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How to get a Funky Feel?

#61
JimK said:
Yes, "play" the spaces (does not = fill them up). It is here where how you play a note matters (staccato? legato? tied across the barline?, etc).

And-
IMO, KNOW where the "1" is...does not = (always) playing on the "1".
"Play the 1" for Funk is about the same as "Don't play the 1" when others give their .02 on Reggae bass.
There's a ton of off-beat/displaced Funk out there besides James Brown's "Hit the 1" style.
;)
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16th notes syncopations are where it's at! :p

I think the other thing people haven't mentioned yet, about most funk grooves is that the whole band will create an interlocking groove, across maybe a 2-bar pattern.

So - as bass player, your line might well be fitting in the spaces of 2 rhythm guitar parts, as well as drums and keyboards - if you all, play all the notes, it will sound too cluttered - but in the best funk tracks you hear how everything fits together - less is more!
 
#62
Spin Doctor said:
Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can teach yourself. That is definitely the long route toward mediocrity. Get lessons..
Click to expand...

True, but there's a lot you can profitably teach yourself.

studybass seems like a good place to start, from the bit I've poked around on there, and has the advantage of being free.

Ed Friedland's Hal Leonard Bass Method is pretty damn good, $16 on Amazon.

But do try to get lessons, even if you're learning on your own a good teacher will help you tie it all together.
 
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#63
Here's a more technical tip that doesn't require knowledge of theory...

Try to focus on and be in control of the length of your notes. Many bass players starting out (even the ones who are pretty sure they have a good handle on certain things) focus on the starting point or attack of their notes but give little or no thought to being in control of the decay of the note or when the note ends. Try playing lines where you end the note in perfect time. In other words, attack the rests. There are many things to check out and learn but you will definitely not be able to get too funky if you are not in control of your note durations.
 
#64
Bruce Lindfield said:
When I was learning to play there was no internet and it was just about listening to records and getting out there to see gigs and play with other people!

Plus they do say that the Devil has all the best tunes and I think that applies even more to funk grooves!!;)
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:eek: hahaha well if we are going on stereotypes... God has the Gospel and Soul and the Devil has the Blues and Jazz... and funny how I love all of it. My friends get on me CONSTANTLY for using syncopation. "8th notes!" "quarter notes!" "lay off the funk!" "I think this is a root note song with less chordal notes"... that last one seems to be a bit offensive :spit: :bassist:

My favorite song that uses heavy syncopation in "Rob the Prez-O-Dent"
 
#65
Ok I haven't read the whole thing and I'm sure there are some great answers in here and some bad ones too.

To me a Funk feel is when you bring some "excitement" to the groove. It is usually a little syncopation in the basic rhythm that brings that little extra spice to the groove. What is even more funky is when you don't do it too because everybody is coping on you and YOU bring the ONE to the ground !
;)
 
#66
Bruce Lindfield said:
I think the other thing people haven't mentioned yet, about most funk grooves is that the whole band will create an interlocking groove, across maybe a 2-bar pattern.

...but in the best funk tracks you hear how everything fits together - less is more!
Click to expand...

Next time I get the chance, I'm asking the guys to play a "funky" F9 vamp in a 2-bar pattern...the only note I play will be an Open "E" on the "& of 4" in the 1st bar. One 1/8th note in bar 1...with a whole rest in bar 2.
And I bet it will be real difficult not playing the "F" on Beat 1.
 
#67
one thing we haven't talked about is the value of tension and release...

even if you're just hitting the ONE every bar, you're releasing tension that's been built up by the absence of bass... the listener's 'internal music processing mind' is grateful to be given the reassurance of that beautiful thick thumping root note

your own funky lines should have their own way of building tension, which is released regularly, in the right places.. they should have their own internal drama.... not too static, not to dramatic.. according to your taste

we don't need to go into ways of creating tension & release in your bass lines, but obviously you need to think about rhythmic tension, melodic tension, what direction your note choice is suggesting, and and which times you pull the rug out from under the listener and at which times you confirm their expectations... think about what the effect on the 'narrative' structure of your line is by how and when you use differences in timbre, note duration, note dynamics, note densities

if you listen to a lot of great funk lines, there's usually much repetition, but within that, a lot of tension being built up and resolved... even in the Rocco/Jaco 16th note streams, you'll hear them creating and resolving tension with the direction the streams are leading you
 
#68
I used to teach music theory to high school kids. One thing that I have learned about teaching and using theory over the years is that it is a tool box. In other words, learn the theory that you need to know to get the job done.

Need to tighten a screw? Use a screwdriver. Need to learn funk? Learn 16th note subdivisions and how the minor third can help you.

In other words, don't be afraid to learn theory. It's a great tool. But that is WHAT it is a tool. It's not music, just a toolbox for when you need it.

:)
 
#71
gm2_in_co said:
I posted this in the other Funk thread going on right now, but it bears repeating: I listened to vintage War last night. Funk really doesn't have to be that difficult. If you can't play what the War bassist plays, you can't play period.
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True, those parts are generally simple, but they are DRIPPING in greasy funk! I agree they'd be good to study. The feel is there, the tone, the note choice--the whole package has to be complete for the funk to really happen! I would put working on fancy-pants slapping on the back burner until you've learned to really bring the funk playing fingerstyle (or, with a pick even--that's right, you can play crazy funky with a pick too).
 
#74
Don't forget to listen to music where the bass isn't necessarily bass guitar but synth bass, samples of other instruments, hiphop where there's no bass other than 808 kick, whatever. All manner of groove music is valid to check out, from totally electronic dance to James Brown classics.
The more you listen, the more it will be revealed (as with any genre) that less is always more. The funkiest players I know don't slap a note and never bust out "look at me" licks or solos. But they are DEEP. And they get hired.
 
#75
Well ive started learning some basic theory (and i do mean basic, right from the beggining, scales, what chords are etc.) and just a few things like forming chords and arpeggios on my bass, I can see has already helped my playing on the whole (not just funk). So apologies for my earlier attitudes towards Theory. :)
 
#76
check this out, think of the pop as a snare drum, and the slap as a kick drum, watch this, and think of it as drums, not bass, add notes later. and yes experience, as in more practice time never hurts.
he has a whole video where he talks about "inventing slap" and such, you'll have to look for more.

and if you ever get your theory together you can grasp Alexis slap bass lessons, just youtube that. blues patters and such,
 
#79
Listen, listen, listen and listen some more.

Funk is one of the best styles of music for bass players and probably the biggest challenge.
Some great players to seek out and really listen to their playing:
James Jammerson (he's the foundation -where funk came from - Motown)
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power)
Wilbur Bascomb (Jeff Beck "Wired" - more fusion but Head For Backstage Pass is some funky sh*t)
Bootsy (anything Parliament / P-Funk)
George Porter, Jr. (The Meters)
Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan - Chuck can make three notes groove and funk better than anyone else).

If you listen to these guys (and funk in general) enough - it will rub off. Funk and groove is contagious.

I'll also agree with a lot of posts in this thread that 16th notes, syncopation and some basic theory (fifth and popping octaves etc.) will help. But I can't understate the importance of feeling it. I saw a War reference earlier - learn Low Rider - it's not flashy but is a great foundation of funk song.

Hope this helps. Keep it funky!
 

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