Author Topic: Best Funk Basslines (Read 29085 times)

Scard · « **on:** October 17, 2010, 11:30:28 PM »

Hey Bass Players.

I want to expand my playing by getting into some funk, and learning to really syncopate notes and do that kinda thing. Name me some songs with great funk basslines, both playing in the pocket, and fancy! Slap included.

Thanks

kala1928 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2010, 07:09:53 AM »

for the love of money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G41r9IgHvhU

Marvellous G · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2010, 08:29:41 AM »

Just play Superstition on bass non-stop. Other than that, Back In The Saddle by Aerosmith has a cool bassline IIRC, can't remember if it's hugely funky though.

Jakartabassplayer · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2010, 08:50:56 AM »

Marcus miller - Come Together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhl155_Y-3w

Larry Graham - Pow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1IuD6F3R5I&feature=related

Stevie Wonder/Marcus Miller - Higher Ground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZ3ZG_Wams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKF8TeK6Byg

georg_f · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2010, 01:10:11 PM »

just look for the hit songs by Rick James, Tower of Power etc.

This one is the funkiest of all:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpJ11NDcpjU
James Brown - "Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul"

Ben_Jamin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2010, 01:20:24 PM »

Any Parliament, P-funk song.

jsem · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2010, 09:45:22 AM »

Time - 7779311

Herbie Hancock - Chameleon (sick bassline)

kirbywelch92 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2010, 08:22:38 PM »

The Sinister Minister - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPBmyFsfyPc

/thread

Marvellous G · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2010, 07:39:07 AM »

Quote from: kirbywelch92 on October 27, 2010, 08:22:38 PM

The Sinister Minister - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPBmyFsfyPc

/thread

You win.

jsem · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2010, 12:35:33 PM »

Why didn't I just take a victor wooten song? Ugh.. I've even seen the guy live -.-

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2010, 02:36:03 AM »

Alright by Jamiroquai has an awesome slap line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXyB12Okt68

And..uh... music for chameleons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCjB2Nlc_0Y

Portrucci · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2010, 03:30:50 AM »

Not sure if it's true "funk" but a lot of Primus songs have superb basslines;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4OhIU-PmB8&ob=av3e

jsem · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2010, 11:44:18 AM »

Primus sucks

kala1928 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2010, 07:31:11 AM »

https://open.spotify.com/track/0fnJi8VjwLdwZKl27kn60E

Jamiroquai has killer bass lines

jsem · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2010, 04:40:31 PM »

Quote from: kala1928 on November 03, 2010, 07:31:11 AM

https://open.spotify.com/track/0fnJi8VjwLdwZKl27kn60E

Jamiroquai has killer bass lines

Spotify isn't avaliable where most ppl on this forum lives (US). It is avaliable to us euro jerks tho! EPIC bass line

jsem · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2010, 03:33:24 AM »

Lee Ritenour - Rio Funk.

Listen to it and you will know that this is the GRRROOOOVIEST BASSLINE EVER

Ben_Jamin · « **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2010, 11:36:39 AM »

Rap, reggae, funk all have great basslines. Metal isn't the best for bass

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2010, 11:09:27 PM »

Rage Against the Machine usually have some groovy basslines. I dunno. I think for funk you can't go past stuff like Earth Wind and Fire, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius and all that. Maybe even a bit of Level 42

. Tears for Fears have awesome basslines too.

Ben_Jamin · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2010, 06:16:29 PM »

I'm telling you those 3 bands george clinton was involved with

Flashight,

King Postwhore · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2010, 05:30:58 AM »

Tower Of Power--Soul With A Capital S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lrpTho-3pU

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Sex In A Pan / The Message
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqLbemgstQA

sneakyblueberry · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2010, 05:55:15 AM »

Quote from: kingshmegland on November 06, 2010, 05:30:58 AM

Tower Of Power--Soul With A Capital S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lrpTho-3pU

Ah, good choice king. Although, that bass player's technique is pretty out there. He uses his fretting hand to deaden notes he's playing, which is no easy feat from what I gather. I certainly can't do it. I don't know if this song is a great example of that though, I think 'What is Hip' might display that a little better. Which is another excellent funk song.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #21 on:** November 06, 2010, 08:22:48 AM »

Rocco Prestia of TOP is a very unique bass player. It's his technique that sets him apart. The guy is also always in the pocket no mater what he plays.

Check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04P5_AGMu3M

Also this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_5txk-Y9EM&feature=related

Nat Eleison · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2011, 09:55:50 AM »

It's been awhile since anyone's looked at this thread but here's what I used to help get my funk chops in shape.

