”

In this clip, you can see Larry Graham doing his “thumpin’ and pluckin’” technique on his bass guitar. It was an absolute game-changer. (paradiseweddingchapel.com) Who would have thought you could produce such sounds by doing that slap? 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.

We won’t spoil anything here. You have to watch the video because it’s a pretty interesting story.