How to Play That Funk Music on Bass
Contents
You want to know how to play that funk music on bass? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll show you how to get started playing funk bass.
Introduction
In order to play funk music on bass, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of the genre’s history and its key components. Funk is a style of music that was developed in the mid-1960s by African American musicians who were looking for a way to express their own cultural identity. The style is characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms, complex bass lines, and often-repetitive melodies.
While there are many different ways to approach funk bass playing, there are certain elements that all great funk bassists have in common. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most essential techniques and concepts that you’ll need to master in order to play funk music on bass.
We’ll start by taking a look at the history of funk music and its key influences. From there, we’ll move on to discussing the importance of groove and feel in funk bass playing. We’ll also cover some of the most essential bass techniques that you’ll need to know, including how to play slap bass and how to create complex bass lines.
By the end of this article, you should have a much better understanding of what it takes to play funk music on bass. So let’s get started!
The Basics
Funk music became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is a style of music that is based on a strong groove. The bass guitar is the foundation of the groove in funk music. In this lesson, we are going to learn the basics of how to play funk music on bass.
The Groove
The phrase “playing in the pocket” is used a lot when talking about good feel in funk and R&B bass playing. What this really means is playing with a good sense of time and groove, not rushing or dragging the tempo, and being able to lay down a solid foundation that the other musicians can groove on. When you lock in with the drums like this, it’s called getting in the pocket.
The pocket
The pocket is the heart of the groove. It’s that feeling that make people want to move when they hear certain music. It’s created by the interaction between the kick drum and the bass, and a good groove will have a defined pocket that locks in with the drums. A lot of times, the pocket will be felt more than it will be heard, and it’s one of those things that’s hard to explain but you know it when you feel it.
The feel
The feel of funk is all about the pocket. That is, the groove sits in a specific pocket or space in between the drums. The snare and kick play on the 2 and 4, but there are also accents on the 1 and 3. This gives funk its signature stutter step feel. As a result, it can be difficult to find the pocket at first. The best way to get a feel for it is to practice with a metronome or drum machine. I like to set mine at 60 beats per minute and start with a simple quarter note pulse on the 1 and 3.
The Right Attitude
When you’re playing funk music on bass, it’s all about the attitude. Funk is a groove-oriented style of music, so the most important thing is that you keep the groove going. This means you need to be tight with the drummer, and you need to lock in with the other instruments in the band. But more than anything, it means you need to have a good feel for the pocket.
If you can find that pocket and stay there, everything else will fall into place. The right attitude is essential for playing funk bass; without it, the music just won’t feel right.
The Right Gear
Before you can start playing funk bass lines, you need the right gear. A good funk bass is typically a Fender Precision or Jazz Bass, although any bass with a good low end will do. As for amps, solid-state amps are usually the way to go for funk; they have a tight, crunchy sound that works well with the percussive nature of funk playing. Achieving the classic “funk sound” requires more than just the right equipment, however; it also requires the right techniques.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading! We hope this guide has been helpful in explaining how to play funk music on bass. As always, the best way to improve your skills is to practice regularly and to listen to as much funk music as you can. With time and effort, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.
