No band, no players, no progress. What do I do?

mebusdriver · #1 08-24-2008, 12:24 PM

Alright here it goes. I live in a pretty small town with a VERY limited number of musicians. We do have some really good ones, but they all have insane schedules (Air Force Band), and we do have some really bad ones (hardcore kids), in that, I'm not interested. We also have a VERY limited amount of venues, which seems like is happening everywhere, so there's not a lot of playing out or people to sit in/jam with, if at all.

I'm really bummed about this because my playing "taste" has changed a lot lately and I really wanna work on some new things. I'm finally EXCITED about bass again (hundreds of shows and crappy bars burnt me out) and I really wanna improve as a player. I've been checking out Marlowedk, if you haven't seen or heard him you need to youtube him, and he's put me in major funk mode and I just can't find a way to practice the good ole grooove sitting here in my room. I also don't know a whole lot about the funk sound, as far as licks and note groupings etc., so I really need to learn some good ole funk. I've also been inspired to finally work on slapping technique.

So... can you guys recommend some intermediate funk recordings that would benefit my playing? Give me some ideas of what you guys to do practice this style? Recommend some good slap learning materials or practice suggestions. And help me find a way to simulate some groove at the house.

I'm reallllllly motivated right now. But I just don't have any direction and there isn't a teacher around. PLEASE HELP ME!!

Ps. I just bought a music sequencer to get some drums going. I hope that's a step in the right direction.

**Stumbo** · #2 08-25-2008, 02:28 PM

Pages and pages of funk:
Funk 101

fenderhutz · #3 08-25-2008, 02:28 PM

Practice? Read a book?

**Stumbo** · #4 08-25-2008, 03:40 PM

Check out youtube.com for slap/funk bass lessons.

**Stumbo** · #5 08-25-2008, 03:41 PM

Check out the TB stickies.

stevek · #6 08-25-2008, 03:49 PM

The Meters - Fire on the Bayou. Great fingerstyle funk from George Porter Jr.

WhiteKnuckles · #7 08-26-2008, 09:42 AM

If you're really wanting to work up some funk...you could always order a copy of SlapIt! and woodshed. Just make sure to get the version with the CD included.

It actually helped me with a few things...the technique (obviously), rhythm, and sight reading.

**Pacman** · #8 08-26-2008, 03:53 PM

Call one of those guys at the AF Band and see if they'll take you on as a student....I know some of the guys there, and they're a valuable resource.

shatterd · #9 08-26-2008, 04:07 PM

Ed Friedland has a good slap instructional DVD.

Check out the band 'The New Mastersounds'. Their bass player is real funky. Start with the one titled 'This is What We Do'.

EclecticElectrk · #10 08-26-2008, 04:11 PM

stanley clarke, larry graham, sly and the family stone, earth wind and fire, otis redding, marcus miller, victor wooten, and if your feeling strange, Primus.

mebusdriver · #11 08-26-2008, 07:59 PM

Thanks a lot. I've heard a lot of good things about the Slap It! book, guess I'll have to pick that up. Wooten and Clark are a little over my head, my ear sucks right now. Been diggin Primus for years, but i like them for reasons other than bass playing. Just got some Sly Stone and Jamiroquai. And I guess I'll try to get ahold of the AF guys. I was great friends with the last bass player but he got shipped off to Hawaii. Thanks for the links.

TB RULES.

Orangeclawhamme · #12 08-27-2008, 03:36 PM

I learned a song that I could sing and play bass on and played it at a coffee house last Friday. Nothing complicated. I platyed "Boris the Spider". Didn't make too many mistakes.

DudeistMonk · #13 08-27-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Thanks a lot. I've heard a lot of good things about the Slap It! book, guess I'll have to pick that up. Wooten and Clark are a little over my head, my ear sucks right now. Been diggin Primus for years, but i like them for reasons other than bass playing. Just got some Sly Stone and Jamiroquai. And I guess I'll try to get ahold of the AF guys. I was great friends with the last bass player but he got shipped off to Hawaii. Thanks for the links.

If you like Les check out the "purple onion" album...my drummer turned me on to it. I'm not a huge Primus fan but Frog Brigade...I'm going to wear a hole in that section of my hard drive.