What do ya'll think of Tony Levin's funk fingers? Seems to be a lot of hate surrounding them, as if they are some kind of cop out in the way of real slapping, although I don't really get that. Thinking of investing in some or making my own.
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Funk Fingers
- Thread starter John The Floyd
- Start date
I would say the majority of haters are haters because they can't use them properly. It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of them. Tony can slap just fine. There's enough proof of that. It is merely another tool to achieve a certain sound. Try them out or make your own! I still have a pair from the 90's.
Check out Marco Machera using them on the first tune of this set:
ALOT of practice. I bought two sets when they came out again in 2013, but I don't play with them nearly enough.
It's also not a cop out instead of slapping. Funk finger certainly do not sound like slapping IMO.
They really don't have anything to do with slapping. They're a way to do drumstick bass with only one person, instead of needing a 2nd person to use the sticks. It's its own separate thing.
You could try the Guitar Triller as an alternative. Not quite the same, but you might be able to get a similar percussive sound. Cheaper and easier to get probably.
I have a prototype version, but haven't used it much.
I have a prototype version, but haven't used it much.
Levin developed them after recording on Peter Gabriel's So, I believe. There was a particular part where the drummer started playing the strings with his sticks and Levin did the fingering. He needed a way to replicate that live and so Funk Fingers were born.
They look like they'd have some learning curve, and I don't know that I'd find a real use for them, but Levin sure makes them sound cool.
They look like they'd have some learning curve, and I don't know that I'd find a real use for them, but Levin sure makes them sound cool.
Hmmm, an interesting way of getting a percussive sound. I think I will cut up a couple of drumsticks in the workshop, Velcro them to my fingers to see how I go.
Better on a fretless perhaps?
Better on a fretless perhaps?
I completely agree it's not slapping but some people think it's similar to slapping, and I think those people have never used funk fingers.
Amazing on fretless.
One of my favourite uses for my funk fingers is with heavy compression on my fretless Jazz; the tone is absolutely perfect for playing Red Rain by Peter Gabriel.
Anyone know which parts of 'So' have funk fingers? I'd say the 'slappy' bass part in 'Big Time' but anywhere else on that CD?
I think I would be happier just using a single drum stick that was shortened, rather than trying to coordinate two clumsy looking devices. Tony makes it look easy though.
I don't technically own a fretless at the moment, it is a project in the making. So when it is finished it I will experiment with the sound I can get from it. The only fretless I have had to date was a upright bass.