How To Build An Awesome Funky Bass Line

Lesson Material available here: www.talkingbass.net/how-to-bui...
Ghost Note Lessons available here: www.talkingbass.net/play-funky...
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This week I'm going to show you how to use the Dominant 7 chord tones and a bass drum pattern to build a cool funky bassline
These Free Online Bass Lessons from Mark J Smith are released weekly so subscribe for updates and visit www.talkingbass.net for a complete lesson map and all the downloadable lesson material.

[@Bass_Guy]

1. Have/create a drumbeat. 2. Listen where the bass drums play. 3. Play bass on those notes. 4. Write a groove with V7 chords

[@maxponsetis1948]

yeah the mother of invention dude

[@annadelrosario9037]

One and two, three and coriander

[@Shelsight]

Damn you - I can only do this saying “coriander” now..! It works though, thankfully... ;)

[@maxponsetis1948]

yes rose Mary and thyme

[@BenD_Bass]

lol i was thinking the same thing

[@intelligentacid]

Vodka vodka martini

[@chuckungar6083]

Mark I always watch your videos and start out thinking I won't be able to play that but in most cases like this I'm amazed to find I can. You gave me the funk.

[@talkingbasslessons]

Cheers Chuck!

[@deimos351]

Maybe we can keep the train going, original comment was 6 years ago, mark replied 3 years later, and now I have replied 3 years later, this must continue, every 3 years I better see a new reply

[@thebusylazybasist9692]

This guy can really teach.

[@Fili2009able]

I'm learning English at the same time , his talking is very 'clean and articulated " Great Teacher

[@maxponsetis1948]

he s not a verry goog bass player he is a teacher in deed but what i like the most its his accent it s a delight makes me feel like being in hide park at speakrs corner he deserves a marble arch bless cheers from France

[@stanwellback]

@@maxponsetis1948 you’re correct... he’s not very good. He’s much better than that. Try excellent!

[@carlodave9]

This bass channel really helps me. Great teaching, no filler.

[@codyhoward9972]

Really appreciate your videos, they have encouraged me go and get my bass out again after 30 years.

[@jimb3072]

Outstanding lesson! Thank you for being so thorough!

[@1muddonna]

Thanks Mark...I'm really enjoying your lessons!

[@mateuszignatjew4721]

I was just getting myself into funk and theory behind it and you uploaded a video. Thanks for doing this funky lessons. Regards

[@misterjimminyman]

I've been playing for around 20 years I thought I'd top up for inspiration on a composition I'm working on and came across this. You are an excellent music teacher. I was very struck with how well explained and demonstrated this was. Great work cheers.

[@TheDoctorsOR]

Thanks, this lesson was so so helpful. Seeing the whole process makes it far more approachable

[@tgacree]

Really well done lesson! I like that you put the video times in the lesson materials so that as I practice through various approaches I can find it in your video quickly. Also, thanks for putting this drum beat in your site's drum beats section. Best way to practice this material is definitely along with the drum beat.

[@gavinbeamish638]

You make it so easy! I've learned more about music theory in an hour and a half from you than I have in the last year! Thanks for being a great resource!

[@esstev]

LOVE this! Thanks for making it available. Im a self taught bass player and Ive always been a "feel" type of player and by that I mean, I never really learned how to count properly. This video gives logical explanation to one's "feel" way of playing the bass.

[@OlegRevulet]

Mark, you have most methodical and useful lessons! Your explanation in details are very easy to understand why you are doing this or that.

[@scottbrunner9569]

One of the best lessons I have seen, thank you so much!

[@2121toso]

Such a great and helpful lesson. Very well taught. You break it down so well so that it is very easy to follow. Great blend of function and theory. Thanks so much. You are an excellent teacher.

[@empressironbladder8942]

Excellent!! I am SO glad I found your channel...thank you for all this great content, and all the work you do that goes into it!🙋🏽‍♀️🎊

[@HoodieGreen]

Hey Mark, great work! Could you do an episode covering the intro? (the one that starts on every video)?

[@cassandrapeterson1051]

Great lesson, love this groove!

[@stewartent2009]

You are my Sensa!!! Thank you so much for all you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

Very great concept mate 👍 love it! Very few tutors embrace the "cut the crap" method but u do it beautifully! 10 /10!

[@santiagodevotto593]

This Channel is Great , Helped me a lot to learn bass! Thanks!

[@ednaplate]

A great lesson. Thanks

[@Rickenbacker954]

Fantastic lesson!

[@gustavocr5956]

thank you a lot, God bless! Really helped

[@nikofisk]

Cool video, just what I was looking for!

[@cosmo5179]

Thanks man! Now i can finally finish my new song with this concept/teaching! :)

[@nevyanayordanovakrumova8628]

Mark incredible.thank you for showing us how to play well the bass.you aré explaining very well and you aré a great profesional.i have learned almost all your lessons and i am very pleased with it.thank you again Mark you aré the best.

