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slap bass

British  

noun

  1. a rock or jazz style of playing the electric or double bass in which the strings are plucked and released so as to vibrate sharply against the fretboard or fingerboard

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That’s how Larry Graham came up with slap bass.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

With its distinctive slap bass and riotous laugh track, “Seinfeld” both captures a singular moment in 1990s Manhattan and transcends its era.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2024

Though “Squeeze” may embrace genre signifiers like double kick drums and slap bass, it’s far from a typical metal album.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2022

Side One kicks off with “Rock This Town,” driven by a slap bass line straight out of 1950s Memphis and a video that highlighted their distinctive look.

From Washington Post • May 21, 2019

Or is the real tipping point a montage in which four or more people, each with a specific skill, are recruited to the sound of slap bass and glissando organ?

From The Guardian • Jun. 11, 2018

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