As far as playing funky music, some r&b stuff/disco,maybe even a little fusion,what would you say a bassist needs to practice and learn besides the following:

modes of the major and minor melodic scales,major and minor pentatonic scales,some symetrical scales all over a two octave span .

maj,min,augmented and diminished triads, as well as eleven 7th chord arppegios again each over two octaves and their inversions and premutations.

Some chord/scale theory and practicing sight reading, practicing rythm and note recognition through various exercises.

If I am practicing these things AS WELL as trying to play my favourite music by ear, do I still need to learn more things such as chord tensions, more scales etc? Or will this serve as a foundation that is good enough to lay down the funk?

Sounds perfect for me.

I have no idea what eleven 7th chords mean though.

I have no idea what eleven 7th chords mean though.

Ah yeah I should have been clearer on that ( gettin lazy).
I meant Im practicing the following 7th chord arppegios

Maj7,min7,Dominant7,min7b5,mMaj7,Dim7,7sus4,Maj7b5 ,Maj7#5,Dom7b5,Dom7#5.

I guess one of the reasons Im asking this is Im starting to get a little overwhelmed by all the lesson material Ive recieved, and Im wondering if I should take all this and just work on it over the next 6-12 months while having some fun learning songs and grooves by ear. I dont want to short change myself, but if all this will be sufficient to get the funk out, Id like to take some time to digest it all.

Check out MarlowDk, JC10255 and other funk bassists on Youtube.
Also check out the link in my sig. Part of it is below:

~Funk,Groove,R&B
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6527889&postcount=10 Links to over 20 funk,groove and R&B bass players
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314342 Funk 101
http://www.amazon.com/Funk-Bass-Builders-Jon-Liebman/dp/079351620X/ref=pd_sim_b_5/185-2146101-2319058 "Funk Bass" by TB member Jonster (John Liebman)
http://www.amazon.com/Funkmasters-Great-James-Rhythm-Sections/dp/1576234436/ref=pd_sim_b_1 R&B/Funk
http://shop.jonliebman.com/product.sc;jsessionid=908C08F8118F64D0A55E98A6BFFD 92FA.qscstrfrnt02?categoryId=1&productId=8 " Standing in the Shadows of Motown" James Jamerson book/CD
http://shop.jonliebman.com/product.sc?categoryId=1&productId=31 Funk Bass Bible

Most of all, have fun and don't stress over anything!

Maybe find some local bands that play the stuff you like. Give them a listen and check out their set list.
Learn their tunes and let them know what you know. Maybe when they need a sub, they'll call you.
Or once you get 30-40-50 tunes down, look for a group.

Good luck.

If you wanna be funky, you have to first identify what makes something funky. Then, practice playing that way. There is no funk in Theory, as valuable as it is.

Ah yeah I should have been clearer on that ( gettin lazy).
I meant Im practicing the following 7th chord arppegios

Maj7,min7,Dominant7,min7b5,mMaj7,Dim7,7sus4,Maj7b5 ,Maj7#5,Dom7b5,Dom7#5.

I guess one of the reasons Im asking this is Im starting to get a little overwhelmed by all the lesson material Ive recieved, and Im wondering if I should take all this and just work on it over the next 6-12 months while having some fun learning songs and grooves by ear. I dont want to short change myself, but if all this will be sufficient to get the funk out, Id like to take some time to digest it all.

You're taking from Cliff Engle, aren't you?

He's got *great* material, man - he'll do right by you!

Hey, Funky Stumbo:

Thanks!

Jon Liebman
www.JonLiebman.com