(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? Read on…
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?
Here’s a direct download of the audio for “How to Play a Funk Groove, II” and an online player:
And here’s the music
11 responses so far ↓
1 Jaap // Aug 24, 2008 at 7:41 am
Hi Jonathon,
first of all, thank you so much sharing your piano playing and teaching capabilities with us. Meeting someone with both qualities is not always that straightforward! You helped me, and i guess a lot of other enthousiasts, miles forward already. If this is, in some way, a result of resigning your job at AMD, i hope many short term contracts will follow.
Honestly, about the Funk Groove, part II: I think you spoiled us (well, at least me) too much with this awfull funky Part I! Apart from that, i’m still figuring out how to integrate both left and right hands into simultanious playing, so no need for a second assignment yet. But, off course, there’ll be lots of people already hooked up on the addictive ‘How to play a funk groove’ sequel!
Keep up the good work and thanks again,
Jaap (The Netherlands)
2 hhhannes // Aug 26, 2008 at 1:51 am
I think its great! Please more of it and maybe halfspeed versions and so again :)
thank you!!!
3 andytan // Aug 26, 2008 at 4:20 am
Looking back at what you did in expertvillage and youtube,especially tons of words written down by you to teach people how to play your funk and blues make me feel ashame of myself.because i did so little to contribute for this world compare to you. This world really need more people like you JOnathan WIlson !
But to some, you’re a curse. Actually i wanted to buy jazz 101 ,102 and 300pg book from hearandplay.com and another from playpianotoday.com,but after i come accross your site and your information, i no longer wanted to buy from them. Imagine there’s more people like me out there doing the same. Perhaps one day they’ll be less people buying from their sites because of your free yet advance piano lessons. Sometimes before going to bed, I’ll be think of your lessons and wonder why on earth somebody will put so much effort and time to put up so many quality advance lessons just for free ?I still can’t figure out why.
Your funk groove 2 is another mind blowing lesson. I gave up your funk groove 1 before my brain blown up. i had difficulty co-ordinating left and right hand. But that doesn’t mean i will quit forever, because your lessons really open up the virginity of my brain to explore new foreign sounds and style of playing that even a play by ear guy like me would have trouble figuring out by hearing. But thanks to you, with your lessons especially your great licks and bluesy gave me some concepts and hints to create another set of licks that are constantly evolving(sorry this doesn’t mean i belive in evolution) From my point of view,all 3 lessons are equally advance and great for learning purposes but i still prefer your blues lesson that have more variety of sounds. One of the sites for example like hearandplay.com uses music or songs that people are fimiliar with and break them down to teach. This attracts people to learn the entire song eventhough it is difficult because they are fimiliar with that particular song and moreover they like the song. Just and idea Jonathan. Why not you pick & improvise some songs of famous singers like Mariah Carey,Utada Hikaru and some famous jazz songs of frank Sinatra and make them a lesson?
Great jazz song that i’ve heard is ”First love” Jazz version by kenny james (One of the most well known songs in Asia99% fimiliar with this song) Fly me to the moon Jazz by yoko takahashi(from the animation neon genesis evangelion)
And frank sinatra’s song in spiderman 3 where it is sung by the main acteress spiderman’s girlfriend, lyric started out with ”they say falling in love is wonderful”….
One of these songs in your lessons will make you as wellknown as any celebrity. You can make your own improvised version or you can mimic them.Both are attractiv_ve.
Thanks Again,
andy (from malaysia)
4 andytan // Aug 26, 2008 at 4:25 am
if you want these songs,just let me know and i will send them to you.
see ya,
Andy(from malaysia)
5 andytan // Aug 26, 2008 at 6:17 am
Wow Wow woW….the more i listen to this new funk groove2,the more i can’t wait to put my fingers into practise.. Those licks and bluesy stuff reminds me of the various spice in my country for making good curry.. One need to put the right amount to achieve the right taste. Just like how Jonathan Wilson harmonised those licks and bluesy to achieve the right sound affect to play tricks on one’s ears. YahooO ! I can’t imagine how girls in my Church will react when they heard this stuf_f. Well Done Jonathan Willson! I owe you on_e
6 dbertels // Aug 30, 2008 at 1:58 am
Hi Jonathan
Well what can I say, this is another superb work of music - slightly jazzier than the first series.
It’s actually quite hard to find fault with it. But since you asked for some feedback - here goes
(most of it regards the notation):
1 - I really like grouping the notes so each group ties the notes in each beat of the bar together (including the rests) - I did that in the scores I sent you… It just makes for easier reading.
2 - Add some chord symbols maybe.
3 - A word about the harmonies used would be great, such as your favourite voicings - I know, where do you stop …
I liked your series before, though I always thought that the slow versions were maybe a little too slow - even for beginners - it tends to lose the feel at that tempo.
Lastly it would be great for people to have access to midi files - so they can adjust the speed at will with whatever software they’re using … (I believe a mix of video instructions and midi would be ideal).
Again - a great job, and thanks for the sharing.
7 andytan // Aug 31, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hi all! As a mechanic i will expect other amature mechanics to do what i’m doing.somtimes it will be hard for them to follow up as some precision stuffs require them to be very skilled to handle like machining and grinding. And these materials handed by Jonathan Wilson also require one to be skillful enough to play.It takes lost of time and effort for amatures to handle moreover even if most learn the whole song,most will not know how to apply them for their own playing or modified them.But for advanced players like dbertels for example, these materials are well utilized.
8 andytan // Aug 31, 2008 at 8:50 pm
can’t wait any longer for Jonathan Wilson’s next master peice. Maybe it will have more bebop,jazz and blues.. Sounds yum_my?
9 exjob2222 // Sep 24, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This one seems more jazzy. It shows off your skill, obviously. I liked the first one more bec. of the funk nature of it.
I appreciate you doing these pieces though. I have improved beyond what I thought I could. two handed playing is some work.
Other thoughts: bass line seems similar to first piece. It might be interesting to hear I and II combined somehow. need to listen more….Thanks!
10 hendrikstok // Oct 6, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Hi,
could you make a song and notation of the first ‘funk groove’ lesson?
Great that you do this paino funk groove. sometimes I find it a bit dull, same groove.
11 hendrikstok // Oct 6, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hi,
Is there also a funk groove lesson for beginners, as you mentioned in the videos that the funk groove lessons are advanced?
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