What to play over 2 funky guitars??

Music_for_life · #1 11-15-2010, 08:35 PM

..In a hard rock context, A hard rock drum, two funky guitars..
It seems the bass here have to mantain striaght 8ts roots adding some fills here and there..
In this setting the guitars are funky and the bass as a supportive role, what do you recomend???
Can you recomend any bands that have this, so I can make a bass line cool and supoprtive at the same time..
I am thinking listening to living colour...can you recomend other bands that can help?

Music_for_life · #2 11-15-2010, 09:35 PM

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=kGBhGz...F9EB5&index=19
something like this imagine this type of riff and a straight drum with bass drum always on earth , what to play over that?

James Hart · #3 11-15-2010, 10:21 PM

monroe55 · #4 11-16-2010, 03:49 AM

Tell one of the guitardists to step off stage and go take a break. Let there be more space for you to shine.
Far as Im concerned, funk is for bass. Too much guitar in a funk situation is a turn off, especially when it compromises the bass line, IMO. Keep them guitardists strumming 9th/13th chords and little if nuthin else.

James Brown once said when auditioning his guitar player for his band "Can you play 13th chords?" The guitarist replied "Yes, of course," and James replied "Yeah, but can you play them all night?"

Nuff said.

Joe Nerve · #5 11-16-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

I believe this was the perfect post in answer to your question. Great examples of what I also pictured.

James Hart · #6 11-16-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I believe this was the perfect post in answer to your question. Great examples of what I also pictured.

Thanks Joe!

Music_for_life · #7 11-16-2010, 08:02 AM

But this is more hard rock oriented, the drums are like ac-dc, the guitars very funky.. The examples you gave have more sincopated rythms, great songs but what I am asking is different..

Music_for_life · #8 11-16-2010, 08:15 AM

The guitars riff fill more that this, I would define it as a fusion between blues and funk, similar to what a slap bassline would made...think of John Mayer type of riffs but heavier

James Hart · #9 11-16-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_for_life

But this is more hard rock oriented, the drums are like ac-dc, the guitars very funky

same answer actually...

"Hard Rock" and "Very Funky" are both vague, relative and subjective terms. I heard neither in the link you provided. Straight drums I do get and shouldn't affect your ability to write a slow pulse of a bass line that will support and enhance the 'Very Funky" guitars.

emblymouse · #10 11-16-2010, 08:52 AM

Without going into specifics, my advice is to play less and be judicious. Consider your role as allowing the funk to happen. It's the anticipation of the note that makes the groove and brings that satisfaction.
Do not try and 'out funky' these players. We bassists seem to think this is our domain. It is universal, and a mature player will hear and create space for it to happen. Mature listeners will applaud you for it.

dtiii · #11 11-16-2010, 08:58 AM

Referring back to a fairly recent past thread, it was made clear that funk is more or less a way of life. Part of living/playing it is knowing what it is. I think an important point being made by some of these responses is that you need to know what funk is before you can play it in any context. Therefore, it’s important that you listen to the old-school stuff to get a good foundation of what it means to be funk, not just as a bassist but on any instrument. (I would like to add Larry Graham and Graham Central Station to that old-school list… POW!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1IuD6F3R5I

Then follow it up with more contemporary stuff. Flea’s playing on Blood, Sugar… epitomizes the blend of old and new for me. (Especially when it first came out… can’t believe it’s 20 years already)

Hoover · #12 11-16-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monroe55

James Brown once said when auditioning his guitar player for his band "Can you play 13th chords?" The guitarist replied "Yes, of course," and James replied "Yeah, but can you play them all night?"

My audition (on guitar) with Glen Branca consisted entirely of pretty much the exact same question...except instead of "13th chords" it was "all-interval tetrachords in close position on a guitar tuned in minor seconds, through an amp turned up all the way."

Music_for_life · #13 11-16-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtiii

Referring back to a fairly recent past thread, it was made clear that funk is more or less a way of life. Part of living/playing it is knowing what it is. I think an important point being made by some of these responses is that you need to know what funk is before you can play it in any context. Therefore, it’s important that you listen to the old-school stuff to get a good foundation of what it means to be funk, not just as a bassist but on any instrument. (I would like to add Larry Graham and Graham Central Station to that old-school list… POW!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1IuD6F3R5I

Then follow it up with more contemporary stuff. Flea’s playing on Blood, Sugar… epitomizes the blend of old and new for me. (Especially when it first came out… can’t believe it’s 20 years already)

I`ve listened to the bands you listed, old school funk..I am more into rocco prestia or jaco funk grooves, or more into fusion...
But this is different, this guitar player has very funky blues with a southern rock vibe, similar to this song
http://rapidshare.com/files/431231251/04_Pista_4.mp3
With his style we are tryiong to make radio friendly songs, more related to rock and pop than to funk...but with his bluesy-funky riffs...so the drum is a hard rock drum comparable to ac-dc, and a funky guitar with a lot of texas flavour...
The bass sounds good playing straight 8ths with roots...I only think that I`ve never heard something like this, a very funky guitar, and the bass that stays doing the root at 8ths...I want to know how it is perceved from other bass players perspective..
Because to me funk needs some space..I want to make it funky and cooler..but to my ears it is a mess If I do that..clashes with the drums and the guitar loses it`s poweer..

tharv · #14 11-16-2010, 11:08 AM

Sometimes, the simplest answer is the best/right one. If a minimal line sounds right, that's what should be played. If there's already 2 guitars with moving lines in the song, why add to the confusion? Keep it simple & groove.....

As far as I know, we don't play OVER guitars. That's not our role in the band. We're support players. It's all about what's right for the song, not about what we want to play....

masterFlash · #15 11-16-2010, 11:45 AM

I checked out that track you posted. Between the guitar and the vocals there is alot going on. Pumping 8ths could work in sections of that song, but definitely not through out the whole thing. For the chorus or the solo it would be ok. But during the verse i don't think so. Of course for your specific songs it might. Pumping 8ths and 16ths is more of a punk feel than a funk feel though. So I think hit the ONE and use the other space to either support the melody or provide a counter point.