The funk song that brought me to my knees...

[vin*tone]

Last night I met my match. I didn't bother working on it before my band jam bc I didn't realise it would be so damn hard. Basically made an ass of myself fumbling around it:

"What do i have to do to prove my love to you" - Marva Whitney

YouTube - Marva Whitney - What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You.wmv

The part I find challenging is the end of the riff: 5, 2, 5 then run up: 7b, 7, ......1.

Very hard to play with groove.

Give it a try and let me know how you go...

[fourstringdrums]

Damn, why do I have to be out of town for 3 days and bassless...Definitely trying this when I get home.

Thanks!

[waleross]

Damm, good thing it wasn't an audition......Kind of in the Tower of Power vein.........................Tight as it comes....see you next year.............

[vin*tone]

.
It wasn't really that embarrassing - this band is kind of my own project. We play obscure and often difficult 60s/70's funk so when we first pick up a song it's not unusual for one or other of us to run off into the ditch.

eg: Hot Pants Breakdown | Brother Popcorn (demo recording)

This Marva song though....... is a particularly tough nut IMO .... so just thought I'd share.

[fourstringdrums]

Trying it now, and unless I'm not understanding your description,I don't think the 2 is played. The root is D# so they way I'm playing the whole melody is

D# F# G G#A A#
A#(lower octave) C D D#

[vin*tone]

INteresting.

I'm hearing:
D#, G, G#, A, A, (A#, E#, A#) C#, D.
ie: Mixolydian (blues) Major.

I think that run up starts on a Maj 3rd and plays the #5 twice. Pretty sure about that ...but you could be on to something with the A# thing. I'm hearing A#, E#, A# in really quick 16ths .....hmmmmm...... then runs up from C#, D,...... (to the 1)

[vin*tone]

Yeah I'm pretty sure there's 3 notes in there on the A#. (A#, E#, A#)

I'm then reaching up the neck for the C# on the E string, then D on the A string.

[kerrycares]

for a real treat, try the song "Glide" by the funk group Pleasure

[fourstringdrums]

I recorded myself playing the line. I'll upload it later. On further listen, this is what I'm hearing:

D# F# G G# A A#

A# (lower octive) E Ghostnote C# D back to D#

The first 5 notes after the root are tough because that F# in the mix plays tricks with your ears and makes you think it's G, and then you hear 5 notes total, leaving you to think the A# is being played twice.

[fourstringdrums]

Ok here is the file. Excuse the crappy playing That low A# E Ghost, C# D is a bitch

But anyway, that's how I'm hearing it.

http://anotherdivide.com/GT000020.wav

[vin*tone]

cool.
I'm actually late for work. Will listen soon.

But yeah that C# IS a bitch!!

[vin*tone]

Sounds pretty good. You could be right on that minor 3rd. I'm currently dissecting and looping at half time in Quicktime. lol. (at work -ahem-)

*playing it tomorrow night with a brass section BTW. Will be sweeeeet.

[fourstringdrums]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Sounds pretty good. You could be right on that minor 3rd. I'm currently dissecting and looping at half time in Quicktime. lol. (at work -ahem-)

I think that along with the dead note on the E plays tricks withy your ears in the same way people mistakenly play a whole step versus a half on I Feel Good

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

Ok here is the file. Excuse the crappy playing That low A# E Ghost, C# D is a bitch

But anyway, that's how I'm hearing it.

http://anotherdivide.com/GT000020.wav

That's basically it. Just needs a little more groove but the notes are correct.

[kesslari]

Anyone else think this may be Jerry Jemmott?

[Fendbassfan]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Mixolydian (blues) Major

Mixolydian would be root,2,3,4,5,6,7b

[fourstringdrums]

Originally Posted by DWBass

That's basically it. Just needs a little more groove but the notes are correct.

cool thanks. Yeah I learned it this afternoon so the groove needs work

[billoetjen]

That splintering sound you hear right now is from me, smashing up my basses and tossing the pieces into the woodstove....

[faulknersj]

Killer old school funk tune man! My band covers similar obsure tunes and I can't wait to learn this one!

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by Fendbassfan

Mixolydian would be root,2,3,4,5,6,7b

Yeh. I was hearing a maj 3 not minor 3.