How to make bluesy funk licks using pentatonic

[wompwomp]

scat a solo vocally and then transcribe it to bass!

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have enough proficiency to improvise a solo using a pentatonic scale...[snip]...they work well, but they feel just bland; they lack any character.

Two thoughts:

1) Don't use the pentatonic scale. Wrong tool for the job. If you want bluesy/funky (in the stank-a-licious note choice sense, not talking about rhythm) you need more half-step intervals in your pitch class collection. Look at variations on the "Blues Scale" which include chromatic passages as part of their construction.

2) Do use the pentatonic scale...but not the pentatonic scale in the key center (or relative minor) of the song you're playing. Use offset pentatonics; e.g., if "Low Rider" is in G minor, instead of playing everything in G minor pentatonic, try using Db major pentatonic, or Bb minor pentatonic, or Ab minor pentatonic...superimposing those collections over the G minor pentatonic vamp gives you loads of piquant, bluesy/funky note choices that'll make every listener bob their head and make the stank-face (provided you resolve back to G eventually).