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What Do I Want to Learn to Get Funky?

#41
Bassic Playing said:
Hey all,

I mostly play metal on bass, generally of the stoner variety, but I'm keen at the moment to play some stuff on the side that's just a bit of fun. The kind of stuff people can dance to, funky dancy discoey stuff. Problem is, I don't really listen to stuff like that, apart from perhaps early RHCP, which I like very much. What songs/artists can I learn to help me get my groove on? Jamiroqui? Other stuff? I listen to metal, jazz, and southern soul kind of stuff, so I am a pretty naive about this area of bass playing. Any help appreciated.
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As others have said, I think you start with James Brown.

TB members are mistaking Groovy for Funky. Groovy is not the same as Funky!

Medley of varies types of FUNK!/6:19 mark is the epitome of harding hitting "Funk"
 
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#42
Bassic Playing said:
I'm keen at the moment to play some stuff on the side that's just a bit of fun. The kind of stuff people can dance to, funky dancy discoey stuff. What songs/artists can I learn to help me get my groove on?
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A bit left of field - funky/groovin' basslines can fit into and really make a song. Lesson in point here....

Not exactly disco, but really gets people dancing, a bassline that is a lot of fun to play, and grooves nicely.

A lot of cool chord changes too, it will help break the 'play one chord only' mindset that dominates a lot of funk.
 
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#43
One of the hardest things for rock guys to get a handle on is where to put the major pulse of the measure - in funk, it moves from 2 and 4 to 1. Funk has a big, fat pulse on 1. And 2 belongs to the drummer. Lay out on 2.

here's one on my fave little known funk bands.

 
#56
wes stephenson said:
That's not Bootsy. That's not even bass guitar. That's Bernie Worrell.
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Actually it is Bootsy playing along with Bernie. He used a Mu Tron pedal. Here's an article on the latest version of the Mu Tron pedal:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

...and here is a video of a bass player playing the Flashlight bass line with a Mu Tron pedal:

 
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#59
bassbooty said:
Actually it is Bootsy playing along with Bernie. He used a Mu Tron pedal. Here's an article on the latest version of the Mu Tron pedal:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

...and here is a video of a bass player playing the Flashlight bass line with a Mu Tron pedal:

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From Wikipedia:
"The song's distinctive bass line is often attributed to Bootsy Collins and was originally written for him. However, the line was actually performed by Bernie Worrell on three connected Minimoog synthesizers.[3] Collins still contributed to the track by handling drum duties. Lead vocals were by bandleader George Clinton, while Bootsy's older brother Catfish Collins played rhythm guitar. "Flash Light" continued the "Fake the Funk/Your nose will grow/Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk" concept that began with Bootsy's Rubber Band's "The Pinocchio Theory". The success of "Flash Light" would greatly influence not only funk music, but also new wave and hip-hop."
Could totally be wrong but even when Bernie does all those embellishments the tone never changes.
 

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