Best Soul/RnB/HipHop Bassists to Listen to

christianharger · #1 09-10-2011, 10:28 AM

I've been really, really gravitating toward the groove side of things in my bass playing. I want to expand my listening / playing styles to incorporate some more artists / bassists in the genres of Soul, RnB, Hip Hop, Funk, etc. Who are some bands or bassists who's music I should get my hands on and eventually play along with?

For reference, the style that I'm most referring to here would be along the lines of The Roots and Mister Barrington (Owen Biddle's new project). The grooves and fills and lines and runs and pocket and feel just KILL me. I need more.

loopmantra · #2 09-10-2011, 11:43 AM

herbie hancock "the headhunters" -one of the origins of hiphop music
parliament funkadelic-any album is good
urban dance squad,erikah badu,james brown(with bootsy collins in line up ofc.)
can't think of more right now....

SoCal1 · #3 09-10-2011, 12:02 PM

Jamerson and Ronnie Baker for Soul/R&B...Pino Palladino for Hip Hop... Larry Graham or perhaps Louis (thunderthumbs) Johnson for "slap-pop" funk...and Rocco Prestia for fingerstyle funk...Those would be my recommendations...

aguacateojos · #4 09-10-2011, 12:21 PM

I think one of the best sources for funk bass these days is Neal Evans, the keyboard player in Soulive - his left hand is incredible. Perfect feel and syncopation... just a joy to hear. So check Neal and Soulive out for sure.

For folks who play the electric bass, Ace Livingston, Sharay Reed, Chris Loftlin and Derrick Hodge will melt your face off.

christianharger · #5 09-10-2011, 01:29 PM

This is great, guys. What about specific ways to work on this style of playing? The groove aspect seems to be innate and feel driven, which makes it hard to practice, but is there any way to practice these things? It seems like a lot of the runs are based on minor scales and/or dorian modes and such.

SoCal1 · #6 09-10-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianharger

This is great, guys. What about specific ways to work on this style of playing? The groove aspect seems to be innate and feel driven, which makes it hard to practice, but is there any way to practice these things? It seems like a lot of the runs are based on minor scales and/or dorian modes and such.

Stay away from Um-Pa-Pa and work on your syncopation and play with "feel"...

loopmantra · #7 09-11-2011, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianharger

This is great, guys. What about specific ways to work on this style of playing? The groove aspect seems to be innate and feel driven, which makes it hard to practice, but is there any way to practice these things? It seems like a lot of the runs are based on minor scales and/or dorian modes and such.

use the oldest trick in the book> play on "1" and "3" not on "2" and "4",someone said that's the best way to distinguish black player from a whiteboy( RACISTS!),unbelievebly,but most of the time -TRUE
almost all of the reggea songs have bass accented the "3"

Jhengsman · #8 09-11-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianharger

This is great, guys. What about specific ways to work on this style of playing? The groove aspect seems to be innate and feel driven, which makes it hard to practice, but is there any way to practice these things? It seems like a lot of the runs are based on minor scales and/or dorian modes and such.

Listen to Master Wooten's advice and get the feel, the grove, first and then worry about the notes. Listen to what you want to play and then play with people using that style if possible, if not play along with recordings. In the end you will develop a hybrid form which will be your style.