Funk Bassists

[bovinehost]

A group of us were talking the other night and the subject of "funk bass" came up. There are a lot of bassists who want to or do play funk, and like to be identified as 'funk bassists'.

Okay by me.

But you hardly ever hear about "folk bassists" or "waltz bassists".

I'm just sayin'.

Jack

 

[slucas]

Alana, Duchess of Folk. Just doesn't seem to work does it

 

[RobertB]

Hmmmmm. I myself have never been compelled to use a particular musical idiom as an adjective, but I do know what you mean - I've seen what you're talking about. That's interesting to consider ... 2 things I can think of that may atleast partially explain it:

1> Many times, players who play funk, are so passionate about funk that they play funk and only funk. Sure, that may be very limiting; nonetheless, they want their funk uncut.

2> In funk, the bass (& rythm section in general) is such a huge part of what defines the idiom itself. In most cases, all you need to hear from a funk song that you've never even heard before, is someone playing the bassline & that's sufficient to recognize it as funk. So maybe that somehow factors in to how that phrase ("funk bassist") evolved.

Why do you think it is?

 

[mynan]

I've never been called a funk bassist. Funky, but not funk...

 

[bovinehost]

Many times, players who play funk, are so passionate about funk that they play funk and only funk.

This is how I feel about polka.

 

[MrMusashi]

how about we say: funk you?

MrM

ps: we want the funk! give us the funk! awww.. repeat untill tired

 

[oli@bass]

I dunno. I'm rock bassist.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I do play funk but being a bass player is all about versatility IMHO.




I can't say I've really cracked down on polka though. I should do that.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I just own many basses.

I learned to work the saxophone, I just play what I feel...

 

[Caca de Kick]

See how many booties you get shakin' with polka...

 

[T-bone]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud to say:

I'm a card carrying, ball slinging, folk player. No slapp'n or popp'n here. No stepp'n on guitar or vocals. Just hanging in the pocket playing 1,5,1,5,1,5

tbone

 

[Musicman Nut]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud to say:

I'm a card carrying, ball slinging, folk player. No slapp'n or popp'n here. No stepp'n on guitar or vocals. Just hanging in the pocket playing 1,5,1,5,1,5

tbone

Nothing Wrong with 1. 5 my friend, The groove is where it's at.

 

[Duarte]

I love playing funk, but I'm also trying my hand at bluegrass banjo and thats quite fun.

 

[the unrepentant]

I'd consider myself a bit of a funk basisst, particularly now i have my MM, though i don't really go around telling people. But i play metal and rock too so ya know. I don't mind calling people funk bassists because if they're proud of the style they play then good for them. Funk is a hard style to master (not that any others are amazingly easy).

 

[Goofball Jones]

See how many booties you get shakin' with polka...

Obviously you've never been to a VFW hall in Wisconsin on a Saturday night.

 

[RobertB]

Thinking more about this interesting point Jack raised as I drove to work this morning, it occurred to me that as I see it, the the main driver behind the active & now common use of that phrase ("funk bassist"), has been funk bands looking/advertising for just that - players who slap and/or otherwise play funk.

And it's true - when a band is looking for that specifically, they do need to specify it, if they're smart & want to go about their search in an efficient way, to avoid the scenario in which you spend the overhead to hook up, the guy or girl shows up & then, "oh, you don't play funk?".

And then it may have evolved such that once that became the phrase funk bands were using to distinguish the type of bassist they were looking for, the natural next step was for funk playing bassists to market/distinguish themselves the same way.

 

[oli@bass]

So, what's actually the distiction of a Funk Bassist (vs. Rock, Folk, Polka)?

If it's about slap & pop, then Rocco Prestia is not one. If it's about playing 16th notes, then Michael Anthony is one.... tough stuff!

 

[RobertB]

So, what's actually the distiction of a Funk Bassist (vs. Rock, Folk, Polka)?

If it's about slap & pop, then Rocco Prestia is not one. If it's about playing 16th notes, then Michael Anthony is one.... tough stuff!

If it's about playing 16ths, Michael Anthony still isn't one, because it's implied that you need to play something other than just the root note, even though you're playing it in 16ths. It's partly about having some knowledge or feel for harmony & throwing some 3rds, 5ths, 7ths, & more importantly, even some non-chord-tones into your 16th lines.

 

[oli@bass]

Ah, and I thought funk was all about the octave!

It's time that the Duchess sees this thread and clears up a couple of misunderstandings

 

[bovinehost]

Let me just say that many of you are taking this WAY more seriously than I intended.



the polka does rock,

Jack