Multi-tracked Bass Funk

[GeneralElectric]

The question is, can General Electric be funky even though he's whiter than snow?

Just got back from doing some work and I recorded over this:
-Drum machine
-Synth doing those sound effect sweeps
-Fake audience
(I didn't make this, I was playing over it for a friend)

Anyways, I ended up tracking 4 different bass tracks for this beat track. There might be a few mistakes here and there, as each track was done in only one take.

My set up was:

51 RI with old stainless steel rounds played heavy finger style
^
DeArmond Weeping Wah
^
Raven Labs MDB-1
^
M-Audio into a Mac recording set up.

Tell me what you think, I've never really played funk ever and I'd like to hear any criticisms or pointers you have.

It can be found here.

The track is called The Wah. I was too embarrassed to post the full name of the track.

EDIT: This track is in stereo and I recommend you use some headphones.

[middlebit]

I gave it a few listens and I have to say, I detected no funk. There was some elevator-porn thing happening there for sure, though. As for specific pointers, there are a number of things you could work on:
1) Listen to and lock in with the drummer (or the beat).
2) Tighten up your tracks, making sure you don't clutter up the space too much for yourself. More often than not in funk, less is more.
3) Basswise I suggest you work on "cutting the string" - make the note heard like you mean it, be sure of yourself, convince people you know where the "1" is. I'm not saying you don't, but it doesn't really show unless you express it confidently on your instrument.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by middlebit

I gave it a few listens and I have to say, I detected no funk. There was some elevator-porn thing happening there for sure, though. As for specific pointers, there are a number of things you could work on:
1) Listen to and lock in with the drummer (or the beat).
2) Tighten up your tracks, making sure you don't clutter up the space too much for yourself. More often than not in funk, less is more.
3) Basswise I suggest you work on "cutting the string" - make the note heard like you mean it, be sure of yourself, convince people you know where the "1" is. I'm not saying you don't, but it doesn't really show unless you express it confidently on your instrument.

What he said.

As mentioned.........lock in with the drums. Focus in on a repeating pattern as opposed to a ton of random noodling. Resist the inclination to play a lot of notes. And definitely know where the 'one' is.