I'm having trouble with this insanely easy progression. It's just E and A and it's 4/4 timing. I just can't settle in on a bass line. I keep landing on the root on the ones. I know that's a good thing but I want to add more of a bluesy funky feeling to the song. I want to use more passing notes and build between the changes. I guess it's the fact that i only have four beats or three reallly to do anything between the E or A, before I feel like I have to be back to the root of the change. If this makes any sense I would love some suggestions.

Thanks

Put the bass down for a few minutes... take a walk and sing the lines. (a audio recorder of some type is good for this) Try playing the lines you sang.

Playing a single drum and/or singing are the most musically organic things we can do. It's always good to revisit the 'roots' every now and then, especially when we get tied up in technology or complex musical ideas.

I guess it's the fact that i only have four beats or three(?) reallly to do anything between the E or A...

So it's 1-bar of "E" (4 beats) & 1-bar of "A" (4 beats)?

If so...you can play in a 1/16th note feel; that's subdivided into 16 'beats'/rests.

Bar 1
l1_&_-e&--e&a4e&al
lE_E_-EE--EGEGEG#El
Black = All played on "E-String"

Bar 2
l1_&_2e&a_e_a4e&al
lA_A_EGCA_G_ABDF#El
Black = E-String
Red = A-string

Don't force yourself to use too many notes. There's an infinite amount of quality lines you could make just out of E, A, B, and their different octaves (The root, 5, and octaves of the two chords). Work specifically around those notes and add other passing tones as you find necessary. Keep in mind that it's hard to create "movement" ala a walking line with just a 2 chord progression. Worry more about finding a nice groove.

Someone on here quoted-"the root- the whole root- and nothing but the root- so help me Dusty Hill".... I thought that was kinda cute.

Check out my link here. Listen to "Gulf Port Strut". I came up with that funky line(it switches from C to F). Might give you some ideas.

If you're trying to find the funk, all you got to do is fill in the gaps. You know those places where the music sounds "empty"? That's your spot, bro. Don't worry about doing anything fancy with meter or throwing in a bunch of notes; just play what you know the song NEEDS.

Funk is all about the feel. When playing with drums, you can create a funky feel by only playing a quarter note per bar (root), at the first beat, when you have a funky drum pattern to play over (which doesn't need to be more complicated than a simple standard beat played with some funky attitude).

Learn to play some riffs like the bass line in "Chameleon" - that's a simple two chord funk song like the one you talk about and could get you started. You don't need but a few strategically placed notes and perhaps some passing or ghost notes. Keep it simple. A simple line played well is always better than an advanced line played poorly.

Funk is all about Dead notes, sycopation, and space.

Play the groove with dead notes then add appropriate notes and spaces. Usually less is more.

Yes, you should fill in the space, but you should also use the space. Listen to Cissy Strut by The Meters, and you'll notice that his grooving bass line isn't all notes, but includes a lot of space also.

^^^ +1

I find it a very powerful trick to end notes exactly on 2 and/or 4 to emphasize those beats. Funk guaranteed (well, almost ;)).

Wow thanks everyone! Great feedback, very useful. It's nice to be able to vaguely describe an issue that most people wouldn't understand and get such a positive, helpful response!

Thanks again