Easy Funk basslines

[bass_dinger]

12 hours ago, bassfan said:

Have a go at September - Earth Wind & Fire  . . . .

Here you go.

I find this version very helpful -  it contains both the notation, and the tab and I can slow it down to 3/4 speed.   I can see the offbeat notes on the first and third bars of this screenshot.  And as we all know, offbeats are funky....  

He has even transcribed the mistake (or tape drop out?) at 0'16".  Wonderful.

[Stub Mandrel]

 

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/isaac-hayes/theme-from-shaft-bass-2375769

(this is the more accurate tab, although the other one is easier to follow)

[Reggaebass]

Great suggestions here, thank you, I’ll be getting my funk on 😁

[P-Belly Evans]

Although not particularly easy, I find playing along with this whole album  (either bass or guitar)  akin to a full on workout. It will first and foremost teach you the importance of rhythm and discipline to funk. It will also  tighten your timing and feel unbelievably, as well as giving you the strength of a gorilla in both left and right hands and arms - a must for keeping that focus on the 1 for prolonged periods 🔥🔥

 

Edited January 21, 2021 by P-Belly Evans

[stewblack]

Great thread, I spent a happy hour playing It Ain't No Use by the Meters last night. 

The joy of it is the bit that sounds complicated actually isn't and there's plenty of space around the main groove to improvise

[musicbassman]

Wow - those James Brown tracks - just spent a happy couple of hours playing along to a pile of old stuff I haven't blown the dust off for a good while.

P-Belly Evans is right - a great bass workout, and enormous fun to play. And apparently any key you like, as long as it's D

Not quite sure I feel like a Sex Machine yet, but there's still time........... 

[Leonard Smalls]

I learned how to get a bit funky by playing along to Bootsy records, starting with this one:

 

While it's easy to work out the notes it's the feel that counts - especially when it gets to the dirty groove at 2 mins...

[Reggaebass]

I found this one, it’s really funky and great for keeping the groove in the pocket 

 

[Raslee]

Did this one the other day - great fun, there's a few tutorials on Youtube too....funky as funk, especially the outro riffs:

 

[Reggaebass]

6 minutes ago, Raslee said:

Did this one the other day - great fun, there's a few tutorials on Youtube too....funky as funk, especially the outro riffs:

 

Yeah I like that , cheers Raslee , I’ll have to watch a tutorial to see what’s going on 

[Raslee]

1 minute ago, Reggaebass said:

Yeah I like that , cheers Raslee , I’ll have to watch a tutorial to see what’s going on 

Yeah, the slides are a bit weird early on in the tune, perhaps overdubbed afterwards (?), but its got some crazy fun parts true to the Funkadelic spirit

[fleabag]

Here's a wonderful track and one of about  25+ i played in my funk band - the notes are not that tricky, but the timing is more critical.

Another outrageous bass line by Bootsy Collins

 

[Reggaebass]

28 minutes ago, fleabag said:

Here's a wonderful track and one of about  25+ i played in my funk band - the notes are not that tricky, but the timing is more critical.

Another outrageous bass line by Bootsy Collins

 

That’s a great one fb ☝️,  I see what you’re saying ,about the timing 

Edited February 9, 2021 by Reggaebass

[MB1]

On 20/01/2021 at 22:37, bass_dinger said: 

When I play funk, I play all the right rests, but not necessarily of the right length . . . 

 

That just reminded me of this....

“Im playing all the right notes... but not necessarily in the right order!”

[Reggaebass]

Some nice grooves on this one, not too difficult, and plenty of space to add your own thing if you want 🙂

 

[Cuzzie]

@Reggaebass have a delve through this album

https://open.spotify.com/album/6cdbsUYFysGXOh5fqWpIuR?si=O_hVqRVcRfu3XyNLOhbzEA

Love rollercoaster Chilli peppers covered and Fopp - the riff is surprisingly like GnR paradise city........