How to Play a Funk Groove 2 (Funk Groove in G) Early Rough Draft
- January 17th, 2009
- Posted in music
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I’ve been trying to get to this for a while, but it was never quiet enough in the house, or there was too much going on. I finally got a quick recording of this chart along with the backing track so you can get a feel for how it sounds with all the parts. I’m working on a set of free lessons that will break this (and the first funk groove in C, and the funk groove in F) down into pieces with tips on how to get the feel right, some practice techniques for getting the more technically challenging parts under your fingers, and some of the voicing and theory that makes it all work.
I’m eager for early feedback on how these lessons would benefit you the most, so don’t hesitate to either comment or contact me directly with any suggestions or requests for these upcoming series.
Check back (or subscribe to my youtube channel) for these upcoming series!
Hi,
will start practicing that soon
How are you doing the drums and will it be possible to download that as well in different speeds?
it would also be great if this piece would be available for the Groove Tutor by Dirk Bertels. Any plans about that?
regards
johannes
Ah — good point on the drums and bass — I forgot to attach them! Later tonight (when I have some free time), I’ll update this post with links to the backing tracks at a few speeds.
As to how I do them, I use a free program called “The Buzz” (buzzmachines.com) and program all of the drums and bass using that. It’s a little different from most programs used for this, but in some ways it’s really nice. I used to only use it for Electronica (for which its perfectly suited), but have found that it works well for other genres too…
Dear Jonathon. Thanks a lot for this amazing groove and spending time for helping me and other people to improve their piano skills. How do get this complex harmonic material? Just by ear and improvisation or do you search in a specific manner for these riffs? Do you have any tips for finding such a nice stuff? Best regards…
Hey Cheese –
I grew up playing Jazz and listening to a lot of fusion stuff. Then, later, I ended up playing more straight blues and funk. I think this is the weird result of combining the two.
The complex harmonies/voicings are mostly from the jazz side of the house. Listen to some Chick Corea on keys, or someone like Alan Holdsworth or Scott Henderson on Guitar. There’s almost no end to the stuff to listen to…
Hey, I also realize I’m seriously slacking on getting those drum/bass backing parts up. Work’s been a bear lately. I’ll get to it
First, Jonathan, thank you so much for your videos, your lessons are so much fun.
I notice that the you/tube links are not working, I hope that is a mistake?
Hey Kathy — Yes, this is currently a problem with the Expert Village videos (First Funk Groove and the 30 Blues Licks). EV has told me that the problems are temporary and that the videos will be back online soon. In the meantime, you can still see all of the videos at the expert village site itself here:
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2604_funk-piano.htm
and
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2762_Jonnie-piano.htm
Thanks you so much, I am addicted to your lessons, you are the BEST!!!! out there, I have learned more from a few lessons from you than years of traditional study.
I love this jazzy funk stuff (as I do all the funk Jonathon plays) – it’s exceptional music and amazingly inspiring. Hence …
I’ve included some sections of these G funk grooves in my Piano Groove Tutor. For those interested, you can download it at http://www.dirkbertels.net/computing/dbTutor.php#chap_04
Hi Jonathon, would you mind also putting the Buzzmachine files you created online? i downloaded the software but it seems to be quite difficult for beginners…
I can, but it may not help, as you also need the specific software synths (easy as they’re all free) and sample libraries (harder, because they’re big files). I’ll see what I can assemble.
What I really ought to do is to do some instructional series’ on using this tool — it’s a good one, and once you get over the learning curve, it’s a really valuable tool.
I did actually build all of the backing tracks at various tempos, but ran out of time to MP3-ize them and upload. They should be showing up this weekend sometime, though…
As Dirk recommends — what would be even more helpful, would be for me to provide the drums/bass backing parts as MIDI files which should play on any General MIDI sound. Let me see if I can easily do that while I’m in there…
(If you haven’t already, check out Dirk’s cool Groove Tutor stuff mentioned a few posts above. It’s pretty awesome as a training tool!)
Ok – backing tracks are up! 4 version at tempo increments from 100bpm (full speed) down to 70bpm.
The MIDI file wasn’t an easy thing — need to dig a bit more, then I should be able to add that.
Hope this helps!
Hey Jonathon, I sent you email to aquweb
didnt know if you got it… I enjoyed the ev
and you tubes so very much… I am disabled and
I have a cassette that I haave been trying to
cipher. for years,,, wonder if you can help??
if you have the time…. will give mre info if you
are willling…
my email l rossjohnson1948@yahoo.com
tks Ross Johnson
I truly enjoyed this song. And I like the level of this piece, not too difficult too start and a quite challenging solo in the middle part (at least for me), but manageable.
I’m waiting full of desire for your future pieces.
Do you have any other sheet music you can recommend in this style and difficulty? (either free or not) Because I’m getting really interested in this style but I don’t really know where to begin.
@ross – Wow – I’ve only just noticed this. Sorry for the slow response — I’m afraid I’m so busy these days, that I can’t take on anything else at the moment. There may be others who have more time than me, though –
@ingdas – Glad you liked it
I always find recommendations tough.
Have you heard any Chick Corea from the Elektrik Band days? It’s much more ‘jazzy’ but similar, in ways, to this piece.
You might also try some Jeff Lorber stuff — although a lot of it is more ‘Wave Jazz.’
You can never go wrong with the funky hammond organ things from the likes of Jimmy Smith. Let me know what you find, as I’m short on recommendations!
Anyone else have some good tips? What are your favorite keyboard/piano funk tunes out there?
I knew Chick Corea, I will check out Jeff Lorber.
Personally I like the Nils Landgren Funk Unit very much.
But my main search isn’t for good artists. They’re not too difficult to find with a bit of google-work. But I am in search of transcriptions of their work and solos. Or in guidebooks which learn you their techniques.
I am learning jazz, but actually I like the real funky stuff more than jazz so I’m searching how I can learn that too.
So my question is where can I find sheet music like that?
Can’t wait for final draft
hi jonathon,
can you please recommend some more good jazz artists? i want to buy some albums.
i am almost done with your groove and i wanna upload it to youtube as an answer but i have to increase speed a little bit from 70 to – lets say – 90 at least.
Hi,
some recommendations for some good funk/jazz artists:
Herbie Hancock especially his album Fat Albert Rotunda has some great funky e.piano solos. Make sure to check out his classic songs too…Canteloupe Island, Chameleon and Watermelon Man.
Ben Folds isn’t really jazz or funk but he sometimes sticks in some great runs and licks and his songs have complex syncopation which is great practise for funk. Recommend the album Ben Folds Five.
As Jonothan recommended Jimmy Smith is a legend on the hammond organ, and also check out Jimmy McGriff.
Oscar Peterson’s piano playing is fantastic stuff. It’s jazz, not funk, but some of his runs are mind-boggling. He has a great transcription book with play-along cd.
Other funk bands to check out are The Meters, Mandrill, Bamboos, Stanton Moore.
Oh…and check out Dave Grusin’s soundtrack to The Firm…(sheet music available at musicnotes.com) there’s a couple of piano solo songs on that are very funky and similar to Jonothan’s music (e.g. Memphis Stomp, Main Title )
Other great jazz pianists to look out for are: Art Tatum, McCoy Tyner, Dave Brubeck, Ellis Marsalis, Horace Silver, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum etc., etc.!
Thanks for all the sheet music and the funk groove lessons – I’m playing funkier stuff than ever now, and that’s after spending 3 years at music college!
Nice one!!
I was just wondering, can you reccomend any techniques or places where I could learn techniques for improvisation on funk / jazz /blues styles? Improv is something I’ve always been lacking on, and it would be really useful to get to grips with, because it allows flexiblity when your soloing, or in a ‘jamming’ session, rather than only being able to play stuff I’ve rehearsed.
hey,
first at all, awesome vids! sriously they are prizeless
so after that “advanced funk groove” on youtube I have heard your “How to Play a Funk Groove 2 (Funk Groove in G) Early Rough Draft” and it just blew my mind ^^
so my question is if there is a possibility that you put the “raw version” online, without drums and stuff, in a mp³ file.
it would help me a lot!
thank you for your work, keep it up!
– jack