Classic Funk and R&B Grooves for Bass
Josquin des Pres
Item: 00-PB-0002258
$20.99
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Description
Classic Funk and R&B Grooves for Bass is an overview of stylistic examples that capture the essence of R&B recordings from Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Motown, and New York. All the music examples (98 total!) are written in standard notation and tablature, and all the examples are demonstrated on the enclosed recording (live, not sequenced). The recording is designed to take you beyond just playing the correct notes by providing the true feel of these great grooves.
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Sample Audio
1
In the Style of 70s Fusion
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2
In the Style of James Jamerson
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3
In the Style of Rhythm and Beat Group War
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In the Style of 70s Fusion
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Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Bass Masters Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
36
SKU:
00-PB-0002258
More about this title
Why we love this
Ninety-eight groove patterns delivered with live recorded reference tracks means your students hear the pocket before they play it. The dual notation (standard and tab) removes guesswork, while the geographic breadth of these examples spans Memphis soul through Motown precision to New York's underground energy. Your bass section gets a masterclass in stylistic authenticity without the transcription work.
What to expect
These grooves pulse with the specificity of classic recordings. You're not learning generic funk patterns; you're absorbing the sensibility of musicians who shaped popular music across decades and cities. The live recording captures the human timing and touch that makes a groove breathe rather than merely count.
Who it's for
Bass guitarists serious about understanding funk and R&B vocabulary, whether they're building a jazz fusion foundation or looking to deepen their feel in contemporary styles. This works equally well for self-directed study and as a supplemental resource in ensemble or private lessons.
How to get the most out of it
- Listen to the recorded groove multiple times before touching the bass. Internalize the pocket, the ghost notes, the spaces between the hits.
- Start slow with the recording and lock into the kick drum first. Once the low end communicates with you, the bass line becomes conversational rather than mechanical.
- Pay attention to when less is more. Many of these grooves breathe because the bassist knows when to sit back and let the rhythm section breathe.
- Compare the live recording against your tablature reading. Notice articulation, muting technique, and dynamic shape that standard notation alone cannot capture.
How to use it
Assign individual grooves as technical preparation for students learning jazz standards or contemporary charts that draw on funk and R&B language. The collection also works well as a self-paced resource alongside your existing bass curriculum, allowing students to build stylistic literacy independent of ensemble rehearsal schedules.
Skills your students will build
- Recognition and replication of syncopated rhythmic patterns across multiple regional R&B styles
- Coordination between muted and open strings to create articulated, percussive textures
- Listening and matching feel to recorded reference without relying on tempo markings alone
- Reading fluency across both standard notation and tablature simultaneously
- Understanding how bass lines function as conversational elements within a rhythm section rather than solo voices