The term bass virtuoso may as well exist to describe Thundercat. Born Stephen Lee Bruner in Los Angeles, the flashy, futuristic, furiously funky four-stringer has brought scores of new converts to the instrument. Thundercat’s career has seen him lay down grooves for Erykah Badu, Kamasi Washington, and Kendrick Lamar. But one particular high-profile collaborator, Flying Lotus, encouraged Bruner to pursue his singular artistic vision and record solo music. With his anime-inspired look and custom 6-string bass, Thundercat cuts a striking presence onstage. Dive into his song “Funny Thing” and find out how to get its sound with the BOSS Katana.
About the Song
“Funny Thing” is taken from 2020’s It Is What It Is, a release that won a Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album. Produced by the artist and Flying Lotus, the track is just under two minutes of music. However, it distills much of the Thundercat magic in that brief time.
“Do you mind if I wild out? A little?” asks the lyrics, to which the answer is a definitive affirmative. Like Thundercat himself, “Funny Thing” is both futuristic and retro, evoking a sci-fi disco with its breezy beat. A video featuring footage from 1979’s Disco Godfather (and boasting nearly four million views) seals the deal.
"The track is just under two minutes of music. However, it distills much of the Thundercat magic in that brief time."
Breaking it Down
With its lush synths and four-on-the-floor drums, the track is a certified dancefloor banger—but it’s more than that. Thundercat’s fluid auto-wah bass drives “Funny Thing” with tasteful licks. At 0:27, a swirling monophonic synth line enters. In response, the bass thumping becomes even more insistent, almost as if the party is heating up.
The bassist stays disciplined and in the pocket throughout. Yet at 1:04, he drops in a plaintive alternate voicing which shifts the song’s emotion ever so slightly. The melancholy undertone of embellishments like this makes Thundercat a unique instrumentalist in contemporary music.
"Thundercat's fluid auto-wah bass drives 'Funny Thing' with tasteful licks."
Learn the Licks
In a video on the Marty Music channel, Marty Schwartz takes us through key phrases from Thundercat’s performance, teaching viewers how to capture the loose, improvised feel of the track. Using a BOSS Katana patch, the instructor explains how to emulate the bass part on the guitar.
As a bonus, the video shows how to play the airy Major 7th chords that make up the melodic basis of “Funny Thing.” Spend some time watching the video and getting inspired. Then, visit BOSS Tone Exchange, download the “Funny Cat” patch for your Katana, and dive into the kaleidoscopic world of Thundercat.
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"Funny Cat" Patch for BOSS Katana
- In the style of “Funny Thing” by Thundercat
- Uses Heavy Octave effect to emulate the main bassline, with touch wah
