Karl1131
Verified buyer
04/28/26
50 funk guitar licks
What a great course , I learned so much abut 16 th note groves
50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Crucial phrases, concepts and funk guitar techniques you MUST know
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About this course
Recording artist, stunt guitarist and TrueFire's Professor of the deep and unwieldy, Chris Buono presents another hand-picked collection of 50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know. Buono's handpicked range of phrases, concepts and techniques delivers a wide variety of classic, contemporary and underground funk styles to help guide your development of the tools, techniques and vocabulary required to majorly power up your funk chops.
Chris' funk syllabi artfully covers an array of funk fundamentals including the use of the Dorian mode, syncopation with offbeat 16ths, 1/4-step bends, root position minor pentatonic licks and funky friendly intervals such as octaves, fourths and sixths. Across these 50 video guitar lessons, Buono also shows you how to mix in chromaticism, single string comping techniques, unison bends, staccato phrasing and use of repetition for maximum funk firepower.
50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know pays much deserved homage to the guitar artists that laid down the very foundations of funk. You will learn how to play funk guitar in the style of James Brown alumni Jimmy Nolen/Phelps Collins/Alphonso Kellum, Funkadelic guitarists Michael Hampton/Gary Shider/Eddie Hazel, Freddie Stone (Sly & the Family Stone), Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Sugar Foot Bonner (Ohio Players), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers) and Nile Rodgers (Chic).
Chris then steps you through the styles of more contemporary players such as Prince, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys) and even the funky sides of Steve Lukather and Joe Walsh. You complete your grad school of funk in the underground via Brian Dennis (Dag), Simon Katz and Gavin Dodds (Jamiroquai), Simon Bartholomew (The Brand New Heavies), Adam Rogers (Groove Collective) and David "Fuze" Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos).
Following the format of Buono's two other 50 Licks courses, 50 Rock Licks You Must Know and 50 Metal Licks You Must Know, the course includes standard notation, tab, Power Tab files and all of the practice rhythm tracks. Plus, the audio path in 50 Funk Licks You Must Know was recorded direct with a POD XT Live and all of the Tone files are included for you to load into your own unit if you're a POD owner (models and compatibility may vary).
Graduates of 50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know, can be assured of three things:
Your right hand chops will feed you for life.
Your sense of rhythm and timing will heighten immensely.
Audiences will be unable to remain seated during your performances.
Chris' funk syllabi artfully covers an array of funk fundamentals including the use of the Dorian mode, syncopation with offbeat 16ths, 1/4-step bends, root position minor pentatonic licks and funky friendly intervals such as octaves, fourths and sixths. Across these 50 video guitar lessons, Buono also shows you how to mix in chromaticism, single string comping techniques, unison bends, staccato phrasing and use of repetition for maximum funk firepower.
50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know pays much deserved homage to the guitar artists that laid down the very foundations of funk. You will learn how to play funk guitar in the style of James Brown alumni Jimmy Nolen/Phelps Collins/Alphonso Kellum, Funkadelic guitarists Michael Hampton/Gary Shider/Eddie Hazel, Freddie Stone (Sly & the Family Stone), Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Sugar Foot Bonner (Ohio Players), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers) and Nile Rodgers (Chic).
Chris then steps you through the styles of more contemporary players such as Prince, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys) and even the funky sides of Steve Lukather and Joe Walsh. You complete your grad school of funk in the underground via Brian Dennis (Dag), Simon Katz and Gavin Dodds (Jamiroquai), Simon Bartholomew (The Brand New Heavies), Adam Rogers (Groove Collective) and David "Fuze" Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos).
Following the format of Buono's two other 50 Licks courses, 50 Rock Licks You Must Know and 50 Metal Licks You Must Know, the course includes standard notation, tab, Power Tab files and all of the practice rhythm tracks. Plus, the audio path in 50 Funk Licks You Must Know was recorded direct with a POD XT Live and all of the Tone files are included for you to load into your own unit if you're a POD owner (models and compatibility may vary).
Graduates of 50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know, can be assured of three things:
Your right hand chops will feed you for life.
Your sense of rhythm and timing will heighten immensely.
Audiences will be unable to remain seated during your performances.
What you'll learn
- Play Nile Rodgers-style funk chord voicings
- Execute smooth tempo changes from 108 BPM to 122 BPM mid-performance
- Use pick angle and hand position to create different tonal textures
- Navigate James Brown-style medley transitions
- Master contrasting rhythmic feels: behind-the-beat vs. on-top-of-the-beat
Release date: 07/29/2010 • 3h 20m runtime
Sample lessons
THE Funk Lick
Lick 1
Spirit of Calvin
Lick 11
Firey Wrangler Machine
Lick 20
Dynomite!
