|  | | 
03-14-2007, 12:39 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinboro, PA | | | I really need to get funky
Sign in to disble this ad
I feel that my funk is a bit phoned in, rumor has it, faking the funk is frowned upon.
I can hold my own, and occasionally I'll come up with a groove I really dig, but that's not enough.
I need to study some funk, alright here's my goal: I want to be Rocco from Tower of Power  ... but (What about Bob mode on: ) Baby steps baby steps (/What about bob mode off: ).
I know Jaco and Rocco (something about those co's) can bust out some super bad fingerstyle funk. And that's what I aspire for, but my fingers aren't that smooth yet. What funk bassists should I study? I know I know Bootsy, that reminds me, no Flea or Les Claypool please, they got me this far, I want to diversify, my slap reeks of Claypool wannabe.
Specific albums/recordings would be helpful. Fingerstyle is prefered, but slap is cool too. What funk albums/songs should I worship?
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
|
03-14-2007, 05:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: S.W.Side of Chicago-U.P. Mich. | | | Matt,
Do a search in thiS page, "Is funk a dying genre?", and get a history lesson along with a great discography of FUNK complete with a discography and soundclips!
Bobbo 77"
__________________
Proud owner of trusty ol' 77' "Groove is in the Heart"
Musicman Club #77, E.B. Club #77, Eden Club#77
|
03-15-2007, 08:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: san diego, CA | | | LARRY GRAHAM
LARRY GRAHAM
LARRY GRAHAM
---->sly and the family stone greatest hits
---->graham central station's frist release
the first funkadelic album (can't think of the bassist's name right now...) the first song, mama what's a funkadelic, is just so greasily beautifully funky. simple line but man does it groove.
and matt, remember, bootsy did say if you fake the funk your nose will grow........... |
03-15-2007, 08:50 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand | | | by funk do you mean epic?
__________________
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Domo-kun tribe shuhan
Cort club #2
|
03-15-2007, 10:42 AM
|  | Deteriorating faster than I can lower my standards | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Frederick MD USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by these_go211  LARRY GRAHAM
LARRY GRAHAM
LARRY GRAHAM
---->sly and the family stone greatest hits
---->graham central station's frist release
the first funkadelic album (can't think of the bassist's name right now...) the first song, mama what's a funkadelic, is just so greasily beautifully funky. simple line but man does it groove. | +1
also James Brown 
__________________
"...we're narcissistic, self-serving ba*****s..." -B.Springsteen
Herding noodlemeisters since 1971  |
03-15-2007, 02:05 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: David Eden Amplifiers / Rob Wave Custom basses | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Athens, GA | | | Willie Weeks
I think Willie Weeks is a great place to start. Check out the donny Hathaway album, "Live" and you will understand. Not slap stuff but very funky!
__________________
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
|
03-15-2007, 02:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oberlin, Oh | | | Man everything james brown has seems to just be full of funk. Personally if you're jamming with a drummer, if they can't swing, or make the song have a pocket, you're hopeless from the start. I need a beat, or pocket or something to get my grooves going.
Check out some motown stuff just to get a feel for the greats, like Jamerson. His lines rolled, and are very funky alot of the time. And fit into a song practically.
Larry Graham is a great bass player, check out the song called "Tha Jam" very cool stuff. I really think come on over (i think thats what its called) by jaco really grooves, but I could never make a song that busy groove.
More guys that groove in a "rock sense" to me are people like Steffan Lessard, he can get things done. Listen to some live DMB and you'll catch my drift hopefully. And despite me not likeing him, Pino Palladino is pretty sweet too.
