rudyolea
Verified buyer
06/14/26
Fantastic teacher
He’s a fantastic player and he has the funk thing down. His teaching is very easy to understand.
Three Degrees of Funk
Learn To Build Multi-Layered Funk Grooves In 3 Steps
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About this course
The infectious groove of funk rhythm can liven up any song, infusing it with energy and an irresistible feel that gets people moving. Whether it’s the backbone of a classic funk track, a driving force in modern pop, or an unexpected twist in rock and jazz, the funk rhythm’s syncopated beats and tight grooves are a go-to element in many genres. This essential rhythm breathes life into music, creating a vibrant and dynamic soundscape that captivates listeners.
Rick Stickney, our resident funk meister, presents 3 Degrees of Funk, a massively deep dive into funk rhythm guitar techniques.In this course, we’ll apply intermediate to advanced level funk rhythm guitar techniques, harmonic concepts, and creative approaches inspired by funk legends like Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, Al McKay, Jimmy Nolen, and Ernie Isley.
We’ll work with 10 backing tracks in various funk feels, tempos, and keys.
For each track, we will build a groove from the ground up in 3 degrees of complexity. On the first pass, or degree, we’ll start with fairly simple rhythm with plenty of space. In the second degree we will embellish and add another element to the groove, for example double stops or a picking line. In the 3rd degree we will take it even further and add a final layer of funky awesomeness to the rhythm
By learning to build a multi-layered funk groove from the bottom up in this manner you will gain powerful insights into a myriad of creative approaches you can apply in your own jamming, gigging or recordings.
You’ll have TrueFire’s interactive learning tools at your fingertips, allowing you to personalize your workspace and learn at your own pace.
The demonstrations and performances are tabbed, notated, and synced to the video with controls for looping, slow motion, fretboard animation, and many other tools designed to accelerate learning.
You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and backing tracks to practice with.
Grab your guitar, and let’s dig in with Rick Stickney!
Rick Stickney, our resident funk meister, presents 3 Degrees of Funk, a massively deep dive into funk rhythm guitar techniques.In this course, we’ll apply intermediate to advanced level funk rhythm guitar techniques, harmonic concepts, and creative approaches inspired by funk legends like Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, Al McKay, Jimmy Nolen, and Ernie Isley.
We’ll work with 10 backing tracks in various funk feels, tempos, and keys.
For each track, we will build a groove from the ground up in 3 degrees of complexity. On the first pass, or degree, we’ll start with fairly simple rhythm with plenty of space. In the second degree we will embellish and add another element to the groove, for example double stops or a picking line. In the 3rd degree we will take it even further and add a final layer of funky awesomeness to the rhythm
By learning to build a multi-layered funk groove from the bottom up in this manner you will gain powerful insights into a myriad of creative approaches you can apply in your own jamming, gigging or recordings.
You’ll have TrueFire’s interactive learning tools at your fingertips, allowing you to personalize your workspace and learn at your own pace.
The demonstrations and performances are tabbed, notated, and synced to the video with controls for looping, slow motion, fretboard animation, and many other tools designed to accelerate learning.
You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and backing tracks to practice with.
Grab your guitar, and let’s dig in with Rick Stickney!
What you'll learn
- Execute a palm-muted melodic line with proper touch
- Play a groove line that leaves space in the arrangement
- Apply light attack for mellow, laid-back feel
- Apply proper staccato articulation for funk rhythm guitar
- Control string pressure and release for percussive chord sounds
Release date: 09/05/2024 • 1h 18m runtime
Sample lessons
Math Funk | 1st Degree
Performance
Math Funk | 2nd Degree
Performance
Math Funk | 3rd Degree
Performance
What's included
92 lessons • 30 charts • 10 Jam Tracks
3 Degrees of Funk
The infectious groove of funk rhythm can liven up any song, infusing it with energy and an irresistible feel that gets people moving. Whether it’s the backbone of a classic funk track, a driving force in modern pop, or an unexpected twist in rock and jazz, the funk rhythm’s syncopated beats and tight grooves are a go-to element in many genres. This essential rhythm breathes life into music, creating a vibrant and dynamic soundscape that captivates listeners.