[@spaceyroad4481]

Awesome and clear bass funk lesson,Jesus bless

[@adamtucker1392]

Great lesson!!

[@siraxel5800]

Great video man this really helped

[@gautamkakati2236]

You are an excellent teacher, Mark 👍

[@wtfusheeple5383]

great lesson mark

[@kaulinman9670]

yeahh thanks for the lesson!!

[@ian_gotts]

Fantastic. Thanks

[@archermoore3704]

Nice grove I got that Thanks for the lesson.

[@boshrek4759]

Great Lesson!!! Im new to playing bass but loving your channel man!

[@talkingbasslessons]

Thanks a lot

[@mikkiastarkmusic6779]

You are a fantastic teacher and so so so helpful. I just subscribed. I pay thousands of dollars to be taught at my university and end up just going on here cuz none of them can teach like you.

[@cgd5095]

This is dope thank you

[@MoodOfMidas]

this tutorial helped me a lot!

[@johnbennett7554]

I'm just starting to learn the bass, I don't even have my own bass yet :D using one at a friends, but this lesson was really good, it shows how the simple steps lead towards the whole groove, bravo XD

[@marcelorost]

What a class!

[@troopsofd]

love u man, thanks so much

[@KozzmoKnight]

I was watching your video, I'm actually a piano/guitar player, just picked up the bass (well a bass amp, rattled to much on pa). I always liked the whole geddy lee, john paul jones routine. I found that whole arpeggio 7th to be very useful on the guitar. Makes for some very nice riffs. As for the bass, I have small hands, i'm only 5'3" was wondering about picking up a short neck bass. It would feel a lot more like a guitar, of course there is the sound question. I don't know, saw one at pawn shop for about a 100, I might try it out when I have some extra cash floating around. Of course the reason I would want it was for an easier time with slap bass, which might be self defeating.

[@rajeshhkkapoor8549]

Mark, thank you for this wonderful lesson. Can u please take the intro and outro of MESHUGGAHs Humilative and show us similar ideas...….and how to write like meshuggah...basic ones please.....thanx in advance.

[@VictorELShelton]

Very interesting

[@mredred5309]

great!

[@yousifa7354]

this really helped me a lot, thanks for the lesson :D

[@Thick_Cut]

Yousif Abuhamad Love the avatar...I'm a MM Stingray bassist myself!

[@user-tr5vw7ct8i]

useful video \m/

[@kezevraanwar2]

Subscribed 👊🏾

[@djrandalldean]

you've got the goods! fisrt video of yours I've seen, not the last

[@PushSueAside]

I don't know if it's just me, but doing the ghost notes slow was making me laugh so hard. It's like watching a cartoon cowboy using a spittoon or like you're trying to get a little hair off the tip of your tongue. Excellent lesson. Thank you

[@odeng5]

terimakasih mark..i always practise..your vid is helped how to play bass n become good bassist..hehehehehhee

[@alxiroi]

Makes wanna learn more from you. Any recommendation on your site if i want to dig deeper in funk ? Thank you

[@TreverTuck]

Hey did you ever actually make that part two video where you talk about adding chromatics?

[@Mizar88]

This was a great lesson, thank you very much! Just a question: why do you play the high C with your index finger and not with the middle one? Feels unnatural to me.

[@kewlfonz]

What drum machine is that? Like the sound

[@june_vincent_canda8836]

Sir I am your new subscriber can you notice this comment and give a heart as your gratitude hehe.I really like your vids about bass tutorial🥺❤️

[@harrisonpicot1236]

Hi Mark, Not sure I am ready for this, I was looking for a more basic rhythm lesson that you did where you start with some really simple patterns that a sub-genius such as I could stick to through a 12 bars blues (that may have been your pattern) and sort of hang out with a song when you wanted to play along. Does any of that sound familiar? I would appreciate a link if you can think of one. Thanks, Harrison

[@marcelocoip7275]

Hi Mark, generally you play ghost notes in the same string as the next (or previous) note? It's any particular reason for do this way or another? Thanks! GREAT VIDEO, really took me a to a step forward.

[@uncleclaw171]

Thanks a boonch :)

[@matthewwatkins3268]

My ghost notes keep coming out with some pitch to them, since its on a harmonic fret. Any advice on how to prevent this?

[@talkingbasslessons]

+Matthew Watkins You might be using one finger for the ghost note. Try using 2 or more fingers. Really, all the fingers should be muting because you should have released pressure on the fretted note. Also try pushing down a little bit harder. Obviously not enough to get a note but just enough to choke off the harmonic.

[@rogerdshrubber6557]

Lighten up on the fretting hand Don’t hold string to the fret.

[@BenD_Bass]

That drum beat sounds like Public Enemy - "bring the noise" and NWA - Straight outta Compton lol

[@tedseb7726]

I’m a guitarist, but I’m searching for the groove bc my setup sounds almost like a bassy fuzzy synth and I’ve been funkifying tf out of some shit. Consequently learned I suck at creating bass lines.

