• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Unfunky......

#41
I had a similar situation in a blues/honky tonk situation. Drummer was/is very competent but was out of his comfort zone genre-wise. We had an open conversation with him telling him we wanted to give him a chance to get the hang of it, but when it came to bigger gigs, we might hire a more competent sub. He had a great attitude about it and after 6 months or so is really coming around and putting in the time to become familiar with the style of groove.

You could always lock them in a room and make them listen to James Brown for 6 hours straight. That might do it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlatwoundFunk and mrb327
#42
DWBass said:
Joined a new band in the vein of Tower of Power and Chicago. However, most of the band have zero to little funk chops. This is gonna be fun. Intro to Soul with a Capital S. Guitarist having timing issues when to start after the 5 hits. Ugh. Drummer doesn't play staccato enough to convey the funk. We just started so hopefully they will woodshed and fall in line.
Click to expand...
PUT THEM ALL IN THE MENS CRAPPING ROOM AFTER A GOOD BEER AND BEANS NITE.
Let the FUNK out or in them.
 
#43
DWBass said:
I can see I'm going to be a pain in the ass to these guys
Click to expand...
Maybe, but a good pain in the ass, if everybody will stick with it. I hear the possibility's. The drummer needs to tune his drums tighter as mentioned above, cut down on the fills until you get the song down, and learn how to lay back a bit on the beat. I know nothing about playing with horns but I would assume once the drummer gets it together time wise, the horns will hear what he's doing and fall in line. IMHO
 
#44
DWBass said:
Joined a new band in the vein of Tower of Power and Chicago. However, most of the band have zero to little funk chops. This is gonna be fun. Intro to Soul with a Capital S. Guitarist having timing issues when to start after the 5 hits. Ugh. Drummer doesn't play staccato enough to convey the funk. We just started so hopefully they will woodshed and fall in line.
Click to expand...

But do you like them and think they have the desire and ability to learn? If so I'd say you're lucky: you get to show them the way it's done and build the group around your experienced bass line - which is the way it should be anyway (imho)! May beat coming into a group as a newbie and trying to deal with unexpected expectations or egos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlatwoundFunk
#46
Florinda4 said:
But do you like them and think they have the desire and ability to learn? If so I'd say you're lucky: you get to show them the way it's done and build the group around your experienced bass line - which is the way it should be anyway (imho)! May beat coming into a group as a newbie and trying to deal with unexpected expectations or egos.
Click to expand...
I do like them. They are all cool. Just hoping they appreciate what I bring to the table and they step up their games. The BL is very stoked but he's overestimating their abilities. I do not want this to be a chart reading band like a big band. And when you have multiple weak links, none tend to step up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smogg
#47
DWBass said:
I do like them. They are all cool. Just hoping they appreciate what I bring to the table and they step up their games. The BL is very stoked but he's overestimating their abilities. I do not want this to be a chart reading band like a big band. And when you have multiple weak links, none tend to step up.
Click to expand...
Have you had a heart to heart with the BL yet?
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlatwoundFunk
#49
jive1 said:
IMO, the biggest reason why the song doesn't sound funky because the song isn't funky. Although it has a fun bass line and some cool syncopation and changes, I wouldn't consider it a funky tune. The one isn't in the song whether it's Chicago or your band, and as we all know you can't bring the funk if you don't have the one. I've done that song before, and I don't approach it as a funk song. If anything, I approach it as a prog pop tune with some swing in the middle section.
Click to expand...

Jong hit the nail on the head. And this sounded like an early runthrough of the song.

Are there wrong notes? Sure... that's why you work this stuff out. I'll be honest, I listened to the recording and didn't hear anything close to as dire a perfromance as some of you.

The drums for instance... what was so bad about them that couldn't easily be fine tuned? Is this a situation where the goal is a carbon copy of the record or is it a band playing a Chicago tune?

As far as funky goes, it's not a funky song. I was looking forward to the recording to see how it might morph into one. The original wasn't. It's a galloping jazz rock tune from the 70's, with 70's drumming and groove and orchestral horn hits..
:)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3Liter, FlatwoundFunk, foolforthecity and 1 other person
#50
DWBass said:
I do like them. They are all cool. Just hoping they appreciate what I bring to the table and they step up their games. The BL is very stoked but he's overestimating their abilities. I do not want this to be a chart reading band like a big band. And when you have multiple weak links, none tend to step up.
Click to expand...

I'm not hearing that with the clip. Can you point to anything in particular?

If they played the songs the way you'd prefer would charts still be a problem?
 
  • Like
Reactions: narud and FlatwoundFunk
#51
DrayMiles said:
You can't polish a turd... If they have riga-mortis in their funky bone, you'll come across in a negative vein trying to give them a funk injection with advice or opinions. Some folks fake the funk, others feel it. Some people don't like being told what to do... The funk can be smelly, but it should never be moldy. If the drummer and guitarist don't feel it, there's possibly way too much work involved for you. Frustration will come a knocking on your door... Resentment on theirs... IMO... Good Luck!

I have seen a light... I will investigate ("I am Nomad, I am purrfect... I am programmed to in-vest-i-gate.") :)

D.
Click to expand...

You can actually polish a turd ... but it is still a turd just shinier

 
  • Like
Reactions: DrayMiles
#52
Ed Fuqua said:
Talk about unfunky, being in high or tall cotton is a colloquialism for a GOOD place. Maybe you mean "in the weeds" which is a restaurant expression for being frantically busy and understaffed....
high cotton - Wiktionary

the definition of be in the weeds
Click to expand...
i have your excellent walking bassics. possible point of interest: about 35 years ago i visited chuck sher in his apt in the city ( upstairs unit, seems to me it was in noe valley, ) and bought his then recently published first book. i still have it. very nice dude.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ed Fuqua
#53
Brad Johnson said:
Jong hit the nail on the head. And this sounded like an early runthroug of the song.

Are there wrong notes? Sure... that's why you work this stuff out. I'll be honest, I listened to the recording and didn't hear anything close to as dire a perfromance as some of you.

The drums for instance... what was so bad about them that couldn't easily be fine tuned? Is this a situation where the goal is a carbon copy of the record or is it a band playing a Chicago tune?

As far as funky goes, it's not a funky song. I was looking forward to the recording to see how it might morph into one. The original wasn't. It's a galloping jazz rock tune from the 70's, with 70's drumming and groove and orchestral horn hits..
:)
Click to expand...
This song is not a good example of the funk thing. There are a lot of funky tunes on the list. This was actually one of the better rehearsal takes of this song. It was way worse. I'm going to keep recording rehearsals and document progress.
 
  • Like
Reactions: foolforthecity and Brad Johnson
#54
Brad Johnson said:
I'm not hearing that with the clip. Can you point to anything in particular?

If they played the songs the way you'd prefer would charts still be a problem?
Click to expand...
My hope is that this will be a band with real live interaction. Groove and feel. Charts are fine in the learning phase but my intuition is telling me they are going to always use the charts instead of just learning the song and learn their individual parts. We'll see. Just venting a little. I have my regular band and sub gigs to keep me sane! LOL
 
#59
DWBass said:
My hope is that this will be a band with real live interaction. Groove and feel. Charts are fine in the learning phase but my intuition is telling me they are going to always use the charts instead of just learning the song and learn their individual parts. We'll see. Just venting a little. I have my regular band and sub gigs to keep me sane! LOL
Click to expand...

I definitely come down on the other side of the chart/no chart issue. Considering it doesn't have to have a negative impact on band or audience interaction. And can actually allow some to play more complex music than memorization. I'll leave it at that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Passinwind

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back