Lick 26
What's included
52 lessons • 50 charts • 50 Jam Tracks
50 Funk Guitar Licks
Welcome to '50 Funk Licks You Must Know' hosted by yours truly, Chris Buono—50 Licks three-peater. Within these 50 licks you're gonna get down with an array of funk fundamentals including the use of the Dorian mode, syncopation by way of offbeat 16ths, 1/4-step bends, root position minor pentatonic licks; as well as a focus on funky friendly intervals such as octaves, fourths and sixths. Unique to '50 Funk Licks You Must Know' is the "mashup" where, to make room for the truckload of James Brown licks you must know, a pair of J.B. classics were cut up and mashed together into one stinky, funk-tified excursion of cool. If that wasn't enough there's talk of chromaticism, single string comping techniques, unison bends, staccato phrasing and how repetition is the key - oh yeah!
'50 Funk Licks You Must Know' pays deep homage to the players that laid down the foundations of funk such as James Brown alumni Jimmy Nolen/Phelps Collins/Alphonso Kellum, Funkadelic guitarists Michael Hampton/Gary Shider/Eddie Hazel, Freddie Stone (Sly & the Family Stone), Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Sugar Foot Bonner (Ohio Players), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers), Nile Rodgers (Chic); as well as their descendants such as Prince, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers). To take it even further you're going to dig on major must know moments laid down by a collection of players who you may have never thought flew the funk flag such as Steve Lukather, Joe Walsh and Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys)! As an added bonus I went all out to bring you must know licks and riffs from the funk underground via guitarists like Brian Dennis (Dag), Simon Katz and Gavin Dodds (Jamiroquai), Simon Bartholomew (The Brand New Heavies), Adam Rogers (Groove Collective) and David "Fuze" Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos). These and a whole lot more six-string genius awaits you.
Just like my previous 50 Licks courses, '50 Rock Licks You Must Know' and 50 Metal Licks You Must Know, every last note is notated for you in the form of Power Tab charts and PDF files so you can work with the gray matter on your computer or as a print out. What's more, the audio path in '50 Funk Licks You Must Know' was recorded direct with a POD XT Live and the resultant Tone files are included for you to load into your own unit if you're a POD owner (models and compatibility may vary).
*** A big thank you goes to Steve Jenkins for laying down the stellar bass lines in every last jam track and Chris Masi for letting me raid his to die for CD collection of must know funk. Without these guys this course wouldn't be what it is.
Enough talk let's get down!
'50 Funk Licks You Must Know' pays deep homage to the players that laid down the foundations of funk such as James Brown alumni Jimmy Nolen/Phelps Collins/Alphonso Kellum, Funkadelic guitarists Michael Hampton/Gary Shider/Eddie Hazel, Freddie Stone (Sly & the Family Stone), Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Sugar Foot Bonner (Ohio Players), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers), Nile Rodgers (Chic); as well as their descendants such as Prince, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers). To take it even further you're going to dig on major must know moments laid down by a collection of players who you may have never thought flew the funk flag such as Steve Lukather, Joe Walsh and Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys)! As an added bonus I went all out to bring you must know licks and riffs from the funk underground via guitarists like Brian Dennis (Dag), Simon Katz and Gavin Dodds (Jamiroquai), Simon Bartholomew (The Brand New Heavies), Adam Rogers (Groove Collective) and David "Fuze" Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos). These and a whole lot more six-string genius awaits you.
Just like my previous 50 Licks courses, '50 Rock Licks You Must Know' and 50 Metal Licks You Must Know, every last note is notated for you in the form of Power Tab charts and PDF files so you can work with the gray matter on your computer or as a print out. What's more, the audio path in '50 Funk Licks You Must Know' was recorded direct with a POD XT Live and the resultant Tone files are included for you to load into your own unit if you're a POD owner (models and compatibility may vary).
*** A big thank you goes to Steve Jenkins for laying down the stellar bass lines in every last jam track and Chris Masi for letting me raid his to die for CD collection of must know funk. Without these guys this course wouldn't be what it is.
Enough talk let's get down!
THE Funk Lick
Kicking things off is a must-know motif heard within countless funk moments throughout recorded history (and not just on guitar), making this truly one of THE funk licks. The lick resides within a condensed 6-bar I-IV-V in the key of Dm set to a sweet groove. While getting down with lick #1 be mindful of the many prerequisite techniques that will reappear throughout ' 50 Funk Licks You Must Know' including string bending (with a special attention paid to the 1st finger bending at hand), staccato phrasing, and grace note slides. What's more, the lick is played on two different string sets (3rd-2nd, 2nd-1st) to inspire you to shift every lick you learn around the neck for maximum flexibilty in your overall lick delivery, no matter what the style.
Quirky Time
"Quirky Time" brings forth the first of many shout-outs to classic moments in the funk canon with a lick from the often overlooked Freddie Stone of Sly & the Family Stone. Chasing the melodic vibe laid down in the Sly & the Family Stone classic, "In Time", this catchy, yet quirky lick aptly serves as a tantalizing repetitive idea played over a vi-V-I progression in F. Right out the gates "Quirky Time" thrusts a Dorian tonailty (the go-to minor mode for groove based styles, especially the funk) into your ears with a superimposed Bdim arpeggio played over a Dm7 chord. Combined with clever line construction and a smartly placed 9th (G) in the form of a 12th fret natural harmonic serving as the concluding note over the final F and Fsus2 chords, "Quirky Time" is pretty quintessential.
