I want to get into funk...

[Dbassboarder]

... but I really hate lessons, I always hated the feeling of someone always correcting me etc. etc. rant rant. Anyways what advice would you give to someone like me and what are some songs I should try my hand at?

[mcm]

Download the Sly Stone album "There's a riot goin' on" or anything from James Brown up until about 1975. It's Bad stuff. This stuff will get you started in the right direction!!

[MarkTAW]

There was a thread on this not more than a couple of days ago.

I assume by funk you mean "James Brown" and not "Parliament" ?

[DudeistMonk]

Someone on this forum was ranting on and on about how great "The Meters" are, and how they funkified his life...I bought their greatest hits yesterday (its all the store had)...He was right to rant on and on.

[Earthday]

"Hating someone correcting you" is pretty immature, in bass playing and in life. The point of lessons is to make mistakes and be corrected so that you can learn, rather than making mistakes on your own and continuing to do them. You'll make mistakes at lessons because a good teacher will get you doing things you wouldn't do on your own, and they're for your own good. You've either had some bad teachers or need an attitude adjustment IMO.

On topic, early Red Hot Chili Peppers is a great place to start, as is Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament.

[98dvl]

Go to Pandora.com

For a "funk" station, type in The Meters or any of the bands listed above.... Listen, listen, listen.

I did this at work the other day, sure makes the day go by a lot faster!

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by Earthday

"Hating someone correcting you" is pretty immature, in bass playing and in life. The point of lessons is to make mistakes and be corrected so that you can learn, rather than making mistakes on your own and continuing to do them. You'll make mistakes at lessons because a good teacher will get you doing things you wouldn't do on your own, and they're for your own good. You've either had some bad teachers or need an attitude adjustment IMO.

+1.

[jsingles]

Originally Posted by Earthday

"Hating someone correcting you" is pretty immature, in bass playing and in life. The point of lessons is to make mistakes and be corrected so that you can learn, rather than making mistakes on your own and continuing to do them. You'll make mistakes at lessons because a good teacher will get you doing things you wouldn't do on your own, and they're for your own good. You've either had some bad teachers or need an attitude adjustment IMO.

On topic, early Red Hot Chili Peppers is a great place to start, as is Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament.

+1

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by 98dvl

Go to Pandora.com

For a "funk" station, type in The Meters or any of the bands listed above.... Listen, listen, listen.

I did this at work the other day, sure makes the day go by a lot faster!

I like slacker.com better.

[dunamis]

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

Someone on this forum was ranting on and on about how great "The Meters" are, and how they funkified his life...I bought their greatest hits yesterday (its all the store had)...He was right to rant on and on.

+1

[Dbassboarder]

I've had a lot of bad teachers in the past (for sax and piano). Let me elaborate, by hating being corrected means I like to do things my own way, many of my teachers in past have made me use methods that made it uncomfortable for me to play or simply made no sense to me, while using my own methods I achieved the same goals at home quicker than at a lesson, plus I also just never like the set practice times (most of the free spots were only open in mid- late afternoon I normally like to practice at night)

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by Dbassboarder

I've had a lot of bad teachers in the past (for sax and piano). Let me elaborate, by hating being corrected means I like to do things my own way, many of my teachers in past have made me use methods that made it uncomfortable for me to play or simply made no sense to me, while using my own methods I achieved the same goals at home quicker than at a lesson, plus I also just never like the set practice times (most of the free spots were only open in mid- late afternoon I normally like to practice at night)

Finding the right teacher can be a lengthy process.

[ryco]

A steady diet of Tower of Power, Graham Central Station and Bros Johnson.

Repeat as necessary.

[mellowgerman]

you wanna get the funk? just watch this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZJb3x4ylCLc&feature=related

[doktorfeelgood]

Any recordings on the Motown or Stax labels will have some old school soul and funk but JAMES BROWN is DA MAN.
Get the cd's "The CD of JB Vol. 1" and "The CD of JB Vol. 2". They cover a lot of ground. Just immerse yourself in the style and if you can feel it, you'll get it. )-(

[JAUQO III-X]

This is a very informative thread.


Funk 101

[Basshappi]

Remember The One and keep it holy!

[jtallent]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

This is a very informative thread.


Funk 101

+1000 It will take you a while but listen to all of these tunes (a few links don't work anymore but there's a TON that do) and start trying to copy what you hear. Use the techniques and advice from thread that someone suggested a little earlier.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Dbassboarder

I've had a lot of bad teachers in the past (for sax and piano). Let me elaborate, by hating being corrected means I like to do things my own way, many of my teachers in past have made me use methods that made it uncomfortable for me to play or simply made no sense to me, while using my own methods I achieved the same goals at home quicker than at a lesson, plus I also just never like the set practice times (most of the free spots were only open in mid- late afternoon I normally like to practice at night)

Ah, you're one of those second-guessers. Yeah, lessons won't do you any good if you think you know more than the teacher.

[LowBSix]

Listen to EARTH WIND & FIRE.... Verdeen White,is on of the Holy Grail Groovers around. He's so deep he's down with the 'taters in da groooove! He's a King at not playing and making the entire track come alive. His brother of Maurice White wrote most of the songs and fronted the band with Philip Bailey, but he will help your funk playing just by figuring his parts out. I'm sure you can find the written parts in a sheet book of EWF. Then, check out Louis Johnson from the Johnson Brothers; same era and deep groovers.