Gettin Funky

[bassgod94]

I'm a high schooler joining a local band (all high schoolers as well if you were wondering) that plays mostly funk (rare nowadays but awesome if you ask me). I love funk but I don't really know how to play it too well. I can slap ok I suppose but just can't seem to get into the groove that is funk, are there any recordings or bassists I should listen to or any tabs or music (yes I read both fluently) I should look into getting or just look up via the interwebs? Thanks!

[bass12]

The best tip I can offer is to listen to as much funk and funk-oriented music as you can. James Brown is a must, especially from 1965 on. Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament, Chic, Graham Central Station, Tower Of Power, Brothers Johnson, Earth, Wind & Fire - there's tons of stuff out there (I've just named some of the obvious ones). Find stuff that turns you on and listen. Start picking up some of the lines by ear and don't worry about being funky. Anything that keeps you interested is probably worthwhile. I would encourage you to do as much reading on the historical/cultural aspect of the music as well (but that's just me). Also, check out some D.C. go-go (bands such as Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, Rare Essence, Familiar Faces) as it's some of the funkiest stuff being played live today. Same goes for a lot of the modern gospel stuff. If you want more specifics regarding albums/artists shoot me a P.M.

Oh, be sure and check out Me'shell Ndegéocello's first two albums.

[frisbieinstein]

Originally Posted by bass12

The best tip I can offer is to listen to as much funk and funk-oriented music as you can. James Brown is a must, especially from 1965 on. Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament, Chic, Graham Central Station, Tower Of Power, Brothers Johnson, Earth, Wind & Fire - there's tons of stuff out there (I've just named some of the obvious ones). Find stuff that turns you on and listen. Start picking up some of the lines by ear and don't worry about being funky. Anything that keeps you interested is probably worthwhile. I would encourage you to do as much reading on the historical/cultural aspect of the music as well (but that's just me). Also, check out some D.C. go-go (bands such as Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, Rare Essence, Familiar Faces) as it's some of the funkiest stuff being played live today. Same goes for a lot of the modern gospel stuff. If you want more specifics regarding albums/artists shoot me a P.M.

Oh, be sure and check out Me'shell Ndegéocello's first two albums.

Good advice. Listen to as much as you can. Try the Funkadelics. You'll never really get it, but should be able to get close enough to fool white kids.

[Starrchild]

Boosty Collins is a must for all Bass players.

[Beginner Bass]

The pitches aren't as important as the rhythym. Generally you can keep it simple by using the pentatonic over a chord. But you must always hit the 1 on each measure, or every 2, depending on how it's phrased. But rhythym is VERY important.

[Johnius]

I suggest checking out today's funk bands: Lettuce, The Clients Funk Society, Phat Fred, Deep Street Soul - those should get you started.

I own many Bootsy, Parliament and other old school funk records. IMO the playing on these older records is different and not what's going on today. I hear what I would call a lot of overplaying on early funk records. I'm definitely not knocking it - I love that stuff, just saying that I don't really hear it being done like that too much anymore.

[bass12]

Originally Posted by Johnius

I own many Bootsy, Parliament and other old school funk records. IMO the playing on these older records is different and not what's going on today. I hear what I would call a lot of overplaying on early funk records. I'm definitely not knocking it - I love that stuff, just saying that I don't really hear it being done like that too much anymore.

I'd say that's because a lot of what's being played today is funky but not necessarily funk. Funk was partly defined by the era in which it was born. Lots of social elements/context there that simply aren't/isn't the same today.

[Johnius]

Originally Posted by bass12

I'd say that's because a lot of what's being played today is funky but not necessarily funk. Funk was partly defined by the era in which it was born. Lots of social elements/context there that simply aren't/isn't the same today.

And CCR sounds different than One Republic because of social whatevers, but they're still both rock. If funk hadn't evolved would it even be worth listening to?

[bearhart74]

Start with George Porter Jr. One note CAN funk like crazy

[bass12]

Originally Posted by Johnius

And CCR sounds different than One Republic because of social whatevers, but they're still both rock. If funk hadn't evolved would it even be worth listening to?

If funk hadn't evolved would it even be worth listening to? If you like funk then yes.

[BuffaloBass]

Dont worry about slap. You dont need to. OK, maybe one technique, the octave thumb/pluck, you thumb the root, and pluck the octave. That's all you need as far as slap goes, fr now.

A few local drummer call me incredibly funky, I'm not sure I am, and I thinks its my white nazi-ness that freaks them out and makes them say this. ( I cant help my genes and baldness), but here's my "secret":

Funks in the spaces man, NOT on the 1/2/3/4 beats. Dig?

E.G. I have a habit of coming in on the "4 and" instead of the 1. I'll hit the "root" time on one, but 'burp' into it. I respect rests or "air" BIG time.

