How To Play Funk (For Beginners) Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com

By Ben Gibson



Funk

the purpose of playing funk on a bass is the to be the backbone of the band.
the way to play funk is to play a emphasised ground note on the first beat, then do the funky 
impro. in the middle.

its all about syncopation. get as much into the bassline as you can.

silences can be used in funk as well. the best funk bass lines are simple with lots of silence 
but still with syncopation.

check out 


HOW TO PLAY

the funk scale (i cant remember the real name minor scale with a seventh r something)

goes like this for G (its the same shape of notes for every key)

G————————————————|————————————————|——————————0—————|————————————————|
D————————————————|———————0—————2——|——3—————————————|————————————————|
A——————————1—————|——3—————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
E—3————5—————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|

i know that doesnt sound too funky but if you make riffs using the notes it will.

heres one this guy taught me.

G————————0———————|————————0———————|——————0—————————|——————0—————————|
D———————————2h3——|——————————2h3———|—————————2h3————|—————————2h3————|
A————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
E————3———————————|——33—3——————————|——3—————————————|—3333———————————|

you can make it even funkier by putting in a fill every now and then such as these.

1.
G————————————————|————————————————|
D———33———2——0~———|————————————————|
A————————————————|——3h1———————————|
E————————————————|—————————3——————|

2.
G————————————————|————————————————|
D———5———323——5———|—5——323———5—————|
A————————————————|————————————————|
E————————————————|————————————————|

3.
G———00———0———————|————————————————|
D——————3————3———0|——————0—————————|
A————————————————|—1——3————3——————|
E————————————————|————————————1——3|


so yeah those are some basic things to know about funk.


check out tabs from these artists for funk tabs. JAMES BROWN, HERBIE HANCOCK, BOOTSY 
COLLINS.

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|

D|-------------------|

A|---3---------------|

E|-------------------|

            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|

D|-------5h7---------|

            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|

D|-------7p5---------|

            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|

D|-------5/7---------|

            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Bass Lessons — How To Play Funk (for Beginners) bass tabs