Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Groove or Rock, Can a player excel at both ?


hamfist
 Share

Recommended Posts

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365617082' post='2041924']
Didn't really want to make this about one player but in this example... he doesn't groove by any defintion I understand.so yes, I'd call him a rock player pure and simple ...
[/quote]

Interesting, I actually find that a tiny bit hard to believe myself (difficulties separating personal musical preference from it all maybe) but you're entitled to your opinion!

Edited by risingson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365617082' post='2041924']
Didn't really want to make this about one player but in this example... he doesn't groove by any defintion I understand.so yes, I'd call him a rock player pure and simple ...
[/quote]
What's the definition you understand though?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok. Most music grooves, some to more of an extent than others. U2s Vertigo is rock with groove, rockers might argue it's funky. I wouldn't.

Rock can be funky in as much as someone who listens to a lot of rock might think of funk.

Funk music can be rocky in as much as someone who listens to a lot of funk might think of rock.

Are there any true examples where the genres have fully crossed?

Living Colour were supposed to be funk-rock. Listening back now I would say they were rock trying to be funky.

It's a good debate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think maybe the problem is that Rock tends to be 4 to the floor whereas funk is all about that 16th note at the end of the bar. So one song can't truly be both.

So are we looking for an artist that has played in funk bands and rock bands in equal measures?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I might have missed something here! Definition of groove seems a big thing but overall the implication is that all players specialise in one style at the expense of others..? Playing in different styles is a part of being a well-rounded player, part of my grade 8 was doing a given chord sequence in plenty genres. I'd say I'm equally at home playing rock or something funky, and all stuff in between.


Also... just because a player's band require a certain style, does that mean that's all they can do? For all I know the bassist in Cannibal Corpse is actually a closet funk-fanatic, but decided to join a metal band rather then yet another soul covers outfit..? :ph34r: :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Lenny B' timestamp='1365623666' post='2042079']
How could I forget this? This and the Chilis was really my gateway from the world of rock to the world of funk.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2nqZCSnN1U[/media]

And this...
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzEJvHE_rEg[/media]

Actually, just any live p-funk really.
[/quote]Spot on. mate. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favourite bass player Mic Todd (formerly of Coheed and Cambria) could groove like hell. But they rocked - his lines rocked in that context.

My cop-out answer without actually saying much. *shrugs*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1365623558' post='2042077']
I think I might have missed something here! Definition of groove seems a big thing but overall the implication is that all players specialise in one style at the expense of others..? Playing in different styles is a part of being a well-rounded player, part of my grade 8 was doing a given chord sequence in plenty genres. I'd say I'm equally at home playing rock or something funky, and all stuff in between.

...
[/quote]

I've seen too many corporate and wedding bands to believe that playing any style of music is possible. You can fake it for your average listener but you'd be sussed instantly by anyone really in to that particular genre.

I don't know why. It's the beauty of music.

Imagine going into Newcastle and putting on a Geordie accent and learning a few phrases. How long could you carry it off?

I saw a rock band at Butlins once. Very good, but something was missing. Everything they played was just too perfect, no rough edges. After a while I reconned they must have been session musicians put together by the events team especially for the season. Then I realised none of them had piercings or tattoos...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1365609420' post='2041784']
[media]http://youtu.be/mg3mUhGVCgo[/media]

Groovy Rocky baby.
[/quote]
Correct. Doug (Dug) Pinnick fits the description better than any other player mentioned. Imagine if there were bass players unfamiliar with his work - unthinkable!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Lenny B' timestamp='1365623666' post='2042079']
How could I forget this? This and the Chilis was really my gateway from the world of rock to the world of funk.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2nqZCSnN1U[/media]

And this...
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzEJvHE_rEg[/media]

Actually, just any live p-funk really.
[/quote]

You see, for me, neither of those songs has the tiniest bit of "rawk" in them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1365609420' post='2041784']
[media]http://youtu.be/mg3mUhGVCgo[/media]

Groovy Rocky baby.
[/quote]

And that, good sir, is rock. No funk in there.

Can we please, please, please all stop using the word "groove" as we have established that it is a too ambiguous and widely defined word to be useful.

My biggest problem is that I can listen to a song and instantly know whether a song is rock or funk according to my personal definitions, but can't articulate it accurately to save my life !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1365625977' post='2042124']
I've seen too many corporate and wedding bands to believe that playing any style of music is possible. You can fake it for your average listener but you'd be sussed instantly by anyone really in to that particular genre.

I don't know why. It's the beauty of music.

Imagine going into Newcastle and putting on a Geordie accent and learning a few phrases. How long could you carry it off?
[/quote]

Good points, imaginatively expressed. Thankyou.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365617082' post='2041924']
...he doesn't groove by any definition I understand.so yes, I'd call him a rock player pure and simple...
[/quote]

Flea doesn't [i]groove[/i]? No... of course not... *backs slowly away from thread with fixed grin*

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1365626916' post='2042141']
And that, good sir, is rock. No funk in there.

Can we please, please, please all stop using the word "groove" as we have established that it is a too ambiguous and widely defined word to be useful.

My biggest problem is that I can listen to a song and instantly know whether a song is rock or funk according to my personal definitions, but can't articulate it accurately to save my life !
[/quote]
Since "Groove" is the first word in the title of this thread, I don't think we can do that.
(Though I agree about its ambiguity.)

Edited by arthurhenry
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1365625977' post='2042124']
I've seen too many corporate and wedding bands to believe that playing any style of music is possible. You can fake it for your average listener but you'd be sussed instantly by anyone really in to that particular genre.
[/quote]

I'm unsure if you mean that this is a bad thing or not?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1365628276' post='2042170']


I'm unsure if you mean that this is a bad thing or not?
[/quote]

It depends on your target audience. If you're that band on BBC Strictly then you're getting paid, the dancers get live music to dance to, the people at home think it sounds good, everybody's happy. But there's bound to be a critical bass player sitting at home wincing at the awfulness of it all, of course even he's happy because he gets to grumble about how cover bands can't funk ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that players can excel at both, but they tend to be in short supply imho. I have seen many great players, with mighty chops who can not rock, there is a certain put you head down and pray you survive attitude that is not a natural approach, especially when I have watched schooled players, yes they are great and yes they got all the techniques and the knowledge and the skill, but they can't rock for sh*te, when they try its contrived, I have seen this plenty of times so I tend to agree with the OP, but there exceptions to the rule, N W-R for me is the man at this, he is funky, he grooves like a mutha, but the man can Rock!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Lynottfan' timestamp='1365630455' post='2042215']
I think that players can excel at both, but they tend to be in short supply imho. I have seen many great players, with mighty chops who can not rock, there is a certain put you head down and pray you survive attitude that is not a natural approach, especially when I have watched schooled players, yes they are great and yes they got all the techniques and the knowledge and the skill, but they can't rock for sh*te, when they try its contrived, I have seen this plenty of times so I tend to agree with the OP, but there exceptions to the rule, N W-R for me is the man at this, he is funky, he grooves like a mutha, but the man can Rock!
[/quote]

God bless you sir. But, please, who is N W-R ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...