jakobvidar
Verified buyer
01/21/25
Funk Guitar Survival Guide
Great course. Give me lot of insperation.
Funk Guitar Survival Guide
Essential Techniques & Creative Concepts for Funk Guitar
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About this course
Funk guitar dates back to the late 60’s and early 70’s when it was more genre specific. But over the years, Funk guitar evolved into a rhythmic approach for many styles of music. Today you hear funk guitar parts in rock, pop, hip-hop, fusion, smooth jazz and even the blues. In this Funk Guitar Survival Guide, you’ll examine the rhythmic and chordal approaches of many originators of the style -- the very same approaches and techniques being used today in contemporary music.
”Rhythm connects to the Earth and life. Without the consistent rhythm of your heartbeat or breathing, your whole body would be thrown off. This is the essential connection that must be made with your instrument as it relates to keeping solid time and committing to the tempo and groove. The Funk Guitar Survival Guide will give you the keys to playing funk guitar and strengthening your groove.”
In the first section, Carl guides you through 16 Essential Concepts and Techniques : Funk Fundamentals, Subdividing 16ths, 1 Bar Rhythm Patterns, 2 Bar Rhythm Patterns, Open Strum Accents, Open Strums/Tight Mixup, Breakbeat Breakdown, Funky Chord Voicings, Imin7 to IV7 Grooves, Single Note Grooves, Spice It Up: Movement, Spice It Up: Single Notes, Spice It Up: Using 4ths , Spice It Up: Using 3rds , Spice It Up: Scratch Fills, Spice It Up: Punctuations.
”I’ll show you the sixteen essential concepts focusing that I think are the most important elements for playing funk guitar. These are is the same very popular lessons that I taught as a private counselor for the Funk Pro Series at Musician's Institute.”
In the second section, you’ll apply the key concepts and techniques from the first section across 4 Performance Studies: Same Same But Different 1, Same Same But Different 2, P Funk Jam, and Keep It Tight.
”In the Performance Studies section, we'll look at how all the concepts can come together in context with a jam track. Listen for them and how they are applied in these performances. We'll start off with some jazz/funk minor blues, go to 70's style funk, and then finish with some R&B/soul.”
Carl demonstrates all of the Performance Studies over rhythm tracks and then breaks them down by stepping you through the key concepts, techniques and creative approaches that he used in each study.
In the third and final section, you’ll join Carl in two playalongs (Soul Bro and Mayfield Funk) where you’ll be trading rhythms just like two guitarists in the same band would.
All of the Performance Studies are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. You’ll also get Guitar Pro files so that you can play, loop and/or slow down the tab and notation as you work through the lessons. Plus, Carl generously includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own.
Grab your guitar and lets get to the funk with Carl Burnett!
"Great course. This feels like you're sitting in a small group master class. Carl presents everything in an accessible manner without dumbing it down. [...] This course will make even the squarest blues player more hip." - R.J. Basque, TrueFire StudentProducer, recording artist and composer, Carl Burnett toured the world with Branford Marsalis’ band and has collaborated on award winning productions with Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and Boney James. His TV underscores can be heard on shows like Extra, TMZ, Pawn Stars, Teen Titans Go and many more. We’re very proud to welcome Carl to the family with his first TrueFire course, Funk Guitar Survival Guide.
”Rhythm connects to the Earth and life. Without the consistent rhythm of your heartbeat or breathing, your whole body would be thrown off. This is the essential connection that must be made with your instrument as it relates to keeping solid time and committing to the tempo and groove. The Funk Guitar Survival Guide will give you the keys to playing funk guitar and strengthening your groove.”
In the first section, Carl guides you through 16 Essential Concepts and Techniques : Funk Fundamentals, Subdividing 16ths, 1 Bar Rhythm Patterns, 2 Bar Rhythm Patterns, Open Strum Accents, Open Strums/Tight Mixup, Breakbeat Breakdown, Funky Chord Voicings, Imin7 to IV7 Grooves, Single Note Grooves, Spice It Up: Movement, Spice It Up: Single Notes, Spice It Up: Using 4ths , Spice It Up: Using 3rds , Spice It Up: Scratch Fills, Spice It Up: Punctuations.
”I’ll show you the sixteen essential concepts focusing that I think are the most important elements for playing funk guitar. These are is the same very popular lessons that I taught as a private counselor for the Funk Pro Series at Musician's Institute.”
In the second section, you’ll apply the key concepts and techniques from the first section across 4 Performance Studies: Same Same But Different 1, Same Same But Different 2, P Funk Jam, and Keep It Tight.
”In the Performance Studies section, we'll look at how all the concepts can come together in context with a jam track. Listen for them and how they are applied in these performances. We'll start off with some jazz/funk minor blues, go to 70's style funk, and then finish with some R&B/soul.”
Carl demonstrates all of the Performance Studies over rhythm tracks and then breaks them down by stepping you through the key concepts, techniques and creative approaches that he used in each study.
In the third and final section, you’ll join Carl in two playalongs (Soul Bro and Mayfield Funk) where you’ll be trading rhythms just like two guitarists in the same band would.
All of the Performance Studies are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. You’ll also get Guitar Pro files so that you can play, loop and/or slow down the tab and notation as you work through the lessons. Plus, Carl generously includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own.