Sugar Coo
This first outing from Ohio Players axeman, Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, will introduce you to essential funk lick components like 1/4-step bends, tritones, and the proliferation of offbeat 16th note phrasing. Taking a nod from a tune called "Who'd She Coo?", "Sugar Coo" exposes an element inside the funk that may not be known to most--the blues, baby! The infiltration of the blues in this instance is heard in the stretching of the b3rd by way of the aforementioned 1/4-step bends, adding some very welcome grease to this must know lick. In regards to tritones, it's the space between the G and C# that is the interval diabole in this jam, and it is that instance that screams Dorian. This epic journey from the b3rd to the 6th here in "Sugar Coo" and in the many licks to come add an undeniable grainy bite that only Dorian can deliver. Take note: the tritone in this fashion, as well as a mixolydian setting, will come into play many more times throughout the funk to come. As for the offbeat 16ths - the 2nd and 4th subdivision - get ready, there's a lot more where that came from!
Off By a Pound
You can never have enough short, cleverly constructed licks at your disposal when playing funk music, and that's what this next lick is all about. Debuting the mighty sounds of the venerable funk machine known as Funkadelic to 50 Funks Licks You Must Know, this next lick hacks into a tune called "Better by the Pound". This fleeting, uber-cool snippet in Em is seasoned with an octaver to meet the interstellar funk standards created by Funkadelic leader, George Clinton and his sonic cohort, keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Between the staccato phrasing, the exaggerated vibrato, and exiting gliss that has your fret hand shooting towards the headstock, this lick is a bonified must know. In regards to the staccato factor, you're going to check out a fret hand technique I call "bounce fretting" that furthers the funk agenda.
By the way, if you're wondering who to thank for this ditty, your guess is as good as mine, as more often than not Funkadelic jams feature a pair of guitaristic funkateers. In this case they are the dynamic duo of Michael Hampton and Gary Shider.
By the way, if you're wondering who to thank for this ditty, your guess is as good as mine, as more often than not Funkadelic jams feature a pair of guitaristic funkateers. In this case they are the dynamic duo of Michael Hampton and Gary Shider.
Get Outta Hii
What happens when your funk armada includes death defying horn sections? Besides an incredible boost in your tour budget, the music you produce is inevitably taken higher. Part of that high is the inclusion of super cool syncopated lines such as the one heard here in this next lick, which is one that will bring a smile to the Earth, Wind & Fire aficionado. Lines such as this offbeat 16th feat of excellence that hearkens back to the intro from the EWF classic, "Getaway" from the Spirit album, are challenging to play while at the same time a whole lotta fun. At 114bpm you'll really feel like your chops got a boost of their own when you nail this F Dorian based excursion! By the way, for you Al McKay fans, don't you worry, a little Magic McKay is on the way.
What Lady?
How many licks does it take before the pentatonic scale is king no more? By the looks of recorded history, there may be need for an integer beyond infinity because they just keep coming. In 1973, Ernie Isley dropped a pentatonic phaser laden hook at the beginning of "That Lady" (first heard on the 3 + 3 album) that was so memorable a severe amnesia patient would look at you funny if you couldn't name this tune just from hearing the hyper-vibrato'd bend on the downbeat. Rooted in Cm minor pentatonic and played over a standard i-iv vamp, this lick opens the floodgates to the gaggle of root position minor pent licks that await your fingers in '50 Funk Licks You Must Know'. Get ready!
+ 45 more lessons
Reviews
11 results
rjaleman
Verified buyer
04/02/21
Get the funk out!
Covers a great variety of styles and techniques that fall under the funk umbrella. Ranges from classic to more modern. Definitely worth getting under your fingers.
LuigiD
Verified buyer
11/18/20
Great!
Beautiful course but for late intermediate students, he has a good sense of rhythm!
sereeparp
Verified buyer
09/20/20
Great way to expand your funk vocab!
The course includes super funky licks and covers a variety of styles so there's really a fair amount to learn here. Some are more challenging than others but overall it's a great way to expand your funk vocabulary. Chris is also an awesome instructor. Each lick is clearly explained and neatly broken down. Highly recommended!
PaulJT
Verified buyer
07/25/20
When you need some Funk ideas.........
This funk video from Chris Bouno is one of my go- to videos when searching for some creativity. The ample amount of licks are easy but pretty much effective to help turn on the spiqot of musical conceptions. Though almost on par with Shane Theriots demonstrations in his Mojo Rhythms or Solo videos, I must admit the approach that Chris Buono exhibits when breaking down the licks is without fluff but sensible.
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