funk

eric234 · #1 05-25-2005, 01:22 PM

i'm trying to learn funk but i can't get the slap down well i can do it but it doesn't come through the amp is it the amps fault or am i completly off?

eldave777 · #2 05-25-2005, 01:55 PM

Try throwing some more highs in you mix bro.

eric234 · #3 05-25-2005, 02:57 PM

ok cool thanks

GSPLBASSDC · #4 05-26-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric234

i'm trying to learn funk but i can't get the slap down well i can do it but it doesn't come through the amp is it the amps fault or am i completly off?

Are you referring to tone or technique? If it's tone, what type of gear are you using? The other thing that I consider important is , how long have you been playing bass?

Armed with those answers, I'm sure you're going to get a ton of assistance!

**embellisher** · #5 05-26-2005, 01:35 PM

Funk is not just about slap.

And a lot of slap doesn't even approach funky.

GSPLBASSDC · #6 05-26-2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

Funk is not just about slap.

And a lot of slap doesn't even approach funky.

Preach on Preacher!!!!

That why I asked how long he's been playing. There are a lot of cats that can lay down 6 ft of pure, nasty, greasy funk...and do it without slapping.

Starrchild · #7 05-26-2005, 01:57 PM

You want funk, listen to some James Brown, Tower of Power, and Earth Wind and Fire.

Remember funk is about keeping it on the one, it may only be four notes per measure, but make sure it's on the one.

eric234 · #8 05-27-2005, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

Funk is not just about slap.

And a lot of slap doesn't even approach funky.

i never said it was i just can't get the slap

Suckbird · #9 05-27-2005, 09:49 AM

It's pretty cool that people things slap is the same as funk(i dont talk about you now eric).

I remember when italked to my uncle who plays drums and he said funk was the coolest thing he had seen on bass, he meant slap.

My bass teacher who plays guitar also called slap funk...

but when i looked at tower of power and stuff i dont see much slap..

why do people see slap = funk?

GSPLBASSDC · #10 05-27-2005, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric234

i never said it was i just can't get the slap

I think he was referring to your stament "I'm trying to learn funk and can't get the slap"

You can play funk without slap...just like you can play jazz or rock WITH slap!

You're talking about a tone or technique...not style

GSPLBASSDC · #11 05-27-2005, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suckbird

why do people see slap = funk?

The early originators of slap bass played funk music(as it was called by African-Americans) where funky = nasty, get down type of music that was vastly different from the "soul music" most non-blacks knew.

eric234 · #12 05-28-2005, 02:23 PM

ok then how do i do slap?

**embellisher** · #13 05-28-2005, 10:27 PM

Good slap tone is the product of technique, strings, EQ, and your bass.

Technique is the #1 ingredient, but some things are not going to sound right no matter how good your technique is.

For example, you won't sound very good slapping on an old hollowbody, or a Gibson EB. Most people do not sound good slapping tapewound or flatwound strings, although I have seen one or two notable exceptions to this rule. And for a good slap tone when playing by yourself, you need a 'smiley face' EQ. Slightly boosted lows, slightly cut mids, and slightly boosted highs.

From your profile, it looks like you have a fretless bass. Slap on a fretless can sound cool, but it won't sound like the stereotypical metallic slap sound you hear on recordings.

Two of the classic slap sounds are a fretted Fender Jazz bass, and a fretted Musicman Stingray.

eric234 · #14 05-29-2005, 06:38 AM

ok cool thanks alot

invader3k · #15 05-29-2005, 08:59 AM

OK...so call me stupid, but what constitutes exactly "funk style" bass playing then? I'm not too familiar with most funk music, so what would a typical rhythm structure be? (eg in country music, 1-5, 1-5... is pretty typical).

vene-nemesis · #16 05-29-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suckbird

It's pretty cool that people things slap is the same as funk(i dont talk about you now eric).

I remember when italked to my uncle who plays drums and he said funk was the coolest thing he had seen on bass, he meant slap.

My bass teacher who plays guitar also called slap funk...

but when i looked at tower of power and stuff i dont see much slap..

why do people see slap = funk?

You dont see or hear a lot of slap out of funk (dont start talking about stu hamm, mark king and marcus miller), there is but not many ppl notices it like us bassist do. A lot of this is because those love-song-pop-punks just stick to root notes with a pick and never experiment with different techs (no ofence to those who enjoy/play this style just not my cup of tea, youre also free to point why you play that way this forum is for all of us) or diff grooves.

**embellisher** · #17 05-29-2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

OK...so call me stupid, but what constitutes exactly "funk style" bass playing then? I'm not too familiar with most funk music, so what would a typical rhythm structure be? (eg in country music, 1-5, 1-5... is pretty typical).

Check out some Tower of Power. Rocco Prestia is one of the funkiest cats ever to walk the planet, and he never slaps.

For the roots of funk, check out some Motown from the sixties, featuring James Jamerson. This music is not funk, but funk was born on the backbone of Motown music.

Going forward in time, check out some Sly and the Family Stone, and The Brothers Johnson. This is where funk started to come to life, and there is some fine slap playing on some of the songs.

Then, check out Parliament Funkadelic. Funk with a capital F, a lot of it featuring Bootsy Collins and no slap.

Other good things for funky bass playing, though not necessarly funk music is James Brown, Stanley Clarke, etc.

GSPLBASSDC · #18 05-30-2005, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

Check out some Tower of Power. Rocco Prestia is one of the funkiest cats ever to walk the planet, and he never slaps.

For the roots of funk, check out some Motown from the sixties, featuring James Jamerson. This music is not funk, but funk was born on the backbone of Motown music.

Going forward in time, check out some Sly and the Family Stone, and The Brothers Johnson. This is where funk started to come to life, and there is some fine slap playing on some of the songs.

Then, check out Parliament Funkadelic. Funk with a capital F, a lot of it featuring Bootsy Collins and no slap.

Other good things for funky bass playing, though not necessarly funk music is James Brown, Stanley Clarke, etc.

Add to that some groups that are lesser-known to the mainstream:

Cameo
Lakeside
Slave
Dazz Band
Con Funk Shun
Brass Construction
George Duke
(I could go on)

There are several threads here that speak on various Funk artists and slap techniques...do a search and check 'em out

My thought is that is you're gonna play a style...ya need to spend some time listening to the originators/innovators of that style. Have Fun....funk is a blast when done right!!!