Grab your guitar and lets get to the funk with Carl Burnett!
What you'll learn
- Create melodic movement within chord voicings
- Apply funk techniques across multiple musical styles
- Apply chicken scratch rhythm technique with single note lines
- Use displaced rhythms to create rhythmic interest
- Understand the historical roots and evolution of funk guitar from the late 60s/early 70s
Release date: 01/08/2016 • 1h 58m runtime
Sample lessons
Funk Fundamentals
Concept 1
Breakbeat Breakdown
Concept 7
Funky Chord Voicings
Concept 8
Same Same But Different: 1
Overview
What's included
37 lessons • 21 charts • 6 Jam Tracks
Funk Guitar Survival Guide
I don't want to be too esoteric, but rhythm connects to the Earth and life. Without your heartbeat or breathing having consistent rhythm, your whole body would be thrown off. This is the essential connection that must be made with your instrument as it relates to keeping time in your playing, committing to the tempo and groove.
We use the word "funk" as it relates to being funky, which has a lot to do with a relentless commitment to keeping time, embracing the part you are playing, and leaving room for others in the band. With this course, I'll give you the keys to playing funk and finding or strengthening your groove.
We use the word "funk" as it relates to being funky, which has a lot to do with a relentless commitment to keeping time, embracing the part you are playing, and leaving room for others in the band. With this course, I'll give you the keys to playing funk and finding or strengthening your groove.
SECTION 1: Essential Concepts
In this section, you'll be given a key unlock your own rhythm and find your groove! We'll go over sixteen essential concepts focusing on what I find to be the most important things to playing funk guitar. This is the same lesson I taught as a private counselor for "Funk Pro Series" at Musician's Institute.
Funk Fundamentals
It's important to feel comfortable in your playing position. Keeping this in mind, find what works for you. For me, I feel most comfortable playing while standing.
For this course, I wanted to stand, but then the guitar would have been moving all over the place. So, I'm using a stool and letting the guitar hang by its strap.
For this course, I wanted to stand, but then the guitar would have been moving all over the place. So, I'm using a stool and letting the guitar hang by its strap.
Subdividing 16ths
The first thing most people think about when playing funk is sixteenth notes, so we'll start there by looking at subdividing and chicken scratching (down and up strokes) while only playing a chord on the 1st sixteenth or downbeat. We'll continue along with the "e" (2nd sixteenth of the beat), the "&" (3rd sixteenth of the beat), and finally the "a" (4th sixteenth of the beat).
You have to pat your foot in time or move some part of your body other than your strumming hand to feel the beat. Even babies naturally move to a beat! It may seem easy, but maybe not easily done. It's very important to use a metronome for this exercise.
In the video, just as I begin to play, I say "downbeats of a 4 bar measure" but it should be "4 beat measure". It's unscripted, live and spontaneous, just stay with me and you'll see how it all comes together.
You have to pat your foot in time or move some part of your body other than your strumming hand to feel the beat. Even babies naturally move to a beat! It may seem easy, but maybe not easily done. It's very important to use a metronome for this exercise.
In the video, just as I begin to play, I say "downbeats of a 4 bar measure" but it should be "4 beat measure". It's unscripted, live and spontaneous, just stay with me and you'll see how it all comes together.
1 Bar Rhythm Patterns
Here are some more common rhythms that can be used. The goal is to make each bar sound/feel the same (that can be the tricky part). Stick with it, remember "the groove is king," not your ego being bored with the part. The beauty here is found in constant repetition.
2 Bar Rhythm Patterns
In this lesson, we'll create a 2 bar pattern by displacing a 1 bar pattern by starting on a different beat. The rhythm in the second bar will be exactly the same but the feel will be changed by starting on a different beat. I'll also show you displacing it by a quarter note, but for more adventure also try an eighth note.
Open Strum Accents
Dynamics in your playing are very important, adding dimension by changing the volume. In this lesson, we'll use dynamic accents to add a pulse to open strumming.
Also, as a side note, playing quieter can draw the audience in to listen more intently with anticipation of something more to come. When you're on a gig next time, try having the band come way down to showcase your funky rhythm before bringing up the dynamic as you blast into a lead solo.
Also, as a side note, playing quieter can draw the audience in to listen more intently with anticipation of something more to come. When you're on a gig next time, try having the band come way down to showcase your funky rhythm before bringing up the dynamic as you blast into a lead solo.
+ 30 more lessons
Reviews
26 results
SonicArfur
Verified buyer
12/08/24
Carl is a great tutor, and Iove his demos too.
Carl's tutorials are exactly what I was after. Shortcut to all those great funk sounds you hear on the famous records. He's my favourite TrueFire tutor.
tarau
Verified buyer
03/09/22
Important concepts
This is a great opportunity to fill some of my knowledge gaps. Thank you!
Quark77
Verified buyer
12/26/21
Great chops
I really love Carl's grooves. Lots of good stuff in this lesson again. However, I came from his "Spotlight on funky blues rhythm" course and found the latter somewhat more versatile (less monotonous). In any event, all well worth it.
Matonvet
Verified buyer
12/07/21
Funkytown
Excellent
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