chuck_stones Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Hi all, Recently I realised that to be the bassist I'd like to be, I've got to nail playing funk and disco basslines. So, as my knowledge of these areas is a little shaky (I know loads of tunes by ear, but no idea what they're called or who they're by), I'm wondering whether you guys could post your suggestions of essential funk and disco basslines. As an example, I've just been grooving to 'Ain't no stopping us now' by McFadden and Whitehead and 'Disco Inferno' by the Trammps. Does anyone have any other suggestions of basslines that I should know if I want to improve my funk and disco playing? Bearing in mind I'm new to this, some easy suggestions would be welcomed and also some more challenging ones. Additionally, if anyone has any good exercises that can be used to improve 16th note grooves, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 There's 14 pages of great funk here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70165"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=70165[/url] A lot of these won't fall into the easy category but loads of material to check out for some inspiration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) Wild & Peaceful by Kool And The Gang, the album. Everything you need is contained within. Edited January 23, 2011 by Doctor J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) Here's some from our current set - Long Train Running - The Doobie Bros Little L - Jamiroquai Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai Canned Heat - Jamiroquai Bad Girls - Donna Summer I Like It - Brand New Heavies Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry Shake Everything Youve Got - Maceo Parker Superfly - Curtis Mayfield Turn On Tune In Cop Out - Freak Power Ladies Night - Kool & the Gang Last night a DJ saved my wife - Indeep Groove Is in the Heart - Deelite Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder Theme From Starskey & Hutch - JTQ Thats the Way I Like It - KC & the Sunshine Band Get Down Tonight - KC & the Sunshine Band Superstition - Stevie Wonder Disco Inferno - The Trammps Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield Car Wash - Rose Royce You Should Be Dancin' - Bee Gees Cold Sweat - James Brown Sex Machine - James Brown I wish - Stevie Wonder Edited January 23, 2011 by crez5150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The Meters - Cissy Strut Aaron Neville - Hercules The Fatback Band - (Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop Rufus - Once You Get Started Herbie Hancock - Just Around the Corner Herbie Hancock - Hang Up Your Hangups The Gap Band - Shake Cymande - Brothers On the Slide Chic - Everybody Dance Sister Sledge - Thinking of You Narada Michael Walden - I Should Have Loved Ya Chaka Khan - What Cha Gonna Do For Me Michael Jackson - Get On the Floor Slave - Just A Touch of Love Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots Ohio Players - Who'd She Coo? The J.B's - Superbad The Bar Keys - To Hot to Stop To name a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='risingson' post='1099730' date='Jan 23 2011, 03:26 PM']Narada Michael Walden - I Should Have Loved Ya[/quote] Wey Hey, what a great tune and stonking Bassline. Aye no corrida - Quincy Jones Stuff Like That - Quincy Jones Stomp - Brothers Johnson. Garry Edited January 23, 2011 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 [i]Anything[/i] featuring Larry Graham or Louis Johnson! Bernard Edwards too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Might also be worth getting "70s Funk & Disco Bass" book by Josquin des Pres, no tuition but 101 bass lines in notation, tab and CD. It's bit cheesy and gets a bit samey about halfway through but there are some fun lines and lots of 16th ghost notes to get to grips with. It's no substitute for listening and playing the tracks recommended above though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_stones Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Hi guys, sorry it's taken me a while to respond, it's been a busy week. Thanks heaps for all the suggestions, I'm in the process of working through a load. I'm also hoping to purchase a USB soundcard soon so I can start recording on my computer - when I do, I'll record some samples or something - some constructive criticism is always welcomed I'm currently trying to suss out the main riff in 'I should have loved ya' by Narada Michael Walden (seriously awesome bassline) but I'm really struggling to get the timing of the 16th notes on the G and Octave right. No matter how many times I listen to it, I can't seem to get it - any pointers? Another work in progress is the main riff to 'Aint' no stopping us now' by McFadden and Whitehead, but again I'm struggling with the 16th notes in it, I guess the only remedy there is practice, practice, practice? @Conan - hell yeah, Bernard Edwards is THE man!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 The 'Funk And Groove' thread is the place to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan2112 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3Jc54k1Es"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3Jc54k1Es[/url] Why not have Guy Pratt tell you Funny story at the start too! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckedUpFunkies Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 +1 to Louis Johnson and Jamiroquai. Check out STOMP and Get the Funk Out of my face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) Just trying to get this sorted out myself - If you get it before me please let me know... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVBaCAhgRPA&feature=fvw"] Edited January 30, 2011 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Clayton Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Without wanting to plug my own work toooo much, you could do worse than to check out this transcription book that I wrote a couple of years back which covers the funk and disco grooves of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards: [url="http://www.basslinepublishing.com/nile-rodgers-and-bernard-edwards-funk-and-disco-grooves.html"]http://www.basslinepublishing.com/nile-rod...co-grooves.html[/url] The book contains guitar and bass transcriptions to all the hits that Nile and Bernard wrote with Chic, Sister Sledge and Diana Ross. Obvious highlights - as mentioned by some of the other posters - are 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times', but for Bernard at his best, you should check out his lines on 'My Feet Keep Dancing', 'Thinking Of You', 'My Forbidden Lover' and of course 'Everybody Dance'. Phenomenal playing and some of greatest funk/disco that you could ever want to listen to! Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 [quote name='Stuart Clayton' post='1108551' date='Jan 30 2011, 07:46 PM']Without wanting to plug my own work toooo much, you could do worse than to check out this transcription book that I wrote a couple of years back which covers the funk and disco grooves of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards: [url="http://www.basslinepublishing.com/nile-rodgers-and-bernard-edwards-funk-and-disco-grooves.html"]http://www.basslinepublishing.com/nile-rod...co-grooves.html[/url] The book contains guitar and bass transcriptions to all the hits that Nile and Bernard wrote with Chic, Sister Sledge and Diana Ross. Obvious highlights - as mentioned by some of the other posters - are 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times', but for Bernard at his best, you should check out his lines on 'My Feet Keep Dancing', 'Thinking Of You', 'My Forbidden Lover' and of course 'Everybody Dance'. Phenomenal playing and some of greatest funk/disco that you could ever want to listen to! Stu[/quote] Everybody dance...... that is an absolute killer to play.... took me ages to get up to speed with that one... great tune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Clayton Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 [quote name='crez5150' post='1108557' date='Jan 30 2011, 07:50 PM']Everybody dance...... that is an absolute killer to play.... took me ages to get up to speed with that one... great tune[/quote] If you can do it with the Bernard Edwards 'chucking' technique then my hat is well and truly off to you!! Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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