Synth Funk Bass Tutorial 

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

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!

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

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.

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 💙

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

Thank God for teachers like you ♥

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

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.

One thing I’d add is that the rhythm is as important as the notes. You’ve got to match the swing of the drums or it won’t feel right. A lot of great funk lines on bass include little ghost notes, slapping the keys in rhythm on simple octaves. Your bass lines swing right with the drums!

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!

Just want to second what others are saying about this series of videos. You've really hit upon a great teaching technique, here. Bite sized lessons on useful topics for composers, performers and those who aspire to be. Of course, I love your other, longer videos, too, so please keep those coming. And when are we getting a new album? Filibuster is awesome!

Great tips. Thank you!

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

Very nice,Thank you for sharing. This track sounds like GO GO mixed with 80's electro funk😊🤩

Great video as usual! Bass Station 2 is a good alternative to SH101 if you want a mono synth with that form factor.

6:07 We love you Dr. Funkenstein!

Congrats it's a 4/5 bass! E P I C O

that sounded fucking great, dude cheers!

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

Thanks. I always get more watching music tutorials with an instrument in hand, (always have bass/guitar sitting out so super easy to get to that even mild curiosity will pick them up) apprecate you showing scales etc while explaining so i can play along a bit

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)

I only had the chance to play with the vst version of it by Arturia i think, true to the original. And it was a blast, i was surprised how many great sounds i was able squeeze out of this.

OK, between the terminator video and this one, that's all I need. Subscribed

Great Tutorial

Def do some more of these tutorials. We want the funk!

awesome funk overload and a master tutorial here, bomb!!

It’s 16 June 2024 in New York City as I comment. I’ve got clear images in my head of approximating this patch on my newly-acquired ASM Hydrasynth Explorer. True, it’s analog emulation in lieu of true analog, but it’s primed for writing patches just like this.

Great video. Thanks. I've always wanted to try synth bass but didn't know where to start.

This is quality content right here

"and that's where the funk is found." "Bootsy Collins is somewhere around here."

Really neat stuff! I could imagine a 24k magic-esque long sustain note section if you wanted to extended this piece.

Damnnn that groooves!

Beautiful & Insightful!!

Excellent! I love that! A new world opened for me! thanks Alex! :))))))

Great video! I hope you find your way back to doing more of these kind of videos… They’re really helpful and greatly appreciated.

Following along on my Behringer MS-1 weeeeee!!!!

Superb stuff!

Thank you. Some helpful tips. I've definitely got rather frustrated with being stuck in a one bar loop!

Sick groove brah, I was composing drums in my head to it haha

keep coming back to this AB thanks

"a Minor 7th, a major 6th"... and a minor 3rd :-) That's also rather distinctive of the Dorian mode, I dare say. How I wish I could recognise the sound of the modes by ear! Been trying for years. Not hard enough, clearly. Not going to give up though...

Just out of curiosity, you know so much about the different aspects of music. Mixing, synthesis, orchestration, composition etc. did you focus on one element at a time? How did you jam so much knowledge into your Brain?!

It's either this bass line or another from one of your vids that keeps playing in my mind. It's don't particularly enjoy it but it's catchy. Keep up the good work, you deserve whatever success comes your way.

Awesome explanation, subscribed!

another great upload Alex ...really enjoying these.

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

Great stuff

Top Banana, Alex.! :) Thumbs up for a "Modes" tutorial.

This video was quite helpful!.👍🏽💯🎯

TAL have made a roland emulator VST for this synth

What a tutorial. Alex your a Don bossman !!, nice to hear and watch genuine educational content. I have a bit of obseesion with synth funk lately so this tutorial was very welcome.

Thank you! Great for a complete newbie to play around with!

Big thanks! I will have something to learn! (Ass soon as my brain digest that Fdorian mode because I don't know theory at all) Stay safe!

Thank you for your kind sharing! I was always stuck in the loop. Now I know what the problem is 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Really great tips,just what I was looking for ...thanks ... viva la funk .

Lovely

insighful, thanks.

Thanks! Very helpful video!

Awesome dude, thanks!

Great video.. would love to see one where you explain the bends and funk note choices more 🎉❤

LOVED IT!!! UNIQUE TUTORIAL ON THIS SUBJECT!

Great advice - thank you.

I was looking for a vid to do this and Im soo glad you had one. You've been my favorite synth channel for years.

Killin it dogg, keep ‘em coming, hard

Thanks! Nice vid! At 7:33 I would have added something like an explanation about b5 or blue note. A topic on its own!

Wow great video, keep it up!

I love how you demonstrate this stuff!! Thank you!

This is great! Right up my alley!

Great Video, thank you!

Man you're pretty good

Dope!

Awesome video!. Thanks! Your explanation was excellent and technique is very good. 👍

great video man! helping me on my synth bass journey :)

5:37 the theory 5:49 "And that's where the funk is found"

You're a genius!

Wow, thats a lot of fun, thanx

Great!

Loved it. Thanks!

This sounds like it's from Streets of Rage

is there a video of just the tune being played? want to stick it in a playlist, that's a real banger

A great bass session bro :-)

thank you!

Love these tutorial vids! Please keep em' coming. by the way, do you think about chords when you're composing a bassline or you are you thinking more melodically?

What also works is transposing a phrase up a perfect 4th, echoing the first phrase followed by an answer phrase... thats what happens in blues and gospel

wow! cool!!

Very helpful thank you

So good

Tried following along on my Arturia Microbrute, didn't turn out too saucy. I feel its my ineptitude with synthesizers, or just my synth. Not sure.

Wow!

Thanks boss !

crazy good video! thank you mate

Your channel is fantastic!

Cool!