(plus downloadable audio from “How to Play a Funk Groove, I”)
I’ve been trying. Really trying.
Honest.
I’ve gotten my second funk groove all written, and I can actually play it(!) but with summer vacations and busy work schedules, I haven’t found the time to get the video for it put together yet. So lets spin this into a positive, shall we?
The first “How to Play a Funk Groove” was really just a shot in the dark. It was mostly an improv of various funk techniques over a drum groove. I had no idea that so many people would try to learn it, and that the vast majority would want to do it from some sort of music (gasp). I retroactively went back and sketched out most of the techniques I used, but there is quite a bit of variance through the live playing, and the notation is only ‘close’ to what was actually played. I’ve gotten some fantastic feedback from some great people with super sharp ears, pointing out some of the inconsistencies, and offering suggestions for ways that a future series might be improved.
I’ve also had some recent requests for the raw audio from the original ‘final video’ so that people can burn it to a CD, or drop it into their MP3 player for more convenient practicing. No problem — here’s a direct download of the MP3 audio, and here’s an online player:
Sneak Preview of the Sequel…
However, what I’m really hoping to expose is an early ‘beta’ version of “How to Play a Funk Groove, II” — I’ve provided both the audio (piano only for now), and the PDF of the notation. I’ve tried to incorporate many of the suggestions offered. In particular, this piece was notation first. It’s really intended to be a piece that one can learn right off the chart, and when you’ve got it down — it should sound just like what I played.
What I’m hoping for is some early feedback before I go to the trouble to shoot this into a video series. The goal for the video series is to break it down, playing all of the sections from the piece at several slower speeds, with the notation available, offering tips and techniques for mastering the tune.
The intent is to provide backing bass and drums at about five speeds from 50% up to full speed for practicing.
So please! I would love your feedback! Do you like the tune? Any changes? Would you rather I ditch this, and provide a series on how to play polkas on the banjo?
Just a minor update while I continue to try and find time to finish up my in-progress piano series, “How to Play a Funk Groove, II.”
A number of people have requested transpositions of the 30 must-have blues licks into other keys. Thanks to software, this is very easy! You can now get PDF files for the 30 blues licks in most of the major keys. I’ve also uploaded the raw Finale file, so if you have that software, you can take them and bend them to your will! See below for links to them all.
But first, my parents gave me a very generous birthday gift (I won’t give too much away, but its nearer to 40 than anything else…). A Zoom H4 Handy Recorder. This cool little beast is an all-digital stereo recorder with built-in microphones and makes some pretty nice recordings. I threw it up on the piano and did a quick improv which covers a little new age to start, heads into some funk with jazzy overtones, and ends up with a little more of a blues feel. You can even hear the dog bark at one point! Pretty ragged as it’s a complete 1-take improv, but it shows off the quality of the recorder — Including the fact that my piano is well overdue for a tuning! Here’s a download, and here’s a player:
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To wrap up, I’m very appreciative of the nice comments you’ve sent in. I’m always on the lookout for ideas on other series. Recent suggestions include more funk, jazz comping and soloing, and even electronica with all-free software (which is how I do it). If you have a vote, or an alternative suggestion, just post a comment or send me a note.
For those of you who have followed my Series on How to Play a Funk Groove on the Piano, I’ve got another free video series for you. This time — it’s over to the blues for 30 must-have blues piano licks.
Here’s the final demo of the series (after the break), where I run through a bunch of the licks from the series. Scroll down for links to the downloadable music (as a PDF), downloadable MP3 files of the backing tracks and links to the entire series. [Read more →]
While shooting some video at a local park, I was disappointed with the quality of the onboard microphone’s audio. I remembered stumbling across a web site describing a way to make a pair of binaural mics using an Altoids box. So… I decided to try and make something for myself.
Most people making these things are doing so to clip the mics to their glasses as an unobtrusive way to record music events. Very cool. However, my needs were different, wanting to do something specifically for “field recordings” — my microphone could be more visible, and I liked the idea of it being able to stand on its own.
First of all, here are some quick samples I’ve recorded with it in the first couple days since completion:
March 10, 2008: Rainy Morning on the Back Porch
You can hear splashy raindrops, deep rolling thunder, some bizarre bird calls, and even a far-distant train.
March 10, 2008: Bus Ride into Work
Waiting for the bus, a guy asks me which bus to get on, and I try to use my pass upside-down. Then I exit the bus and take a quick walk to work. You can hear a plane fly overhead, and squeaky walk through the marble-floored lobby with some nice music. Get into the elevator, ride up and walk into the office.
March 08, 2008: Fire on Bee Creek Road
I was off for a drive, filming and recording out southwest of Lake Travis (near Austin, Texas) when I stumbled upon this grass fire covering several hundred acres. The fire trucks and police were already on the scene, so I pulled off the road to watch a bit. You can hear several cars pass on the road behind, and then the fire helicopter flies overhead on the left on its way to the fire. Finally a guy in a big truck stops and asks me, “Got a Fire?”
Using two omnidirectional electret capsule microphones from Radio Shack (around $4 each), two 10k resistors, two 2.2 micro-farad capacitors, a 9-volt battery, and some wood and other odds and ends I had lying around the workshop, I constructed this visual monstrosity.
Despite its appearance, it seems to sound pretty good — easily beating the camcorder’s onboard mic.
Although I didn’t actually use the following schematic (from MicDIYers), it’s very close to what I built. I only added an on/off switch right inline with the battery. My idea on the box size and placement, was to roughly approximate the spacing and baffling size of a head-like object, somewhat borrowing from the ideas described on www.trackseventeen.com. I used scrap wood from around my shop and didn’t spare much time or effort in making it look good. The door opens up to gain access to the electronics should I need to make a repair. The big wire ‘ears’ are both for protection, and for holding a pair of black dress socks which make adequate wind screens if there isn’t too strong a wind! I may look into making some ‘furries’ for stronger wind someday.
The following pictures link to the corresponding photo pages on Flickr which offer links to nice large photos.
Back in November, 2007 I posted my video series on How to Play a Funk Groove on the Piano. A number of people have contacted me hoping for written music for the techniques shown in the videos. Unfortunately, its not a direct transcription of the demo/solo at the end, its simply the notation used for each of the techniques presented in the series — but it should be enough to get you going.
I hope it helps — I’m always happy to answer questions. Just post a comment, that way the answer will be there for others who might have the same question.
UPDATE: By request, I’ve also posted two versions of the backing drum loop I used in the videos for your practicing! Unfortunately, I don’t have it at a variety of speeds. You would be able to slow it down using audio software (such as the free Audacity ). There is a single time through the loop — if you use Audacity, you can create as long of a loop as you’d like. I’ve also uploaded a 5-minute loop.
In high school and college, I used to sit in front of my music gear for hours making little grooves just for fun. It would stretch on into the night and early morning, and it really wasn’t about wanting to be a rock star… it was about having a good time making music, regardless of who heard it.
Now, of course, I’m approaching 40, and with my job, my house, my family, and no space for the old music gear, it just doesn’t happen much these days.
The entire family headed south to Corpus Christi to visit family, and I’m at home to work and take care of the dogs. BUT, today is Sunday, and that means a little free time and an empty house.
I dug out the old stuff, and set it up, and recorded a funky little tune to mark my wishes for an early summer. I’m sick of cold weather and I want it to get hot!
So this little tune (all two halting choruses) is a little R&B/Jazzy thing dedicated to hotter weather.
I’m happy to announce the launch of my alter-ego site, www.chilkari.com the new home of my electronic music. You can listen to some of my selected electronica and trance pieces there, and download the MP3s for playing on your iPod, or what-have-you. You can also head over to my channel on Odeo to subscribe to my podcast, so that you never miss another thumping beat, just as they roll off the presses.
