Funk without a drummer

Tbeers · #1 04-14-2007, 10:15 PM

I like to play a lot of funky stuff, and I also end up with a bunch of gigs where there's no drummer. How do you deal with that kind of situation? Sometimes I find it tough to keep the groove going, in terms of what lines to play, etc. I wonder whether anyone here on TB has pointers for playing funk on DB, especially without the luxury of a drummer.

For reference purposes, I'll include a link to a short recording from a gig earlier this week. It's just me backing a piano solo.
http://www.princeton.edu/~tbeers/funkytime.mp3
That's the kind of thing I'm talking about... but general comments on the topic would be great, too. Thanks!

neal davis · #2 04-15-2007, 01:29 AM

I personally just try to lay it down drummer or no drummer, if you are confident of your groove and timeplaying you don't need a drummer, believe in the stuff you are playing and just try and groove your butt off.

HaVIC5 · #3 06-02-2007, 01:39 AM

Pardon the food metaphor, but....

Funk without a drummer is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly. It still taste's pretty decent, but it isn't a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Funk without the bassist, however, is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the bread - just a big mess.

My advice is if you can't find a drummer, it's not the end of the world, but don't try and make the music something its not.

bassist1962 · #4 06-02-2007, 08:21 AM

In the BG world, Larry Graham started the whole slap/pop thing due to the lack of a drummer. If DB slap technique would help create that same type of percussive groove, then I would say go for it.

anon_6j591b0 · #5 06-02-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

My advice is if you can't find a drummer, it's not the end of the world, but don't try and make the music something its not.

Hmmmmm.........
If you bring Zigaboo Modelistse in yer head you hear him clearly enough the audience will hear him too....and if you play with conviction the music will always be everything it is.

mchildree · #6 06-02-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbonny

Hmmmmm.........
If you bring Zigaboo Modelistse in yer head you hear him clearly enough the audience will hear him too....and if you play with conviction the music will always be everything it is.

That makes a lot of sense. I play in a trio w/two acoustic guitarists, and we do quite a few different types of music and some of it grooves pretty well. I try to do just this thing Jeff mentions here.