[@yoyos05]

Hi Mark! Any Idea where I can find maybe an app that funk rhythm?

[@kiikat_]

Best teacher!

[@AmvsorPiranhas]

Your bass is beautiful

[@talkingbasslessons]

+AmvsorPiranhas Cheers. It's an Enfield Lionheart.

[@cristianmagana8806]

Like design and company

[@micktomazou]

Take two Enfields into the studio when you only need one??? Love the SimS pick up system...

[@rogerdshrubber6557]

Mark. Can you do a video on the chicken ?? The rhythm thing is similar Good stuff !!!!

[@patspangler2351]

Excellent lesson......my wife bought a bass for me (7 days ago) and I am really enjoying you videos. I have played many instruments in my 66 years and find that your theory lessons are most helpful. I have two questions....1. What App or machine do you use for your drum backup? 2. Will I ever be able to teach my fingers to go between ghost notes and “real” fretted noted.....maybe not ever at my advanced age....lol. Thank you so much for your wonderful lessons and sharing your extraordinary talent.

[@menyazovut4484]

Bet you can! Its not so tricky when you got really used to your instrument, and there is no “really hard” technique, more about comfort and confidence

[@maytheforcebewithyou5923]

Hi I really like your videos I wanted. To ask you what kind of bass is this? Line6 buck's?

[@talkingbasslessons]

+Nikos Fender Hi Nikos. It's an Enfield Lionheart. www.enfieldguitars.com/

[@Robert-dt3is]

What kind of pickups are those?

[@markmontgomery1447]

That sounds cool but to create fill ins including some kind of bridge to have a whole song that gets the players fired up is hard when you'er playing with straight up jammers.

[@cristianmagana8806]

And where can I find a bass like that with the lights,

[@glsmw]

6:00

[@warrenrozario9823]

Mark can you teach the intro song to every video please

[@cskeise]

Hi Mark, I have just started playing bass to help with my drumming. loving your lessons, but feel the sound on the bass is to low as your voice and drum track are perfect. one more notch please.

[@TimACroninMusic]

Really good overall breakdown, but the final part of the lesson shoulda been "and then put some STANK on it!" Haha.

[@r-kayd]

Oh hai mark

[@Menyhard]

Thanks iam a guitar player and.just mess around with the bass

[@joshh158]

1:12

[@cristianmagana8806]

What bass is that?

[@jaykay__jaykay]

5:41 6:00 7:21 14:16

[@zanetanner8996]

I'm learning to play bass we coveing 8th notes.

[@pslyves]

hello sir. can u help me to guess a song? it's from 70s slow rock style. has bass intro with two notes. drum has slow tempo with misery beat style. BSS B. B. S (B-bass s- snare) i only know about the lyrics is COME ON/IN TRAIN,...the song sounds like english fire by BUSH. PLZ if u hv any idea help me to find it. i've tried all the googling,midomi,shazam,lyrics,quora.com etc

[@adamramirez6356]

Darude:sandstorm

[@bedroommusic1537]

How do you play with your bass so high

[@albaal7035]

That's actually the optimal bass height. Your bass strap should be set to a length so short that it's tightly rigid when you're sitting down. This ensures that the distance of your bass from your shoulders when standing up is exactly the same as it is when you're sitting down. This is to retain your skills during practice. Think about it. When sitting down, your bass is very close to your shoulders. When standing up, if your strap is too long, your bass is far from your shoulders. What you practiced sitting down won't be fully retained when you play it standing up.

[@ranaarslan6194]

He is the guy from Burnistoun, aye?

[@steggosaurus23]

Rana Arslan oh my, he is

[@soramon101]

Nice, kinda reminds of The Chicken bass line

[@dradnozklongtime3147]

4 string, WEAKSAUCE, but other than that :) thanks for the amazing vid, really helpful

[@yacy5954]

Dradnozk Longtime 4 string bass is really the only kind of bass anyone should plat

[@jjbing3]

This is one of the risk you take when you are a duo. Havoc to Prodigy, Big to Dre, Pooh to Te. It’s inevitable because y’all on the same song. Even features people say who had the best verse 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@wanamir6973]

is that a sheffield accent?

[@sevendaggers4678]

ohhh - uncovered the secret of bloody ghost notes .... they are produced through the muting of the left hand ???

[@talkingbasslessons]

+seven daggers Yes they are.

[@Ddanielgonzalez]

1970s!

[@MrDrop11]

I assume you use your fingernails? Has that pick like sound, just not as aggressive. Either that or some wicked calluses.

[@talkingbasslessons]

Lol. Not at all. My fingernails are nonexistent. Just calluses.

[@hughjass2612]

loads

[@el.gino_]

Too bad I can't play the ghost notes on my synth ...

[@boneout999]

sounds kinda like The chicken - jaco pastorius

[@musicsmugglers7795]

U are cute bro