Your jamming with some friends. Someone says "Play something funky."

[carlthegroover]

Don't have one, but last time I played something funky (kinda 70s disco-ish) I was only using the roots-octaves of two chords, and a chromatic run (again with roots-octaves) in each fourth bar... My bandmates loved it, and it's pretty much as simple as it gets.

More often, I do throw in the flattened 7th and the 5th. Sometimes even the 3rd works.

But, as someone said, funk needs space. I use staccato for that, plus a few pauses here and there.

P.S. I know that sounds like I know a lot about funk, but I think I just have a knack for feeling it... but that's me.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Jungle Boogie or Lets Groove Tonight

 

[dougjwray]

"Ice Ice Baby"

 

[Roscoe East]

Honestly, I don't have any friends who'd say that.

^^^This.

Although once about ~20 years ago some total stranger came up to me during soundcheck and said "Hey, bass player, hit me with something funky!". I played a loud accent-tenuto low E, then bobbed my head for the equivalent of 4 bars at 96bpm, then hit another loud accent-tenuto low E and continued my silent head-bobbing. He didn't stick around for the downbeat of bar 9.

 

[mongo2]

Just make up a riff based on root-octave-flat VII.

That's my starting point too. I may include some 2 note walkups to the V before starting the pattern again on the root.

 

[Gaius46]

Just about any james Brown tune.

This.

I've been noodling around a lot with "I Feel Good" and "Mother Popcorn" lately for some reason.

 

[CrewsControl]

That's my starting point too. I may include some 2 note walkups to the V before starting the pattern again on the root.

And if you're feeling lazy, or uninspired, just keep playing "For the Love of Money" and it's still cool.

 

[dustinfennessey]

What's your go to bass line?

There would probably be an awkward silence...then i'd pinch myself to make sure i wasnt sleeping...and then probably lots of laughter

post metal bands dont do funk