I don't like funk.

[Burns-bass]

16 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

How are you defining a song or solo as emotion? Is it that it provokes emotion in you? That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t written or played without emotion. Theory (intellect) is just a tool to help you get to ideas quicker or understand the ideas of others (including their emotion at point of writing/ playing).

Im talking about music that grabs you emotionally and viscerally, not that which you need a text book to intuit.

 

It was directly in response to your point that suggested that the reason the person didn’t like funk or jazz was because they couldn’t understand it.

 

While I’m sure it wasn’t meant this way, it smacks of intellectual superiority which is (for me) the antithesis of what the arts should be about.

[Reggaebass]

56 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

I don't like slap either. I don't mind it as an accent tone (Billy Gould style) but constant slap just sounds awful to me

16 years zombie 🧟 thread 😁, I agree with you there Steve, I like some slap, I think forget me nots by Freddie Washington is a masterpiece but the crazy frantic slapping sounds terrible 

[OliverBlackman]

45 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

Im talking about music that grabs you emotionally and viscerally, not that which you need a text book to intuit.

 

It was directly in response to your point that suggested that the reason the person didn’t like funk or jazz was because they couldn’t understand it.

 

While I’m sure it wasn’t meant this way, it smacks of intellectual superiority which is (for me) the antithesis of what the arts should be about.

But to be moved by music, you need to connect with it whether through lyrics, arrangement or culturally. If you don’t have any understanding you’re less likely to connect with it. That’s the same for all art or language not just music.

 

I’m not at all more or less intellectual than anyone else on here, but I like funk and some jazz because I’ve learnt elements and I can connect with it. As above your connection could be different.

[Doctor J]

I think slap bass and funk are two very different things. Slap can be a feature of funk but, to me, funk is about punctuating space, the interaction between multiple instruments and silence, combining to create a very rhythmic whole. 
 

Someone is slapping a bass does not make it funk, frequently it's the very opposite.

[chris_b]

Funk isn't a technique.

 

It's about the groove and about syncopation.

 

In all styles of music there are good and bad examples, but start by getting your definitions right.

[diskwave]

I kinda agree with the Op and Ive played just about every kind of 'funk' there is over the years. Trouble is in its purest form its all about the ...'One' and that in itself can get pretty boring after a while. Also a lot of funk tunes dont really go anywhere... in short for me anyway they're kinda boring to play. But yeah if its in th set then you just have to play it.

[Al Krow]

13 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

Most funk I could take or leave but I can't stand Vulfpeck and the other bands of that style. It's music for musicians.

I don't like slap either. I don't mind it as an accent tone (Billy Gould style) but constant slap just sounds awful to me. YouTube slap is the absolute worst, a million notes a minute resulting in something sounding like a filing cabinet falling down a staircase.

 

Not a fan of Flea?

[Al Krow]

13 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

How are you defining a song or solo as emotion? Is it that it provokes emotion in you? That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t written or played without emotion. Theory (intellect) is just a tool to help you get to ideas quicker or understand the ideas of others (including their emotion at point of writing/ playing).

 

Well said. You could equally say that Bach was formulaic. As well as creating some of the finest music ever written.

[SteveXFR]

26 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

Not a fan of Flea?

 

Not a fan of RHCP at all. Too much slap and too many songs about California. I don't like slap or lyrics chosen purely for the number of syllables they have.

[mike f]

Avoid the bearded smug-funk for it is not so. Get P-Funk in your earhole.

 

“Those who know, know. And those who don’t, get funked up” - Bootsy Collins.

[AlexDelores]

I like to slap but she’s not so keen so I just pluck her. 
 

The old T’bird atleast. My new Jaguar is great for a bit of funkin’ 😏

[Frank Blank]

 

[dmccombe7]

i quite enjoy a bit of funk and i'm more a Rock/ Prog fan but that's what makes playing bass so interesting.

There are several different styles to pick and choose from. You don't need to like everything. I personally find that if you can incorporate a little bit of everything in your repertoire it can only make you a better overall player, and possibly put you in more demand as a bassist. 

Not being judgemental in any way here, i'm just really curious.

Do you incorporate any part of your funk experience / knowledge when you play live or even at home. ?

Do you think learning funk in the past has helped you at all. ?

 

Dave