/ Register

"Good Times" by Chic

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by Gabu, Oct 23, 2001.

  1. Oct 23, 2001 #1
    Gabu

    Gabu

    Jan 2, 2001
    Lake Elsinore, CA
    Damn... It's so annoying... I am learning this song. Or I should say I have learned the notes of this song... I can play it... But it sure doesn't sound funky when I play it. Grrr! :mad:

    My band does a Funk set and part of it combines Good Times, Brick House and Love Roller Coaster... So I need to get these three down. But Dang. It's hard to get the Funk "feel"... Hmm...

    Oh, well... enough ranting! Time to play!! ;)
     
  2. Oct 23, 2001 #2
    JMX

    JMX Vorsprung durch Technik

    Sep 4, 2000
    Cologne, Germany
    The hard part is getting the staccato right.
    It might help to break down the bass line into small sections and to practice each one until you get them down. Plucking over the bridge pickup will help you to get the sound right.
     
  3. Oct 23, 2001 #3
    ColonelZulu

    ColonelZulu Not Impressed By Those Who Flaunt “Authority” Supporting Member

    Apr 14, 2001
    Pennsylvania
    This may sound stupid, but can you hum the line? Before I work on a new line, I keep the CD in my car and listen to it over and over. As I listen, I'm going...
    Dun--Dun--Dun
    Da-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-da-dun
    Dun--Dun
    Du-dat-un-dat-un-dat-da-dun.

    Then I try to learn it like JMX said; bit by bit. But, knowing the line speeds that up big time. There's somehting about feeling the song that helps you know what was in the bassist's mind. This helps me learn.
     
  4. Oct 23, 2001 #4
    MikeyD

    MikeyD

    Sep 9, 2000
    Yes, possibly, but it could also be your drummer. If the drummer isn't providing the right pattern and feel, the overall sound won't make it, no matter what you do. The bass and drums really have to work together to make it happen. Good luck.
    - Mike
     
  5. Oct 23, 2001 #5
    Gabu

    Gabu

    Jan 2, 2001
    Lake Elsinore, CA
    I have to accept responsibility this time though... I am playing with my CD. :D I am getting closer... The hard part for me is in the stanzas where it's E EE EE Ee E EE EE EFF#... Just to sit there and play the same note over and over with nothing but timing to create the mood. :p
     
  6. Oct 23, 2001 #6
    hujo

    hujo

    Apr 18, 2001
    Stockholm, Sweden
    My advice would to be record yourself, and listen. Listen to every note, every space before and after it, and try to figure out why it's not funking. I know, it's not done in a heartbeat, a good groove takes a lot of time and effort.

    What you don't play is the most important thing, IMO.
     
  7. Oct 23, 2001 #7
    Tapp

    Tapp

    Aug 29, 2001
    USA, Mississippi
    This may sound odd, but do you have the tone coming from your bass and rig? Many times if I don't have the same type of tone (or close to it) then it doesn't inspire me to get the feel of the tune. Keep working, you really have to get the feel for those funk tunes. Listen to some KCSunshine Band too and get the feel of those syncopated 16th notes.

    Tapp
     
  8. Oct 23, 2001 #8
    Gabu

    Gabu

    Jan 2, 2001
    Lake Elsinore, CA
    No tone controls! I practice with my acoustic, when not playing with the band. But thanks for the suggestion. The inspiration is there. I really love learning new things and it's hilarious to me that I am getting into learning these old disco tunes. I was such a metal head in the 80s... Death before Disco!! :D
     
  9. Oct 23, 2001 #9
    JimK

    JimK

    Dec 12, 1999
    "OK", I see the problem('cause I've been there!).
    If you're like me, you want your fretting hand to mirror the activity of your plucking hand or sumthin like that...
    Here's my suggestion-
    (Hopefully, you like football...)
    Sit in front of the tube, MUTE the strings with the fretting hand, & 'practice' only plucking figures on the "E"-string; then go to the "A"; then alternate between the "E" & "A"; etc...
    Then, practice something like, I dunno, a scale + the modes(?)...chord tones only, etc.
    Play 1/8th notes on each note before moving onto the next.
    Play triplets on each before moving on.
    Play 1/16th notes on each before moving on.
    Play a bar of 1/16th notes on each degree, etc.
    What ypu wanna do is gain 'independence' between the limbs/fingers involved.

    If you have a drum machine, program in some 'typical' Bernard Edwards' groove figures-
    That is, play-
    1_&a2_&a3_&a4_&a/

    Inverted-
    /1e_a2e_a3e_a4e_a/

    No DOWNbeats-
    /_e&a_e&a_e&a_e&a/

    Mix & match-
    /1e_a2_&_3e_a4_&_/

    On & on..,