James Brown - 50th Anniversary Collection
https://www.amazon.com/James-Brown-50th-Anniversary-Collection/dp/B0000C3IDQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1315319807&sr=1-2

Generally all the songs are based around one chord vamps so once you learn the bassline it just repeats over and over. All the basslines use lots of syncopation and ghosted notes.

obscure · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2011, 10:41:02 AM »

Marcus Miller - La Vilette
Marcus Miller - Bruce Lee

73109 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 06, 2011, 11:06:27 AM »

Give it Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers

YtseBitsySpider · « **Reply #25 on:** September 06, 2011, 11:24:11 AM »

Quote from: kala1928 on November 03, 2010, 07:31:11 AM

https://open.spotify.com/track/0fnJi8VjwLdwZKl27kn60E

Jamiroquai has killer bass lines

quoted for EPIC truth...in fact....I think....I....think..it's time....for a FUNCTION!!!!

Dellers · « **Reply #26 on:** September 11, 2011, 08:00:53 AM »

Now this is a thread for me...Aside from Dream Theater my favorite kind of music is funk, and I have the whole collection of a lot of funky bands (I doubt any Norwegian has a bigger collection, possibly except for the woman who has a doctor degree in funk...). I can try to just throw a few bass playing favorites of mine that have not been listed yet:
Slap lines:
George Duke - Everyday Hero
Dumpstaphunk - Turn This Thing Around
Graham Central Station - Hair
Michael Jackson - Get On The Floor
Ole Børud - Under Control
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Pleasure - Glide (not an easy one, but the bassline is sick)
David Sanborn - Run For Cover
L.T.D. - Getaway
Jamiroquai - Scam

Fingerstyle:
Jamiroquai - She's A Fast Persuader (this one has been my favorite song to play since it came out last november...)
Jamiroquai - Whatever It Is, I Just Can't Stop
Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
Bootsy Collins - Play With Bootsy. Kind of a modern tune (2004-modern that is), but the bassline is nothing but fantastic. I'm playing this with an auto-wah pedal, completely awesome.
Brothers Johnson - Stomp (includes awesome slap solo)
Chic - Good Times
Earth, Wind & Fire - too many good basslines to list one song, just check them out (they share the first place together with DT on the list of my favorite bands too)
Sly & The Family Stone - Sing A Simple Song
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Sofian - Stank

Nat Eleison · « **Reply #27 on:** September 13, 2011, 05:53:42 AM »

Quote from: Dellers on September 11, 2011, 08:00:53 AM

Now this is a thread for me...Aside from Dream Theater my favorite kind of music is funk, and I have the whole collection of a lot of funky bands (I doubt any Norwegian has a bigger collection, possibly except for the woman who has a doctor degree in funk...). I can try to just throw a few bass playing favorites of mine that has not been listed yet:
Slap lines:
George Duke - Everyday Hero
Dumpstaphunk - Turn This Thing Around
Graham Central Station - Hair
Michael Jackson - Get On The Floor
Ole Børud - Under Control
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Pleasure - Glide (not an easy one, but the bassline is sick)
David Sanborn - Run For Cover
L.T.D. - Getaway
Jamiroquai - Scam

Fingerstyle:
Jamiroquai - She's A Fast Persuader (this one has been my favorite song to play since it came out last november...)
Jamiroquai - Whatever It Is, I Just Can't Stop
Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
Bootsy Collins - Play With Bootsy. Kind of a modern tune (2004-modern that is), but the bassline is nothing but fantastic. I'm playing this with an auto-wah pedal, completely awesome.
Brothers Johnson - Stomp (includes awesome slap solo)
Chic - Good Times
Earth, Wind & Fire - too many good basslines to list one song, just check them out (they share the first place together with DT on the list of my favorite bands too)
Sly & The Family Stone - Sing A Simple Song
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Sofian - Stank

That's some serious Funk!

MrBoom_shack-a-lack · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2022, 07:13:59 AM »

This is a fun thread. I'm into a "learn fun bass licks" period. Started picking up playing bass more frequently a year ago. I can read sheet music pretty good but never ventured into learning licks.

Right now i'm working on:

Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now
Jamiroquai - Runaway
ABBA - Does your mother know

All these impose a challenge in diffrent ways for me, especially if you gonna play them in original tempo. I also wanna start learning slapping.

I wanna dig into Jamiroquai - Time Won't Wait but i'm not sure i'm ready and worthy of such a beastly funky bassline.

MrBoom_shack-a-lack · « **Reply #29 on:** September 26, 2022, 04:57:37 PM »

Man when the bass joins in the party starts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct7ad4FhuJI&ab_channel=Jay%27sMuseum

Chino · « **Reply #30 on:** September 28, 2022, 11:21:57 AM »

Does Give it Away by the RHCP count?

Shooters1221 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 05, 2022, 07:13:52 PM »

I always loved Stu Hamm and he has a lot of instructional stuff on youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gARQkEU7QM) but him and Joe back in the day were some some great shows!

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Author Topic: Best Funk Basslines (Read 29085 times)