"Easy"/Beginner Jazz/Funk/Surf Rock Songs?

[El_Charro]

Hi Everybody,

I'm still pretty new to bass and I've been mostly focused on playing Metal songs off of tabs the first few weeks to get me going.

One of the things that I've read is that even if you are a Metal bass player you benefit some from playing other genres of music, but more specifically jazz and funk music because it teaches you to think a little more outside the box.

I don't normally listen to that kind of music outside of a few Red Hot Chili Peppers songs (which I'm not even sure that really qualifies because although they have a few songs that lean towards funk style music they ultimately more of an alt-rock band in my mind).

Just wondering if any one here has any suggestions on possible songs I should try to learn to expand my musical horizons.

I noticed a few people on Talkbass have also mentioned that they like Surf Rock which I would also be willing to try, but not being very familiar with that genre outside of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack I don't really know what I'm looking for there.

I still consider myself a beginner as I'm not very good yet which is why I'm looking for something relatively easy to play at the moment.

While I have Googled a few things looking for an answer to my question, I thought this might be a better place to ask for suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[Interspace Station]

“Louie Louie.” - Frank Zappa

Joking aside, a lot of surf is based in 12 bar blues structures. A fav of mine (though not traditional surf) is Man...Or Astroman?, and while something like “Mouthful Of Exhaust” is pretty simple on bass, it will help your chops to play along with. Key aspect of playing bass is your timing, gotta lock down the rhythm.

Welcome and best of luck, I’m sure a lot of folks here will have plenty of suggestions.

 

[JimmyThunder]

walk don't run

 

[Killing Floor]

Pretty much anything by The Ventures.
Or since you dig metal check out Agent Orange from the '80's, basically same style but more brassy edge. And yeah, I know who wrote it. I just like these better.

 

[Ronzo]

The catalogs of:

• Dick Dale
• The Ventures
• The Beach Boys
• The Astronauts
• Los Lonely Boys
• Los Straightjackets
• Tito and the Tarantulas

Plenty there to get you started!

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

The catalogs of:

• Dick Dale
• The Ventures
• The Beach Boys
• The Astronauts
• Los Lonely Boys
• Los Straightjackets
• Tito and the Tarantulas

Plenty there to get you started!

This is a good list. A very good list, indeed.

 

[Ronzo]

Thanks, Jeremy!

 

[350125g0]

Check out the band Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. Absolutely monstrous sounding bass on those records.

 

[Robscott]

Pretty much anything by The Ventures.
Or since you dig metal check out Agent Orange from the '80's, basically same style but more brassy edge. And yeah, I know who wrote it. I just like these better.

Well okay but don't hold your bass like that

 

[Killing Floor]

So you don't like the death grip? I drive my car like that!

 

[Lesfunk]

Jazz- autumn leaves, blue bossa
Funk- Thank u for letting me (be mice elf again) - sly and the family stone
Good times-chic
Surf rock- wipe out, pipeline

 

[bassdude51]

Four fun Los Straitjackets songs for bass ...................

 

[skortch]

walk don't run

This is a good one to start. You can learn both the bass line and the guitar melody line and see how they work together with the drums. See if you can do it by ear, not tab or YouTube covers. Pretty sure it's all diatonic.

(That song was actually my very first learn-by-ear experience shortly after I first picked up the bass. Unfortunately, I learned the guitar line, not the bass line. Oops...)

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Truefire, this guy.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Pipeline
Diamond head
Wipe out
Apache
Surfer Joe
Surf city
Surfing USA

 

[rotero]

There’s a few more styles of funk than you might think. It’s not all slap. “Easy” fundamental grooves you need to dig: James Brown’s rhythm section (any good compilation) and The Meters. George Porter Jr is the king of laid back finger funk and was a major inspiration for Flea’s approach on Blood Sugar. These two styles are easy in terms of note choices but it’s all about commitment and jumping all over the groove. The pocket in New Orleans/Meters funk had a totally different feel than the JB funk. Both are essential and fun to play. After that follow Bootsy from JB to Parliament Funkadelic where he tears the roof off the funk.

 

[consectaneus]

The thing I've noticed about surf tunes is that when a cover band breaks into Pipeline and such, everybody perks up and women young and old reflexively do the swim and twist. Feel good music.

 

[design]

Booker T & the MGs - Time is Tight, Green Onions
The Meters - Cissy Strut, Chicken Strut
Sly & the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song, Thank u falletingme be mice elf agin
Cream - Sunshine of your Love, White Room
Black Sabbath - War Pigs, Iron Man, Supernaut
The Birthday Party - Nick the Stripper

Have fun!

 

[El_Charro]

Pretty much anything by The Ventures.
Or since you dig metal check out Agent Orange from the '80's, basically same style but more brassy edge. And yeah, I know who wrote it. I just like these better.

Thanks...I liked that Code Orange song.... \m/

 

[El_Charro]

Truefire, this guy.

———-
That was super helpful (thank you)....