Finger Style Funk??

[ogrossman]

I've just started playing with a rock horn band and they want to do several funk tunes. I don't slap and I expect it will take months to learn. So in the mean time, are there any good examples finger style funk bass players that I could be listening to?

[Stick_Player]

Doesn't get any better than this guy.

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

Doesn't get any better than this guy.

[HolmeBass]

Rocco Prestia w/ Tower of Power
Jaco Pastorious (the funky stuff, like Continuum; Come On, Come Over; The Chicken)
Bootsy w/ Parliament (not everything was slapped...)
Other James Brown bassists- Bernard Odum, "Sweet" Sherrell, Tim Drummond, and Fred Thomas
Ohio Players (again, not all of it was slapped)
Mandrill (in particular "Fencewalk")

Also check Afrobeat:
Fela
Antibalas
Budos Band

That should get you started. It's actually a pet peeve of mine when people associate funk bass exclusively with slap bass.

[Funkfaker]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

Doesn't get any better than this guy.

I couldn't have suggested a better player to check out first, than Rocco Prestia. His unique technique and process are outlined really well in that instructional video. More than anything, it makes learning a particular technique some of the most fun I've ever had.

Check out "Tower of Power," "Back to Oakland," and "Urban Renewal." Three of my favorites.

Also check out Larry Graham with Sly and the Family Stone. "Stand!," "A Whole New Thing" and "Fresh" are top notch to me.

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by Stick_Player

Doesn't get any better than this guy.

Ya beat me in while I was typing. But yeah, it doesn't really get any funkier than Rocco.

[funknasty]

He is so ridiculous!!!! Check out Paul Jackson!

[lucas vigor]

uh, Bernard Edwards from CHIC?

[Mushroo]

Big Paul Jackson fan (Herbie Hancock/Headhunters)

YouTube - ‪Paul Jackson and Mike Clark part 1‬‏

[TomA1234]

Check out Mellowship slinky in B major by RHCP and You Oughta Know by Alanis Morisette, supremely funky fingerstyle from Flea.

[ATLbassist]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

Bootsy w/ Parliament (not everything was slapped...)

Also check out Bootsy when he was with James Brown! All the stuff on the "Funk Power: 1970" compilation is killer, and lots of great fingerstyle grooves from Bootzilla-to-Be.

[DONZI97]

George Porter Jr-The Meters.....great fingerstyle funk and groove.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by DONZI97

George Porter Jr-The Meters.....great fingerstyle funk and groove.

and pick funk at times too... YouTube - ‪The Meters - Look-Ka Py Py, Jungle Man‬‏

ogrossman: remember that Funk is a feel... it has ZERO to do with slap/pop technique.

[AFRO]

I cant really top the list, but Ill just say IMO;

Fingerstyle Funk is as close to 'the key to slap playing' as you can get. (once you pursue that adventue, i am sure you will find the finger funk study will be very beneficial to your slap tech.)

Work to get your left hand dampening and muting skills good for funk sounds. combine that with right hand rhythms(!), and muting and dampening. (string skipping like the video) and dont for get dynamics.

Also as mentioned Slap is more of a *tone*. (punchy/clicky..precussive) you can slap Rock/Regge/Blues/Country..etc

-back to funk-
being able to play on the "and-a-Two-and"..every a fill or two to offset your main goove can mix up things. Cant be so straight like rock or pop.

Finally. simplicity can bee keen. the o'le 'not what you say/how you say it' thing...
you really just need to funk up a few notes.

listen (immitate) listen again (duplicate) its fun once you feel your skills groiwng, you'll be funking all the time monn!

enjoy.

[DJ Bebop]

HolmeBass wrote:
" It's actually a pet peeve of mine when people associate funk bass exclusively with slap bass."

Amen Brother, Amen

[Mesa XI]

If you want to brush up on your Slap Techniques, look to these guys.

Larry Graham - YouTube - ‪Larry Graham - Graham Central Station - The Jam - 1997‬‏
Stanley Clarke - YouTube - ‪STANLEY CLARKE, Silly Putty‬‏
Les Claypool - YouTube - ‪Les Claypool Rumble Of The Diesel‬‏

For more traditional and layed back finger funk...

Bootsy with JB - YouTube - ‪James Brown - Superbad‬‏
Jaco Pastorius - YouTube - ‪Jaco Pastorius with weather report-Barbary Coast‬‏

And since you mentioned playing with horn player's, I would look into recordings by The Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra. Always well arranged, and Richard Davis always knew how to keep the bass parts interesting and reserved - YouTube - ‪us- Thad Jones and the Mel Lewis orchestra‬‏

[retardedpossum]

Jerry Jemmott is another to check.....amazing percolating lines.

[Neon Scribe]

Here are some books worth checking out:

Notation, tab and performance notes for guitar, drums & bass for several great James Brown songs.

The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections
Allan Slutsky, Chuck Silverman
Amazon.com: The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections (0029156203028): Allan Slutsky, Chuck Silverman: Books

Notation, tab and performance notes for guitar & bass for some Chic, Sister Sledge and other Rogers-Edwards collaborations. Unfortunately not available in North America.

Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards Funk and Disco Grooves
Clayton Stuart
Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards: Funk & Disco Grooves for Bass & Guitar

Notation and tab (no text) for a bunch of classic funk tunes. Some of these do include slapping.

Hal Leonard Funk Bass Bible
Amazon.com: Funk Bass Bible (Bass Recorded Versions) (9780634089251): Hal Leonard Corp.: Books

[ogrossman]

Wow, THANKS for all the great feedback! Looks like there's plenty of information here to get me started.

[INTP]

one more, why not?

Wild Cherry
YouTube - ‪Wild Cherry Play That Funky Music LIVE Midnight Special 1976 Video‬‏