Fingerstyle Funk

[lbanks]

Funk don't come in no book.

[Stupid Jerk]

Okay, I'm sure whatever it is, "it" isn't a foreign concept to me. Maybe I just never gave it a name. Or maybe I'm not a member of whatever subculture it is that thinks the word "groove" sounds cool... let alone that it's inherently descriptive of anything having to do with abstract sound.

Oh well... I guess there is no need for a name... whatever "it" is. I'll just stick to the prelinguistic, semiotics be damned.

[Blunt]

Well get Rocco's instructional material for a start. It is just a brilliant explanation of the whole concept.

The video is just great stuff.

Jaco, Paul Jackson are also essential.

You don't tend to hear this style in contemporary music that much.

You know why... Its difficult...

[Stupid Jerk]

Originally Posted by Blunt

Well get Rocco's instructional material for a start. It is just a brilliant explanation of the whole concept.

Ah... that is what I'm after... the putting into words of something that I may or may not be intrinsically aware of.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by uturnbass

...name some songs with some good fingerstlye funk for me to practice working on! When I hear funk, it's mostly slap.
Thanks!

There's one song that I play almost every day, for at least a little while. I consider it my standard excersize for finger-funk definition:

Sex Machine (Get On Up), by James Brown. I try to play it with the same 'bubbly' and distinct way that's on a recording I have.

Joe

[Stewmc5222]

Originally Posted by uturnbass

... name some songs with some good fingerstlye funk for me to practice...

try these on for size...

from Tower of Power (Rocco Prestia on bass):

"What Is Hip"
"Soul Vaccination"
"Clever Girl" (3/4 ballad!)
"Only So Much Oil In The Ground"
"Monster On A Leash"
"Credit"

from Herbie Hancock & the Headhunters (Paul Jackson on bass):

"Palm Grease"
"Actual Proof"
"Hang Up Your Hang Ups"

featuring Jaco Paastorius:

"River People" (with Weather Report)
"The Chicken" (many live recordings available under Jaco's name)
"Come On, Come Over" (from Jaco's first solo album)

that should be a decent primer to get you rolling. have fun and bass on!

[Dr_Funkdamental]

OH yeah, and check out some old Maceo Parker. "Life on Planet Groove" and "Mo Roots" are good ones. I actually like that version of Chicken better.

[bikeplate]

HI

Earth, Wind, and Fire bassist Verdine White was a big influence on me. Check out some of that

Rob

[Stewmc5222]

Originally Posted by Dr_Funkdamental

OH yeah, and check out some old Maceo Parker. "Life on Planet Groove" and "Mo Roots" are good ones. I actually like that version of Chicken better.

I agree that these are indeed funky but aren't these B3 and not someone doing fingerstyle bassline in the sense that the instrument is an electric bass?

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by bikeplate

HI

Earth, Wind, and Fire bassist Verdine White was a big influence on me. Check out some of that

Rob

+1 I love EWF and Verdine's style really gets those horns pumping...

which brings up a good point...if you want to know where to put those accents...listen carefully to the horns and how the bass compliments and counterpoints them.