__________________ www.myspace.com/eclyptic
Warmoth Carved J/J
MIA Deluxe P
Lecompte ST-5, #6
EA iAmp 500
Schroeder 1212 + 115 L
|
03-15-2007, 06:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tyneside, UK | | | I've asked the same question myself. Here's the list I was given
Victor Wooten
Marcus Miller
Robert Randolf and The Family Band
Sly and The Family Stone
Bootsy Collins
George Clinton and The Parliment Funkadelic
Galactic
Karl Denson's Tiny universe
Flea(rhcp)
p-nut(311)
As well try Chic. You'll almost certainly have heard 'Le Freak' somewhere. This song rocks! In fact all funk rocks.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club #706 P&W Club #71 LGBT #26 Keyboardist #40 Quote:
Originally Posted by LowDown Hal Bass Players - Do It Deep | |
03-15-2007, 07:29 PM
| | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: L.A. (the Valley) | | | My personal favorite, Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters fame. Try the albums "Thrust" and title album "Headhunters."
__________________
Fender 51 Reissue Club Quote:
Originally Posted by grisezd
That's got everything that is good, all in one spot.
| |
03-15-2007, 08:56 PM
| | Amen! | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eagle River, Alaska | | | If you want the funk you must find the funk. It's somewhere in a little box after being kicked off a space ship by Bootsy Collins.
After you acquire it just spray yourself with that big o'ball a tits and let the funk flow all life long.
(If you know anything about The Mighty Boosh...) |
03-15-2007, 10:15 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Coast of Canada | | Why?
Noise > Funk  |
03-16-2007, 11:45 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinboro, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ebladeboi123 Man everything james brown has seems to just be full of funk. Personally if you're jamming with a drummer, if they can't swing, or make the song have a pocket, you're hopeless from the start. I need a beat, or pocket or something to get my grooves going. |
I can back this, a drummer I played with a while back had the uncanny ability to make everything I did sound great. Jamming with a funky drummer helps a lot.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
|
03-16-2007, 11:46 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinboro, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielTulip Why?
Noise > Funk |
I've attempted funky noise... now I want super funky noise.
My ultimate goal is musical diversity, I'd like to be able to do everything. I'll probably never be able to cover EVERY genre, but it's my goal.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
|
03-16-2007, 11:50 AM
| | | | All of these are great suggestions. I would reiterate Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station. And Bernard Edwards w/ Chic was truly really amazning. Listen to good times and notice how he slightly changes the feel of the basic groove but it somehow does not mess anything up.
I picked up a cd from CVS recently for $5 called "real 70s R&B disc 2" and it is awsome. I hadn't heard of most of the bands on it before but all the tracks are gems. I wish they had disc 1!
If you want to play funky, remember it doesn't have to be complex. Put emphasis on syncopation. Outline dominant 7th and minor 7th chords or even 6th chords and you are on your way. And sometimes, it can be just all about the way you fit into the pocket. Also, leaving a lot of rests can be magically funkalicious. REST, REST, REST, Badowm, REST....... |
03-16-2007, 11:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinboro, PA | | | I love James Brown, George Clinton, Larry Graham, Sly, The Meters, Gil Scott Heron, Funkadelic (more than Parliament), uhm... damn. I think I just need to seriously LEARN these basslines and try to figure out why they groove as hard as they do.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
|
03-16-2007, 12:05 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Till I think I just need to seriously LEARN these basslines and try to figure out why they groove as hard as they do. | That's probably a fine idea. Get inside the lines. |
03-16-2007, 03:01 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Coast of Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Till I've attempted funky noise... now I want super funky noise.
My ultimate goal is musical diversity, I'd like to be able to do everything. I'll probably never be able to cover EVERY genre, but it's my goal. | ...And and honorable goal at that |
03-16-2007, 03:03 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Providence, RI | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Till I love James Brown, George Clinton, Larry Graham, Sly, The Meters, Gil Scott Heron, Funkadelic (more than Parliament), uhm... damn. I think I just need to seriously LEARN these basslines and try to figure out why they groove as hard as they do. | The lines will set you free.
(or so I've heard)
__________________
Valenti Fodera ZON |
03-16-2007, 03:26 PM
| | Guest | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto ON | | Hint: When playing to James Brown, give every note its full value, don't try and syncopate and be too hip for your own good. I played in a James Brown tribute band for a year so heed my words.  |
03-17-2007, 02:22 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Connecticut | | | Pick up some Meters.
Funky to the max. The true meaning of less is more. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | |
