X

You have no bookmarks.
Edit
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Lick of the day
  • Workshops
  • Knowledge base
  • Forum

I Got Rhythm Guitar 6 - Funk Basics I

View feedback (28)

by Joe Kataldo

Lesson step:

  • main
  • Members only1
  • 2
  • Members only3
  • Members only4
  • Members only5
  • Difficulty: 2
  • Lesson
  • My notes
  • Community
  • Statistics
  • Share
    • Tags:  Funk basics, Scratching, Left hand muting

      Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music.

    Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony, and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Unlike R&B and soul songs, which had many chord changes, funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord.

    Like much of African inspired music, funk typically consists of a complex groove with rhythm instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, Hammond organ, and drums playing interlocking rhythms. Funk bands also usually have a horn section of several saxophones, trumpets, and in some cases, a trombone, which plays rhythmic "hits".


    This Lesson Will Improve
    -------------------------

    Left Hand Muting

    R.H./L.H. Coordination

    Strumming




    Funk Basic I
    ------------

    We will start scratching (ghost note) all sixteenth-note (four per beat) with a constant down/up strumming, muting the strings laying lightly an E9 chord (the James Brown Chord) shape, and adding pressure to play different accents:


    1. on the first sixteenth-note, with a down-stroke, followed by three scratches;
    2. on the third sixteenth-note, with a down-stroke, preceded by two and followed by one scratch;
    3. on the second sixteenth-note, with an up-stroke, preceded by one and followed by two scratches;
    4. on the last sixteenth-note, with an up-stroke, preceded by three scratches;


    NOTE:

    These exercise are the building blocks of funk guitar, and need to be practiced daily!




    Recommended Listening
    ---------------------

    Well funk is "Attitude", listen will surely improve your playing! There is no enough space to mention all the great band, surely you could start with James Brown, but I prefer to post a complete "Essential Discography" in mine "Ask an Instructor" sub-forum http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=11990




    Pro Tips
    --------

    Every time I discover one of my students be not in time he his not tapping his foot!
    Tap your foot while playing, will connect your internal timing with the music.


    Technique Focus
    ----------------

    Try to not drag your pick across the string, instead play chords like all the note were simultaneously played, like a piano player will do, with a short fast attack.



    Theory Focus
    ------------

    A 9th Chord is a Dominant 7 chord plus a major 9, well you may say that there are only 7 note in our musical system, that right, in fact 9th, D in these case is the 2nd an octave higher:

    EX.


    C MIXOLYDIAN
    1--2--3--4--5--6--b7--8--9--
    C--D--E--F--G--A--Bb--C--D--

    C9
    1--2--3--4--5--6--b7--8--9--
    C-----E-----G-----Bb-----D--


    More variation will follow in the next lessons...see ya soon!

    Joe Kataldo

    Related lessons:

  • Login to use my notes. No GMC account? Register here.

  • Wiki

    No matching wiki article was found for this lesson. Write one!

    Forum

    • John Pizzarelli - I Got Rhythm

      Started by Ramiro Delforte May 15, 2009 with 34 replies Here is an amazing guitar player that some of you might know But I wanted to post this because I recently found these videos that are... Enter >>

    • I Got Rhythm Guitar 1 - Drop D

      Started by Kahall Aug 22, 2009 with 5 replies Original lesson is here. Guitar: Schecter C-1+ Audio Recording: Reaper Video: Old Crappy RCA Vid Camera Enter >>

    • I Gotta Let This Out...

      Started by Rated Htr Jan 31, 2009 with 109 replies Firstly, if you don't wanna read emotional stuff, don't bother reading from this point...Secondly, there's no need for respon... Enter >>

    • I Got No Clue How, But I Wrote Something

      Started by Jesse Jan 31, 2009 with 18 replies It's mellow, I got verse and chorus, chorus is same as verse but other playing style. Its a bit emotional, well, its mellow and calm ... Enter >>

    • I Got A Problem Here!

      Started by Marc_Maiden Jan 30, 2009 with 3 replies hey guys... i got a problem with the roland gk-3 pick up.... i have an ibanez rg520qm which has pick up rings....these pick up rings le... Enter >>

    Video Responses

    Posting video responses are only avalible for members.

    No video responses have been posted yet in this lesson.

  • Members practicing this lesson

    Lesson views

    • Total views: 4533
    • Member views: 640
    • Guest views: 3893

    Lesson rating

    • No users have rated this lesson yet.