Bass Gym: Put Some Funk in Your Pick Playing

My apologies for the name of today’s plectrum funky groove. What can I say other than that it really sounds like its name?

As Bobby Vega, tone connoisseur and master of pick-style grooves, has demonstrated many times, funk is not in your technique, but in your vibe and flow. There’s no need for slapping or intricate finger techniques – just grab a pick and start funk-ing!

My second apology is for the super simple harmonic context, as we’ll be grooving on the most common E7 chord using its arpeggio notes (E, G♯, B and D), combined with the minor blues pentatonic scale (E, G, A, A♯, B and D). However, we’ll also throw in the Mixolydian scale for some extra fresh sounds (E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ and D).

In bars 13–16, we’ll move to A7, using the minor blues scale (A, C, D, D♯, E, G).

The main gimmick is playing fast sextuplets within the main groove, starting in bar 9. It looks tricky, but it’s quite easy to master as you play it as one downstroke, with the other two notes being hammer-ons in the fretting hand. A plectrum is helpful for making it sound crisp and articulate.

Enjoy this funky stuff and keep your plectrum in your pocket at all times (as well as your groove).

Download the transcription and follow along with the video below.