5 Reasons Rock Steady Bass Sounds Great | Chuck Rainey | Aretha Franklin

In this video I reveal how this bass line sounds so groovy. The bass player on this track was the great Chuck Rainey. I had a lot of fun transcribing this bass line and in doing so I realised that it is the funkiest bass line of all time. Here I reveal its secrets.
Secrets Of The FUNKIEST Bass Line Of All Time
Instagram: @davemurraybass

[@dowsemeister]

You're correct on hearing slapping. He would use the thumb at times, but he was known for "patting' the E string with an open palm using the end of the fingers gently, creating that thump.

[@rvssellcarson]

I once went to Victor Wooten's Bass/Nature Camp, well over a decade ago...Chuck Rainey was an instructor. His class was just a group of us sitting in a circle, all with basses in our laps, but mostly just listening to him tell stories from back in the day. Anyway, I asked him about this song because I've always loved it. He said he wasn't playing the traditional thumb style slap but actually literally slapping the E string, like an open handed slap. Kinda making contact with all his finger tips. He wanted to demonstrate but he was playing a 5 string and wasn't able to get the "technique", so he borrowed my Jazz Bass and showed us, which was awesome.........then I asked him about the B section, and he was just "oh, I was just kinda bouncing around on the D, I don't really remember" ...anyway, that's my Chuck Rainey story. Also, really great work. I appreciate when people can really take the time on stuff like this, with so much variation. Its not my strong suit.

[@HowToBass]

Wow thats an amazing story, thanks for the insight. That makes total sense too. Thanks for watching the vid!

[@rrdream2400]

I think he called that technique "patting" which was to simulate a left hand organ bass.

[@charlesdroidable]

I also went to Victor's camp in 2002 and got to hear Chuck's amazing stories, the two that stand out: Chuck described playing in Aretha's band and needing to make a concious effort to not become mesmerized by her voice during performances. She was at the height of her power and if you got caught up in her voice, you could be thrown at the very least. Chuck said they once had a drummer that just passed out completely after focusing too much on her voice and needed to be fanned by the band back to a wakeful state! The other story was when Chuck's pal, a man by the name of CHARLES MINGUS, asked to try out his new Fender bass as he'd never played one. Said Mingus held the Fender on a barstool so it was vertical like an upright and "dug right in". Just hearing him describe this scene that took place in a little NYC club one afternoon was amazing. Not only did Chuck have great stories, he is also one of the warmest and most approachable musicians I've ever met.

[@lonniebannister5320]

The original Bassist playing on Tower of Power’s “What Is Hip” is Francis Rocco Prestia! He is very well known for playing in that 16th note style.

[@jimcharles651]

5 Reasons why the "Rock Steady" bass sounds so great 1) played by Chuck Rainey 2) played by Chuck Rainey 3) played by Chuck Rainey 4) played by Chuck Rainey 5) played by Chuck Rainey

[@chipanderson428]

I recently saw a video where Chuck is using a technique he calls " patting "....patting the string...primarily the E string to get a more percussive,upright ,punchy type sound ...I believe that is what we're hearing on the first example you pointed out....chuck- masterful,nuanced legend of a player!

[@shurato00]

Amazing video! Keep groovin!

[@HowToBass]

I really appreciate you checking out this video. You can listen to the full transcription here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2XJo5p_f5x8jZI

[@RichardHaleShaw]

A list of your transcriptions would be great to see!

[@HowToBass]

I'm hoping to get them uploaded to my website very soon.

[@roonymuck6275]

Thanks for putting this together! The whole album - young gifted and black, and Mr. Rainey's playing was always and still is a huge influence to the core of my approach and style of playing. The section you bring up does not sound like slap to me.

[@stephh6909]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it very much. But I can't tell (yet) if there is slap sound.

[@HowToBass]

Glad you liked the video!

[@theodoremonroe6440]

Check out “ I’m Housin’” by EPMD! You can dissect the guitar in rock steady a little bit better! 💎😉

[@lonniebannister5320]

Nah! You’ve good EARS!! There was definitely some SLAPPIN GOIN ON!!!

[@JohnGauge790]

He used a technique called padding.

[@MultiMiles21]

Thanks for this video, is it possible the find the sheet music somewhere?

[@HowToBass]

E-mail me at [e-mail]

[@brandonthailand2062]

149,000 recordings

[@HowToBass]

That's an incredible number.

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

I strongly suspect this song is essentially a jam session. I don't think anyone would have written those lyrics - they're made up on the fly, surely? Perhaps that's why they could never improve it?