paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Last night, while playing Good Times I realised I sound like a rock player trying to be funky. Not good. Obviously this is mostly because I am really a rock player but I want to change, I really do. So technique is something I will have to work on but in the meantime I am going to swap my ceramic P pickup for an Alnico one (I have already swapped the J) and raise the action a touch. I am also considering heavier gauge strings or flatwounds but I am little bit loathe to do that because my current strings have plenty of life in them still and I'm a tight wad. I also realise I need to use a lighter touch and turn the amp up instead. Message ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 None of that will work. Gear is just gear. You'll have to change your feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='chris_b' post='1017424' date='Nov 9 2010, 12:48 PM']None of that will work. Gear is just gear. You'll have to change your feel.[/quote] Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 +1 to that - no matter what I play, I simply hit it hard, so just sound like me, albeit with a different bass. Most of the sound and dynamics are from the player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='chris_b' post='1017424' date='Nov 9 2010, 12:48 PM']None of that will work. Gear is just gear. You'll have to change your feel.[/quote] s'right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1017422' date='Nov 9 2010, 12:47 PM']Last night, while playing Good Times I realised I sound like a rock player trying to be funky. Not good. Obviously this is mostly because I am really a rock player but I want to change, I really do. So technique is something I will have to work on but in the meantime I am going to swap my ceramic P pickup for an Alnico one (I have already swapped the J) and raise the action a touch. I am also considering heavier gauge strings or flatwounds but I am little bit loathe to do that because my current strings have plenty of life in them still and I'm a tight wad. I also realise I need to use a lighter touch and turn the amp up instead. Message ends.[/quote] I have a similar problem in that if I try to play rock I tend to syncopate it too much. Try listening to just funk for some time instead of rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Don't change your feel unless you want to. Instead of sounding like a rock player trying to play funk, just make sure you sound like YOU playing funk. Do this with conviction and it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 If you want to be funky listen to funk. Sounds glib, but its the only way. I dont mean have a quick listen to a couple of tracks either, I mean immerse yourself entirely in funk music, listen to only funk for a few months, practice along to it always. Avoid anything that isnt funk during this time. That will make you funky. In the mean time, save you money.... And remember, you gotta wear your sunglasses in here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Rock playing is also funky. If you're having fun and getting carried away it probably comes across positively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='51m0n' post='1017438' date='Nov 9 2010, 12:56 PM']If you want to be funky listen to funk. Sounds glib, but its the only way. I dont mean have a quick listen to a couple of tracks either, I mean immerse yourself entirely in funk music, listen to only funk for a few months, practice along to it always. Avoid anything that isnt funk during this time. That will make you funky. In the mean time, save you money.... And remember, you gotta wear your sunglasses in here [/quote] He's right, you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnwhy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1017422' date='Nov 9 2010, 12:47 PM']...and raise the action a touch....[/quote] I would do the opposite. The lower the action, the lighter the touch. The lighter the touch, the clearer the nuance. The clearer the nuance, the bigger the groove. The bigger the groove, the heavier the FUNK! [quote]I also realise I need to use a lighter touch and turn the amp up instead.[/quote] The most important thing any funk player has to learn, so good to see you've noted it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 no no no, this is all wrong - it's not the gear, it's the CLOTHES! Swap your jeans and t-shirt, for some super-flared corduroy, some kind of pyschedelic shirt, star-shaped sunglasses and possibly a big funky hat to go on your 'fro and the funk will come my friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Thanks for all the comments guys. I too firmly fall into the "It's in your fingers" camp, but with some caveats. I do listen to a fair old bit of funk but I am trying to erase 20 plus years of rock playing here so it's not that easy! Onto the caveats with regards to feel... If for example, somebody hands me a Steve Harris sig P bass there is a good chance that I am going to bang away going clackity clackity clack and have a whale of a time. Nothing wrong with that. If someone hands me a hollowbody shortscale I will probably end up doing the worlds worst Macca impression. If I have 70's style Jazz then hey presto I am Larry Graham's illegitimate offspring. So am I the only one then? Am I the only one whose "feel" is greatly affected by the instrument? In fact am I the only one who changes feel from song to song? Do you all genuinely always sound the same? What happens when you have to play a different genre? Do you play with the same feel during a rock song and a funk song? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Also, I assume you all play £50 P bass copies. Because it's all in the feel and nothing to do with your gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 Most people can't play funk convincingly. My advice would be to join a function band, you'll be in good company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 Well that's where we are headed so it's all good then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1017484' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:30 PM']Most people can't play funk convincingly. My advice would be to join a function band, you'll be in good company.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 I think it's all about confidence in your own ability and comfort with getting across who you are through the music. I play the way I play, whatever the genre and it seems to work (never been fired - yet!). I would expect Geddy Lee to sound like Geddy Lee whatever he was playing (instrument or genre) and as long as he does, he sounds good to me. Not everyone will agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 What a disappointing thread. I thought I was going to read how you played a gig with 5kg weights hanging from your testicles and wearing an inside-out studded leather outfit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 It might be confidence. It might be the ceramic pickups sounding too harsh. Or it might be the Peavey 4x10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='Clarky' post='1017495' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:35 PM']What a disappointing thread. I thought I was going to read how you played a gig with 5kg weights hanging from your testicles and wearing an inside-out studded leather outfit[/quote] Well that's a given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1017471' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:23 PM']So am I the only one then? Am I the only one whose "feel" is greatly affected by the instrument?[/quote] Maybe. You have to deprogram yourself, I'd say. You can get most sounds out of most basses if you get the hang of any given style. For example, play punk rock-style stuff with a plectrum on a jazz fretless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnwhy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1017477' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:26 PM']Also, I assume you all play £50 P bass copies. Because it's all in the feel and nothing to do with your gear? [/quote] Ok, yes i play an expensive bass. But ironically the best recorded sound i've achieved has been with a £50 P bass copy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 I think it's simpler than that. If I have a bass that sounds a bit "rock" I end up playing a a bit "rock". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted November 9, 2010 Author Share Posted November 9, 2010 (edited) [quote name='wotnwhy' post='1017505' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:38 PM']Ok, yes i play an expensive bass. But ironically the best recorded sound i've achieved has been with a £50 P bass copy...[/quote] I'm not knocking £50 P copies for one second! What I am trying to ascertain (since everybody say's it's nothing to do with gear) is how can a bass player be so totally detached from their instrument and sound that it doesn't affect their feel? Edited November 9, 2010 by paul h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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