Anthony Wellington is working on something that will help a ton, but for now, you MUST practice your off time, i.e, playing notes NOT on the 1-2-3-4 beats but on the "e" and "ands" as in 1-e-and-2-e-and, etc..... do this and you WILL feel Da Funk. I dont mean missing the "one beat" unless it is musically correct to do so. I mean getting you comfortable with timing that is NOT 1-2-3-4 common time. That is not funky atall.

As a bass player, YOU set the pulse of the song. Remember, you are the "glue" between the percussion and melody of the tune, so you dictate the entire feel of the song. This is what I pay VERY strict attention to. Pulse.

Be cautious: as my funkability has grown , so has my lack of interest in certain genres of music that are simply too "white" for lack of a better word. This is not racism or jingosim here, I beleive it to be the natural progession of funkability, as I grew up exposed to only Euro style beats and rhythms.

There was a series of threads entitled Funk 101 or something, where folks would post good examples of funk, with emphasis on bass. If those links still work, you're golden. If not, and if you send me a digital device, I'll put all those on the device for you. As the TB community has helped me grow, we shall you.

Lastly, a good last minute Xmas present from your mom or dad would be " Standing in the shadows of Motown", by Dr Licks. . This is all about James Jamerson, and you'll get an audio CD. Its pre funk, to be sure, but man, you simply HAVE TO be exposed to James and try and copy his lines, his feel.

if you feel the need to learn slap ( which , your timing is the most ciritcal thing right now, imho), please consider Ant Wellington's online slap courses at www.musicdojo.com Much slap is done wrong, in fact most I see. I encourage you to learn it right, from the masters.

[gre107]

Listen to any and all Victor Wooten... everything he does is Funky!

[BuffaloBass]

Vic will scare ya with his techique! You will be able to do it evetually, but its not Funk, per se. Ant Wellington is Vic's bass tech btw. So I do consider them to be "the masters".

Why I came back, PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME. If you get good at the spaces, your timing MUST BE impeccible. You'll get to the poitn where you can "micro time" a little grease into the pulse, and then you KNOW you're A-FUNKIN'!

Dont just listen, listen and cop. Be dilligent.

[bass12]

Have a listen to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF-XDf_jf5w

Nile isn't a bass player but a lot of what he's saying here applies to bass.

[Norwoodrules]

I love playing the funk but i never really got the rhythm until i had a bass teacher show me "ghost notes"

Not sure what they are technically called, but its a technique where you pluck a muted string to create a thump between actual notes.

The trick is to mute the string with the left hand kinda over the note and pluck it even harder than you would a regular note.

It adds a dimension to the rhythm without interfering with a lot of notes.

I wish i knew what it was truly called, but it's a go to technique for me. Almost a habit by now.

[BuffaloBass]

Ghost notes is tehnically correct. In the lexicon of slap, they are called ghost thumbs, ghost plucks, depending on technique and they have their own notation.

The technique called an open hammer pluck is where Vic gets all his blazing 300 bpm speeds. Its the epitome of slap, imho.

[Basshappi]

Like Reggae, the groove of Funk is in the spaces. Fight the urge to fill them up. Melody is the icing, rhythm is the cake but don't step on the vocal line.

Unlike Reggae, Funk (at least traditional Funk) heavily emphasizes the first beat of the line. "Know The One and keep it holy."

The Meters were one of (some argue THE) originators of Funk music and even though James Brown is called "The Godfather of Soul" he could more accurately be called "The Godfather of Funk" and many musicians who went on to be influential in the Funk genre came through his band.

Study the works of the Funk bands of the 1970's as these bands developed and refined the Funk lexicon. Everything that has come after was built on their work.

Cheers!

[BuffaloBass]

One of Mr. Porter's "techniques" come up in an orignal song I did for a band. Its now being used to promote autism awareness...( In My World - Matthew's Song in iTunes) the key is to hold the 1 beat until the last possible millisecond and then 'unass it". Even in the studio, the engineer says, "man are you missing the time or are you right on". Of course, he found his answer, but by delaying the beat ( and I think we're dealing in millisenconds here) , which your ear would have anticipated, it give the whole phrase a "hook". sort of a nice aural anomoly.

So lessons of FUNK can reach far and wide..... please learn them DILLIGENTLY.

There a Meter's "greatest Hits" CD out there. Recommended highly. And you'll hear Gerorge's "greasy" timing on, I think the song is "Hey Pock-a-way" or some off name like that. No, no thats not it. Anyway....

I wish could go start a "fire in the bayou" right now!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

[guroove]

The first, most important step to playing the funk is to DIG it. You cannot fake the funk. You need to be down with James Brown. Sex Machine. Don't just listen to it, you have to get up and move your ****. Technique blah blah blah. You can lay down a nasty funk groove with one finger on your left hand and a nub for a right hand. It's not about anything but feeling the groove and getting nasty in between the beats.

[bassgod94]

Thanks so much guys! I love Vic Wooten, amazing bassist. You've all been a HUGE help. I already practice with a metronome, a good habit of mine from being an upright classical and jazz bassist first I suppose. It's all been great reading all this and sure it'll help me.