Rick Stickney, our resident funk meister, presents 3 Degrees of Funk, a massively deep dive into funk rhythm guitar techniques. In this course, we’ll apply intermediate to advanced-level funk rhythm guitar techniques, harmonic concepts, and creative approaches inspired by funk legends like Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, Al McKay, Jimmy Nolen, and Ernie Isley.
We’ll work with 10 backing tracks in various funk feels, tempos, and keys. For each track, we will build a groove from the ground up in 3 degrees of complexity. On the first pass, or degree, we’ll start with a fairly simple rhythm with plenty of space. In the second degree, we will embellish and add another element to the groove, such as double stops or a picking line. In the 3rd degree, we will take it even further and add a final layer of funky awesomeness to the rhythm.
By learning to build a multi-layered funk groove from the bottom up in this manner, you will gain powerful insights into a myriad of creative approaches you can apply in your own jamming, gigging, or recordings.
Rick Stickney, our resident funk meister, presents 3 Degrees of Funk, a massively deep dive into funk rhythm guitar techniques. In this course, we’ll apply intermediate to advanced-level funk rhythm guitar techniques, harmonic concepts, and creative approaches inspired by funk legends like Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, Al McKay, Jimmy Nolen, and Ernie Isley.
We’ll work with 10 backing tracks in various funk feels, tempos, and keys. For each track, we will build a groove from the ground up in 3 degrees of complexity. On the first pass, or degree, we’ll start with a fairly simple rhythm with plenty of space. In the second degree, we will embellish and add another element to the groove, such as double stops or a picking line. In the 3rd degree, we will take it even further and add a final layer of funky awesomeness to the rhythm.
By learning to build a multi-layered funk groove from the bottom up in this manner, you will gain powerful insights into a myriad of creative approaches you can apply in your own jamming, gigging, or recordings.
E Jam | 1st Degree
In this groove, we will play over a funky uptempo vamping track around E7 tonality. The first pass includes a sidestep move, then into a 6th-9th chord combo, and ending with a chord up high, all while leaving plenty of space for what’s coming next.
E Jam | 1st Degree
In this groove, we will play over a funky uptempo vamping track around E7 tonality. The first pass includes a sidestep move, then moves into a 6th-9th chord combo, and ends with a chord up high, all while leaving plenty of space for what’s coming next.
E Jam | 1st Degree
The rhythm here starts on scratch drums on the “and” of beat 3, followed by a sidestep into the 3rd and b7 of the E9 chord. Be sure to pay close attention to muting the open strings to get a clean sound. This is followed by an E6 to E9 combo. You will then repeat this same figure. Next, we move to an E7sus11 chord up at the 10th fret. You then repeat everything up until this point and resolve to the E9 voicing up high.
E Jam | 2nd Degree
In the second pass, we will play over the same track in E and add some 3rd intervals to the existing rhythm.
E Jam | 2nd Degree
In the second pass we will play over the same track in E and add some 3rd intervals to the existing rhythm.
E Jam | 2nd Degree
Adding intervals of 3rds to your funk grooves creates a very cool sound and is something you should definitely have in your toolkit. Here, we add a group of three intervals of 3rds from the E mixolydian scale to the existing rhythm. There’s also a short tutorial on finding 3rds up the neck. For more on using 3rds, check out my Filthy Funk Rhythm course here on TrueFire.
+ 85 more lessons
Reviews
7 results
Onthe2&4
Verified buyer
09/28/25
3 Degrees of fun!
A must have for taking your rhythm playing to the next level.
a1jack16
Verified buyer
06/26/25
Well Done
mmoody122
Verified buyer
06/14/25
3 Degrees of Funk
Great coursework
Soilworker
12/09/24
Very helpful
I find the course accessible, yet homes in on fundamentals I really need, in a way that I enjoy practising over and over. Some of the theory is a little beyond me right now, but it doesn't matter -- I'll come back to that when I'm ready.
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