The sound of a bass guitar with an envelope filter bass pedal is connected to and coming from the funk genre. This is why most of the great songs with this pedal are from the 70’s when the Funk was in fashion, and from the 90’s when the Acid Jazz and Funk-Rock styles were reviving the funk.
If you’re looking for funky bass lines that will inspire you to play with an envelope filter pedal, look no further because here are some of the best classic examples of using this pedal. Have fun(k).
1. Bootsy’s Ruber Band – Bootsy? (What’s The Name Of This Town)
Bootsy Collins could probably have his photo next to the phrase “envelope filter” in the dictionary. This legend has been in every major crossroad of funk history and made the envelope filter sound famous.
This song is an excellent example of how a bass line can be the center of the entire song, and how an envelope filter pedal makes everything fat.
2. Lenny Kravitz – Fly Away
This mega-hit is from Lenny’s 1998 album “5”. The story goes that this song wasn’t meant to be released on the “5” album at all, and Lenny Kravitz decided in the nearly-last minute to include it in the record.
Luckily he did because this song is not only one of his biggest hits but also probably the most familiar song with an envelope filter bass line in it. Bass Player: Lenny Kravitz
3. Parliament – Funkentelechy
Yo. This is Mood Control. Where’d you get your funk from?
I’ll tell you from where. Right there from this song.
In this 11-minute funk masterpiece, you’ll find one of the coolest bass lines in the first part, and great use of envelope filter in the second.
This song was released in 1977 as part of the “Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome” Album, which is a must for every bass player and funk lover out there. Bass Player: Cordell Mosson
4. Jamiroquai – Just Another Story
This is the opening track from Jamiroquai’s second album – The Return Of The Space Cowboy (1994).
Almost 9 minutes long, it doesn’t stop to funk you up. The mighty Stuart Zender on bass and envelope filter shows that he knows how to pay respect to the 70’s funk era bassists.
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Power Of Equality
Another opening track, from RHCP 1991 classic album “Blood Sugar Sex Magic.”
Although the envelope filter appears only in the short bridge, it is a perfect example of what you can do with this pedal.
This album was so groundbreaking and gained so much worldwide success, and this little bridge and another song from that album (we’ll get to that soon) were enough to introduce the envelope filter to a whole new generation of bass players. Bass Player: Flea, of course.
6.Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Sir Psycho Sexy
This song made me buy my first envelope filter bass pedal (dod fx25b) in the 90’s. (Flea Used the Mu-Tron III envelope filter in this recording).
Flea did such an excellent service for bassists and funk fans that you got to love him for this use of the filter.
7. Parliament – Wizard of Finance
Here’s another beautiful piece from the Funkentelechy album.
All the elements in this song work so wonderfully together – The vocals, the brass section, Bernie Worrell’s crazy synth sounds and of course Cordell Mosson’s filtered bass.
Buy an Envelope Filter Pedal on Amazon.com:
MXR Bass Envelope Filter – https://amzn.to/2Nqps3R
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron – https://amzn.to/2xzwXe4
Keeley Neutrino Envelope Filter – https://amzn.to/2xB2qwq
EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery – https://amzn.to/2Jh8dhd
I also recommend The envelope filter Tron Up/Tron Down tones on these products:
Line 6 M5 – https://amzn.to/2XjwtI4
Line 6 M9 – https://amzn.to/2Nnosx6
Line 6 M13 – https://amzn.to/2NoHh3f
Line 6 HX Stomp – https://amzn.to/2xhlVKf
Line 6 HX Effects – https://amzn.to/2XhRcvN
Line 6 POD HD500X – https://amzn.to/2FCtb83
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