The Left Hand
Place the first finger of your left hand just behind the second fret of the G string. This note is an A note. Play this new note with your right hand index finger. Listen to the sound. It should sound full and round. If it buzzes or rattles you have not placed your left hand finger close enough to the fret or you are not pressing the string down hard enough.
For greater support the left hand thumb should be placed behind the neck of the bass guitar, approximately opposite your index and middle fingers as shown in the photo.
The Quarter Note
This is a quarter note which is worth one count. There are four quarter notes in one bar of * time.
The most basic funk feel uses quarter notes (3) throughout, e.g., one note per beat.
This example is a two bar phrase using four repeated notes in each bar. Play each note evenly in sound and tempo.
This example uses the same concept with some note variations on the last beat of each bar.
This example has more note varieties.
This example uses notes in a linear fashion.
The Quarter Note Rest
This is a quarter note rest and indicates one beat of silence.
The following four examples combine quarter notes and quarter note rests. The different placement of the h changes the rhythmical structure of each example. It creates a broken up feel which is typical for Funk Bass grooves.
The Eighth Note
This is an eighth note and is worth half a count (or half a beat 3) in * time. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time.
Groups of 2 or 4 eighth notes are joined together with a "beam" e.g., 6 or 9
This example uses eighth notes throughout. The second bar incorporates octaves which are typical in Funk Bass lines.
This example combines eighth notes and quarter notes.
This example uses eighth notes and quarter note rests only.
This example combines all of these (eighth notes, quarter notes and quarter note rests).
The Eighth Note Rest
This is an eighth note rest and indicates silence for the count of one eighth note.
Syncopation
Any note or phrase where the rhythmic emphasis (attack) or accent(s) fall on the downbeat(s) (beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 in * time) of a measure, is considered non-syncopated.
Therefore, a note or phrase is syncopated when the attack or accent(s) falls on the "offbeat" (anywhere other than the "downbeat").
The following two examples use quarter notes, syncopated eighth notes and eighth note rests.
This example uses all of these with the addition of the quarter note rest.
The following four examples incorporate different combinations of the rhythmical concepts discussed so far. Listen to the recording to get the right feel.
Staccato
A dot below or above the note indicates that it is to be played staccato (short detached note).
The following two examples employ the staccato technique which is a common sound in funk bass playing.
Dotted Quarter Note
The dotted quarter note is equal to a quarter note plus an eighth note in value.
This example incorporates the dotted quarter note in combination with previously covered concepts.
This example uses a tie to join the last note of the first bar together with the first note of the 2nd bar. The note is only played once at the beginning and is sustained.
Anticipation
An anticipation is where a downbeat is displaced by the preceding off beat.
This note played anticipated shifts from the 3rd beat previously to the "2 +" count.
This example uses anticipated notes on the "2 +" and "4 +" in the first bar. This is achieved by employing the tie. Also a half note appears in the second bar. A half note has a duration of two beats.
Lead-in
This example involves the use of a lead-in (or pick-up) note which is played before the first bar of music.
This example uses two lead-in notes, and an anticipation which consists of an eighth note linked together by a tie, followed by a half note.
