Synth Funk Bass Tutorial

Another quick tutorial whilst my bigger projects are going on in the background.

This time we're looking at a synth funk bass line with the Roland SH-101. The video covers the dorian mode, writing in phrases and programming the right kind of sound.

There's also a short production at the end in Cubase to try it out in context.

Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[Stonemountaingolfajs]

Absolutely genius. That whole ABACABAD is a building block for funk and I've never heard anyone explain it so well.

[craigmcginley]

The recent string of videos are wonderful. Presenting all the aspects from sound design, composition tips, music theory concepts, and the context in a full song/mix, while keeping the whole thing entertaining, is remarkable. Keep up the great work and thank you!

[SamStormsKBD]

Man, your content is pure gold. Loved how you showed how you made the synth from scratch and how you built your composing ideas 👏🏻👏🏻

[SisterRose]

have to admit i find actually playing a passage on a synth more than once intimidating

[btsndcts]

I remember watching Gegg Phillinganes break down the Thriller bass line and Rob Temperton had used a similar method.
At first it sounds like it's getting played straight but every so often there are these little flurries that trick they ear re-fresh the bass.
Simple but brilliant.

[EdgieAlias]

It's important to remember that the funk you get comes from composition, not just the sound being generated. Playing octaves seems to help a lot, so start there 💙

[AHmediaDesigns]

What I love about these videos are that they're easy to understand without getting too deep into theory which bores me to death lol ...and great production too. Love the subtle "film effect" throughout.

[Spudcore]

If you crave that P-Funk flava, but you're hard up for pence, have a go of the TAL Bassline. It's a really good free vst emulation of the 101. For the more solvent among us, they also have a sexier, more fully-featured version called Bassline 101 which costs $60.

[boriscat]

I learned a lot in only 10 minutes. This is great stuff, I wish I would have found it sooner. I think my Korg Monologue is similar enough to do this, going to practice a bit. Thanks for making this video!

[funforall]

These tips are fantastic, i found myself getting into that one bar loop after getting into electronic music until a singer who does primarily ballads brought my mindset back to phrases, this is exactly the kind of bassline thinking that should make my mixes less stale thank you.

[M-Scherbakov]

Come back after one year to watch this again, and now question is - where i can put second like to this video?

[dillipphunbar]

Thank you for giving an interesting tutorial without trying to flog the latest gear or even over-priced gear from yesteryear.

[djlukestein]

Such a great informative video on so many levels. Thank you Alex

[SepulvedaBoulevard]

Stanky funk groove! Never caught the dorian connection before, so thanks for the lesson😎

[updown]

Fantastic Alex, thanks for your efforts. Happy to have found your channel.

[contactjuggler]

Just discovered your channel. My only regret is that I didn't find it earlier. It was interesting, informative, and to the point. Extremely useful, thank you.

[jamesturk]

This is just what I needed to watch! I am in need of breaking out of loops and 8 bar arpeggiated bass..this has really got me back on track! (Pun intended)

[daniyalahmed]

Dude I saw your Prophet video and it was so professional I thought it was a Reverb video or something. Killer content man, subscribed. Hope you keep it up, this stuff is great!

[adrianmutimer]

Ah! What it is when you come across a like mind! I have said many times, it is very easy to write a funk song... it is very difficult to write a really good one. You identify that people tend to write a single groove and hope to make the top line so wonderful that the audience is happy. That used to work in 1975 because funk was new and people were easily excited by it. But, now, if you leave it there, it takes people nowhere. So you need an A section in your song and you need a B...and, . if you can stretch to it, a C that allows you back to either your A or your B. And the problem is the chord move you really *want* to make between your A and B (and/or your C) is to the IV (and back) - and in funk, moves to the IV sound hackneyed and obvious. So you need a million tricks to avoid that move and/or cover it up.

I just subscribed and I will watch all your vids, be sure.

[tehedx]

That's just plain cool, clear explanation included. Thanks!!!