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I Got Rhythm Guitar 6 - Funk Basics I

by Joe Kataldo

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  • 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

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