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Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine)

M

monroe55

Mar 17, 2009
421
4
#1
Any one have a link to a video-demo or the standard notation for the riff Bootsy plays during the verses?

I know he varies it a lot but.....Specifically, I think I got the riff down except I think I'm hearing/missing these two high Eb octave notes he puts in there so funky-like. Not sure. If thats what he plays then, dam that's hard. If any one here plays this, you might know what Im referring to. Show me please.:D
 
#2
sorry, no link, but it's in the Alan Slutsky James Brown book -- which I can't find at the moment, but yeah I remember that lick specifically because it was pretty much the hardest thing in the book (with frets it's awkward, on fretless more like impossible).

the bit you're talking about is where it goes 1-8 1-8 (eighth notes) and then b7-1-1 (in sixteenths)? What worked for me is fingers 1-4 for the octave, 1-2 for the b7 to 1.

Anyway, yeah those upper Eb's are actually in there, hope that helps
 
#4
late_boomer said:
sorry, no link, but it's in the Alan Slutsky James Brown book -- which I can't find at the moment, but yeah I remember that lick specifically because it was pretty much the hardest thing in the book (with frets it's awkward, on fretless more like impossible).

the bit you're talking about is where it goes 1-8 1-8 (eighth notes) and then b7-1-1 (in sixteenths)? What worked for me is fingers 1-4 for the octave, 1-2 for the b7 to 1.

Anyway, yeah those upper Eb's are actually in there, hope that helps
Click to expand...

Not sure about that book. I remember the example in it. They really broke it down for you and even warned about Bootsy's variations but the line they play, although close, seems to be.....just off. I wish I had an isolated bass track from the original. Thanks for the response though. Appreciate it
 
#5
ha! I just dug out the record and checked. The upper Eb's are there, no question.

But I don't think (well actually I'm sure at this point) it's Bootsy playing them.

Sounds like a really muted guitar, just playing that one staccato note through that section. Once you realize it's not the bass playing that note, the thing comes into focus and there are several places where you can hear it'd be physically impossible.

which turns the hardest lick in the book into no big deal.

LOL, that's funnier 'n s***. I worked really hard to play that thing the way Slutsky wrote it. Oh well.

anyway, thanks for the heads up to check again. ;)
 
#6
I know this thread is old, but I was searching through Bootsy with James Brown threads and thought I'd add these two Sex Machine videos:


Bootsy:

JAMES BROWN Sex Machine 1971 - YouTube


Not Bootsy (anyone know the Bassist?):

Invalid Link Removed


It sounds pretty clear that the octaves are played by the bass. Also this kind of octave jump and rhythmic emphasis are the essence of what JB funk is all about. Watch the position shift in both videos. Doing that shift in the pocket unlocks the groove.

Bootsy baby!!!
 
#7
It's strange that you talk about Eb's as octaves when the song is clearly in D.The bridge is in G. The rolling riff is starting on the open A followed by the B,C,C# and D.The bridge starts on the G and uses two additional notes, the F and F#. Of course there are ghost notes and muting through out to make it funky.
 
#12
Still trying to figure out this bassline for years (with octaves and fills) to no avail. Can someone out there who really knows how this song is played please break it down for me? The videos on youtube really don't capture the feel of it and I feel the notes are kind of wrong, and all the transcriptions I find seem to be, as previously said, just "off"... I hope I'm mistaken, though.



Help!
 

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