Funky Tech Radio

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 69: Let Em Know  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Let Em Know’ by the Souls of Mischief. We stay in Bb minor this week as we explore the first track of the classic Hip Hop album ’93 ’til Infinity. You can never go wrong when you combine jazzy basslines with gritty drums! @soulsofmischief Subscribe:&nb...

Podcast episode out now. Full video on Youtube. Link to both in bio!  Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 68: Come Down  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Come Down’ by Anderson .Paak. When West Coast funk strikes, you take heed to the vibe. And this song is full of vibe. Anderson .Paak has his own undeniable vibe, this time he uses the key of Bb...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 67: Excursions  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Excursions’ by A Tribe Called Quest. Once again, our Tribe delivers with some hip hop jazzy goodness. I had the pleasure of seeing Ali Shaheed Muhammad play this on the bass live with @adrianyounge on The Midnight Hour tour. Although this riff is only four notes, don’...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 66: Be (Intro)  Happy New Year my funky friends! We back! This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Be’ by Common. This one was a request from the homie  @more_reece and I’m surprised I let this gem slip by for so long. No worries, theres no better song to start off the New Year! This smooth and inspiring riff resides i...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 65: Jam This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Jam’ by A Tribe Called Quest. This one is definitely a jazz track chopped correctly. As the musical elements bounce around, we catch the four note bass riff in C minor. This riff is a fun one to play, so lets embrace this hip hop jazz! @atribecalledquest @qtiptheabstract @alishaheed Subscribe: Funky Tech...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 64: The Pressure This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘The Pressure’ by A Tribe Called Quest. This song has a very unique bass line in G minor that has always stood out. Definitely an example of how the Tribe pushed the boundaries of hip hop and created their own sound. Lets dig in! @atribecalledquest @qtiptheabstract @alishaheed Subscribe: Funky Tec...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 63: Sweet This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Sweet’ by Jay Z. We got another funky number on our hands in the key of F minor. This Curtis Mayfield vibe takes us back to those American Gangster days, one of my favorite Jay Z albums. Lets get funky! @jayz Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podc...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 62: Nuthin But A "G" Thang This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Nuthin' But A "G" Thang’ by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg. You know this G-Funk classic had to get touched sooner or later. We’re rocking out in the key of B minor and grooving! @DrDre @SnoopDogg Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 61: All Eyez on Me This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘All Eyez on Me’ by 2Pac. This two note riff consists primarily of octaves in the key of D minor, but there are occasional flares throughout the track that spice up this line. A classic is a classic, no matter how simple or complex! @2pac Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 60: Drive Slow This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Drive Slow’ by Kanye West. The vibe of this track always resonated with me. It has a very downtempo and introspective feel; it may have something to do with the descending bass line in Eb minor. Lets vibe! @kanyewest @paulwallbaby @glctheism Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 59: Kick, Push This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Kick, Push’ by Lupe Fiasco. We gotta go back and touch on this skater classic. We’re in A minor this week, and we get to do some string sliding! Lots of fun energy from this song. Lets get it! @lupefiasco Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite pod...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 58: Paris, Tokyo This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Paris, Tokyo’ by Lupe Fiasco. This chill, four note groove is in the key of G minor. Come along for ride and catch this autumn vibe! @lupefiasco Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts! Tune in and learn! Support the show: If you’re a fa...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 57: Go! This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Go!’ by Common. This fairly simple riff is in Bb major, but starts on C and walks up the C minor scale. The beauty of simple riffs is that they are memorable. Go! @common Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts! Tune in and learn! Support the sho...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 56: The Light This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘The Light’ by Common. We got ourselves a classic Dilla joint. We seem to be locked in to E minor, and this time we’ll get a chance to use our open E string and embrace our low end. Come through and study the groove! @common Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 55: The Blast This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘The Blast’ by Hi Tek & Taleb Kweli. I think all hip hop heads can agree that this legendary track deserves sone recognition. We got ourselves another bass line in E Minor, but this one only uses three notes. Come through and study the groove! @talibkweli Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, An...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 54: Graffiti This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Graffiti’ by Digable Planets. You know we gotta hit you with some organic hip hop jazz. This bass line is in E Minor and only uses four notes. Another example of how the simplest grooves are usually the grooviest! @officialdoodlebug @ladybugmecca Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm,...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 53: Wack MC's This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Wack MC's’ by Del the Funkee Homosapien. This may be one of those classics that still applies today. The foundation of this jazzy bass line is A Minor, but may be in the Locrian mode. The bass line also switches up in this one, but we got you covered! Don’t be wack, come step your skills up and flou...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 52: Amtrak This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Amtrak’ by Big K.R.I.T. This track is off the classic project Return Of 4 Eva, a project I tend to return to time and time again. This bass line rides C Minor, so lets ride out to some bluesy funk! @BigKrit Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podca...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 51: Lemonade This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Lemonade’ by Gucci Mane. We’re back on our Hip Hop tip! We all know this bass line is super groovy. It’s only natural that this line resides in the key of G Minor. So lets get these riffs rolling! @laflare1017 Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 50: The Dayz of Wayback This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'The Dayz of Wayback’ by N.W.A. This feel good groove is an example of great production and chop work from a great producer. I had to listen to the original sample to figure this one out, and boy was it worth it. This riff is in F sharp minor, and is a great example of how a bass line and a...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 49: 8 Million Stories This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to '8 Million Stories’ by A Tribe Called Quest. It sucks that our tribe was snubbed for a Grammy nomination this year, but the people love you and we thank you for your service! This bass riff outlines the beautiful sounding E minor 9th chord, and forces your hand to move beyond your fretboard c...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 48: Capitol This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Capitol ’ by Curren$y. This smooth bass line is the epitome of southern funk. The vibe is strong with this one. The key of A minor seems to be the name of the game, because every note is used. Southern funk always holds it down, so lets keep it G’d up! Support the show! Subscribe to Funky Tech Radio o...

This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Gazillion Ear’ by DOOM. As a personal favorite, this bass riff had to be thrown into the mix. Dilla beats and DOOM bars are the epitome of hip hop, so tune in and catch the groove. We’re on the fast track to 50! Support the show! Subscribe to Funky Tech Radio on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts!...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 46: Paid In Full This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Paid In Full’ by Eric B and Rakim. This iconic bass line follows the F minor blues scale. Easy on the hands and satisfying to the soul. Also, this is how I wan’t y’all to bring in your holiday and new year: Paid In Full! Support the show! Subscribe to Funky Tech Radio on iTunes, Google Play, Stit...

This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'For tha Love of Money’ by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. We’re halfway to 50, so it’s only right that we take a trip to the midwest for some Hip Hop harmony. This riff is so simple yet so iconic. We talk about the Dorian scale and how it relates to the major key, which is D Major. Nothing you creatives can’t handle, so lets get to it! @bonethugsn...