Groove Archives
Grooving Over the i–♭III–♭VI–V Minor Progression in Pop & Rock (Triads + Scale Tones)
Learn how to groove over the i–♭III–♭VI–V minor progression using triads, scale tones, and a dominant V chord. Build stronger bass lines in pop and rock.
How to Add Soulful R&B Feel to Your Bass Lines with Slides and Grace Notes
Learn how to add soulful R&B feel to your bass lines using slides, grace notes, and major pentatonic moves. A simple way to bring life and expression to your groove.
Try This Funky Dorian Bass Line (Inspired at a London Music Store)
Explore this Dorian-based funk groove featuring double stops over a Dm7 vamp - perfect for adding harmonic depth to your bass lines.
Cold Sweat: A James Brown Funk Groove Every Bassist Should Know
Learn the iconic funk groove from James Brown’s “Cold Sweat” and how to use it as a foundation for building your own bass lines.
Make Your Funk Bass Lines Greasy with Slides and Hammer-Ons
Improve your funk bass phrasing with fretting hand techniques including hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides to bring out feel, articulation, and dynamics.
How a Sponge and an 8-Bar Groove Capture That James Jamerson-Era Funk Bass Tone
Create a vintage funk bass tone using sponge muting in this 8-bar groove lesson with tone, rhythm, and technique tips.
From Theory to Groove: How Interval Practice Makes Your Bass Playing Funkier
Master your bass fretboard with creative interval exercises. Build funky grooves and elevate your playing by exploring key interval positions and fills.
The Brown’stone: The Groove Exercise You Need Right Now
This week in The Brown’stone on No Treble, Rich Brown is here to improve your groove with a great exercise that will challenge your ability to lock with the 16th-note subdivision. This exercise will also get you moving and grooving in no time.
Keep It Groovy: How To Play The Bass Line To Lady Marmalade
Today we’re keeping it groovy by learning the classic funk bass line to LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” Ryan Madora walks us through a simple part that perfectly outlines the harmony and creates a particularly memorable and easy-to-play bass line.
The Brown’stone: Fonk! And the Power of “a”
This week in The Brown’stone on No Treble, Rich Brown is talking about FONK! That’s right, people. This lesson is an exercise in groovin’ and adding some ‘stank’ to your funk game.
Talking Technique: The Magic Behind “Steal My Kisses”
You probably already know “Steal My Kisses” by Ben Harper, and the excellent bass line by Juan Nelson. In today’s “Talking Technique” lesson, Ari breaks this down with a focus on “Tenths” over I vi IV V pattern.
Finding the Groove Vs. Letting the Groove Find You
Q: When making music, i.e. improvising, making a song, creating a groove, etc., I find myself sometimes approaching it from what I hear while fiddling around, and at other times approaching it more cerebral, as in “let’s create a groove that has a flat nine in it.” I like to call these the bottom up (let the sounds guide me)...