Wah Funk Lesson

So here's the "Wah Funk" tune/lesson. I took the nicest licks off the mp3 as a lot of it repeats as you'll hear. So's not to make a giant road map of a chart I broke it down to it's two sections.

wahfunk.jpg (music)
wahfunk.mp3 (audio)

For the "Wah" effect on the top side (hence the name -or lack of a better one) I used the "MoogerFooger" stomp box by Moog. It gives ya that auto wah effect dependent on how hard ya hit. A lot of times I like the 'feel' of 'wah-ing' that way instead of a peddle.

I'm sure you'll recognize these well placed late 60's funk parts for both bass and guitar, we just happen to be able to do them both at the same time on one instrument...very deluxe and cool.

Keep the bass notes short and 'poppy' when playin' the 16ths... and on the strummed chords second measure think "James Brown" singin' "Get on up!" as it adds to the flavor of the feel. You'll hear it.

I strum the chord part with the top of my RH index finger nail and pluck the bass with my toes... just kiddin' I use my RH fingers. There is no tapping involved and that's the beauty of this lesson in that it is unique to this instrument. I know of no other that we can take and use regular bass and guitar parts and play them together and at the same time too! AND as it all originates from the same player it gives that "Super Feel" to our groove.

The chord is formed on and around the 13th fret and is a simple four stringed bar chord shape involving the first finger (bar-ing) and the second finger adding the "D" note (14th fret) on the "C" string.

On the bass side use the open "E" string so you can let it ring through the chord. On the "A" chord utilize the fretted "A" as well as the open "A". This gives your bass groove a little swing. Lean into the second "A" (open) a little harder than the fretted. That adds a nice pro edge to the line making it a little more well crafted and fluid.

Well, that's about it for now. We'll cover soloing basics another time which basically just the "Two Faces" of soloing. Face one is... the look of the "What smells bad" sneer - and face two "OOOUCH, I stepped on glass" open mouth gasp!... " As far as 'notes' - it don't matter what notes ya play - you'll look cool doin' it."

Take care,
Don