How to play funk guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sandman2000
  • Start date Start date
S

Sandman2000

New member
I want to learn how to play funk guitar(ex-Sly and The Family Stones&Ohio Players.What do I have to learn to play this style successfully.Is there any purpose in me learning stuff like the blues proggression.Please help.I need some guidance.
 
I would say that no matter what style you want to go towards,learning how 12 bar I-IV-V progressions work will be a good simple intro to song structure and learning meter and key signatures,etc.Plus,you will have instant common ground with just about anyone who owns a guitar and who dares or cares to go out in public with it.For the funk,a small 1st step: make a Root 5 Dominant 9th chord at the 7th fret(ring finger across strings 1,2,and 3,index on 4th string at 6th fret,middle finger on 5th and 6th strings at 7th fret.(E9)Now tap your foot at or below 120 beats per minute(not too much below!)and strum alt.down up sixteenth notes(1e+a,2e+a,etc.) In other words,4 strums per beat.Next,find a good drummer!BTW,a clean Strat sound with the bridge and middle pickups both on works well here.Cheers!
 
Like v.r said geet a good drummer and a really good bass player, close your eyes & feel the groove.
You might want to stay just behind the beat to keep the dancing babes waiting with anticipation for your next move.

RussP
 
Keep an open mind about learning, don't ever stop. Becoming familiar with different styles of music could never be detrimental or harmful.
If you haven't done so already, consider taking a few lessons - learn how to read music.

Get a metronome and work with it.
Listen to music you like and try to emulate it. Observe other players.
 
Luv funk!.When me and the crew get together
and start jammin'and the music is hot, I just follow the flow on my axe (bass) by my drummer. If your'e playing rhythm git,follow
Virt.Ray's advice.Feel the drummer and strum
or lead to a syncopated rhythm effect.Check out the gits on any James Brown tune,or even the Average White Band.
 
The guy in AWB was killer! Also, check out '70's Earth Wind and Fire, Chic (Nile Rodgers), Kool and the Gang (especially Funky Stuff 1 & 2 and Jungle Boogie), Parliament/Funkadelic (for the weirder stuff), and sometimes KC and the Sunshine Band. I think I remember most of those guys playing Strats with single coils, thru really clean amps. And ya gotta try an envelope filter; Someone once told me that the "Shaft" theme which lots of people consider the quintessential wah wah riff was actually played with an envelope filter. Anyone know if this is true? And yeah, most great funk bands had AMAZING drummers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top