funk fingers!

ARCtrooper225 · #1 11-25-2006, 04:21 PM

I just got some funk fingers about 30 minutes ago, and I'm going back to my mom's tonight, so can anyone recommend any songs that requires funk fingers to play?

DigableGrooves · #2 11-25-2006, 04:54 PM

where did you find funk fingers?

Bassist4Life · #3 11-25-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCtrooper225

I just got some funk fingers about 30 minutes ago, and I'm going back to my mom's tonight, so can anyone recommend any songs that requires funk fingers to play?

I suggest you go wash your hands.

Joe

Bassist4Life · #4 11-25-2006, 05:00 PM

Serious reply: If you do indeed have a serious case of funky fingers, then check out Tower Of Power.

"What Is Hip?"

Joe

ARCtrooper225 · #5 11-25-2006, 05:07 PM

Okay, I'll be sure to check them out, thanks

dee rob · #6 11-25-2006, 05:08 PM

i think the op meant the funk fingers that tony levin uses from time to time.

dee

steveb98 · #7 11-25-2006, 07:06 PM

I never heard of Funk Fingers before but Googled for them and listen to some Peter Gabriel stuff and interesting sound. I remember same type of thing done on double bass ages ago. Drummer play strings with his sticks while bass player fingered the neck.

I would say don't worry about a song to get started on, treat 'em like learning to slap. Get the basic motion down, then take stuff you already know and do it with the Funk Sticks. That way you can focus on right hand and sound production.

Bassist4Life · #8 11-25-2006, 08:51 PM

Oh... allright. I looked them up and I've seen them before, but I didn't know what they were called. It seems like they would be called something else.

Tower Of Power is still worth checking out.

Joe

markjazzbassist · #9 11-25-2006, 09:23 PM

check out these funky bands

earth wind and fire
average white band
the ohio players
pleasure
the headhunters
jamiroquai
the brand new heavies

keyboardguy · #10 11-25-2006, 10:22 PM

Here's about 20 second of Tower of Powers' "What is Hip?"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-p...559057-0116750

Mike

de la mocha · #11 11-26-2006, 07:52 AM

LOL, am I the only one who read the thread title wrong?

Fatandugly · #12 11-26-2006, 08:07 AM

Try "Steam" by Peter Gabriel. Preferably the live version. Good funk finger stuff.

gribuski · #13 11-27-2006, 07:52 PM

Did you buy them somewhere or make them yourself? I've been itching to get a set and start playing some. I play a Stingray as well, and hope it sounds half as cool.

As far as songs go, there's a couple of songs on the 2 disc Peter Gabriel live album, I think its called "A Secret World"...you can pick the tunes he plays with them on pretty easily.

Enden · #14 11-27-2006, 08:22 PM

Where'd you pick them up? i'd love to get a pair.

Gegatso · #15 11-28-2006, 12:58 AM

"Pieces Of The Sun" by Levin off of "Double Espresso".
And like many asked...where did you get the fingers?

ARCtrooper225 · #16 11-29-2006, 06:36 PM

I got them at a local music store, I don't wanna say they're local, but there's only two stores (but bigger than my nearest GC). About $20 for 4 of them, they were originally these "finger percusion sticks" made by some Tony guy(not the inventor of FF's) but there the same thing. I'll try to find the info, BTW, thanks for the suggestions

ARCtrooper225 · #17 11-29-2006, 06:37 PM

fingers
I found them online!!!

Spacelordmother · #18 11-30-2006, 01:04 AM

wow... crazy. i thought when people said "funk fingers", they were just talking about funky fingerstyle! i have been wanting something like this for some time. i love the sound of a bass chord when you pound it out on the strings instead of strum it or pluck it. i should have to get me some of these asap!

Markus Bender · #19 12-05-2006, 04:45 AM

Does anybody know if they work as the original ones that Tony used to sell on his homepage? These here seem to be a little short for playing on bass. The power comes from the length and the weight of the sticks...
I have a pair of the original ones but would like to buy some backup.

Here's a link to a page with a pick of the ones Tony had on his page (scroll down a little):
http://www.innerviews.org/inner/levin.html

Funkfingers are cool!!

Mon Rominee · #20 12-05-2006, 05:27 AM

Those seem a little short to be letting the mass of the stick interact / bounce off the string very well. I also don't think the tapered head is a very good design for this purpose (playing bass) but I dunno.

I've made them in the past with broken drumsticks from my drummer's collection...I use a cove bit in a router and a jig to hold the router a certain distance from the stick and also to hold the stick in place / aligh the cut. The sticks are not the same length, mind you...dip the hitting ends in liquid tool grip (you can get different colors at the hardware store...) and let dry. Then you get some wide velcro strap(hook & loop sides opposing) and staple it to the underside of the stick, wrap around yer finger..and yer done.

Fun stuff.