Funk Bass Players

Get to know these Bass Players

Larry Graham

Potentially the funkiest man alive. He is often credited with starting the slap bass style. He was the bass player for Sly and the Family Stone. Later, he had his own group Graham Central Station.

Bootsey Collins

Funk bass genius. Incredible rhythms with an attitude. Started with James Brown then George Clinton.

James Jamerson

House bassist for motown records. The father of most everything on electric bass. His lines are as funky as anything since.

Bernard Odum

Bassist with James Brown. Very tasty lines.

Donald "Duck" Dunn

Played on an incredible number of hits. You've heard his bass playing more than you know.

Jerry Jemmott

Played with many different people - Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Freddie King and Wilson Pickett.

Tommy Cogbill

One of my favorites. He can lay down some really mean grooves. Played with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Elvis.

George Porter, Jr.

Bassist for New Orleans band The Meters. The Meters have an incredible, laid-back rhythmic feel. Great stuff!

Rocco Prestia

Bassist with Tower of Power. You've probably heard the song What is Hip?. Fast and funky.

Jaco Pastorius

Master...revolutionized bass playing.

Victor Wooten

New and living Master.

Flea

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist. He can lay down some super funky slap lines.

Song Form

	------------------------------------------

  	INTRO
  
  	VERSE 1
  	VERSE 2
  	CHORUS 1
  	INTERLUDE
  
 	VERSE 3
 	CHORUS 2
 	SOLO
  	BREAK
  	
  	VERSE 4
  	OUTRO 5

	------------------------------------------

TAB

p = pulloff
h = hammer on
b = bend
r = return
~ = sustain bend (some sustains are slow releases)
~ = return to lower pitch bend
x = fret hand mute
\ = slide down
/ = slide up
pb = prebend/ghost bend
P.M. = palm hand mute


Blues Tones (high lows, low highs) w/little distortion, pick close to start of neck
(good with neck pickups)

|------------------------------------10---------------------------------------
|-13p10----10----13---13b(15)~~~~~~--10-10---10-----13b(15)r13--13b(17)~~~r13-
|-------12----12---------------------10-10---10-------------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

|-----------------------------------------------------12-
|-13p10-----------------------------------------------12-
|-------12---12b(14)~~~r12-----10\9----9---------12------
|-----------------------------------12---10-12-----------
|--------------------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------------------------

|------------------------------------------------------
|-10---------10---10--------10---10--------10---12-10^-
|-10---------10---10--------10---10--------10---12-10^-
|----12-12-----------12-------------12-----------------
|------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------

|-------13b(15)~~~~~~~r13-----13---13-----13b(15)r13b(17)~~(18)~~(15)-
|-----x---------------------------------------------------------------
|---x-----------------------------------------------------------------
|-x-------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------

|--------------10-------------------------------------------------------------
|-----------10----13p10-------------------------------------------------------
|-12b(14)---------------12---12p10---12p10------10----------------------------
|------------------------------------------12------12-----12p10---------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------12p10-12\10-8-
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------------------------------------------------------5h6p5--------------------
|-----------------------------------------------5---7---------7---7p5------5b(6)-
|------------------------------------------/7-------------------------7----------
|-10p8-----------------8---------------------------------------------------------
|------10p8-10---10-10---10p8---10-----------------------------------------------

|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------6b(8)~~~~---------13pb(15)~~~~~r(13)-13b(15)~~~(17)~~~~~r13-13-----
|-7-7-7p5--------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------

|-----15b(17)~~~~~~~---13p10-----------13---12---15b(17)r15b(17)r15b(17)r15b(17)~~~~~**-
|---x----------------x-------------/15--------------------------------------------------
|-x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Execute this series of bends and returns at 16th-note pace

|-15pb(17)~~r(15)---15-------18b(20)-----18pb(20)--------20b(22)-
|----------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                (P.M.~)
|-20p17---------20p17---------------------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------10-----10---10^------------x---(10-10)-
|------------------------------------------------12---------x---(10-10)-
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

|----------------------------------------------------
|-------------------------12-------12-----\10--------
|---------12-----x--------12-------12-----\10-----p9-
|-12/14---14-----x-12--------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------
|----------------------------------------------------

|-------------------------------------------------------
|------10-x-x----------x-------x-x----------------------
|-x----10-x-x----------x-------x-x----------------------
|-x-12--------12----------------------------------------
|----------------------------------10---8h10-10-x-8-----
|---------------------------------------------------10--

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