Funk Guitar : Lesson
1
with Andy Webber
This lesson
aims to show you the basic concept behind a simple
funk guitar rhythm. Watch the video to see what
you are going to be able to play by the end of
this lesson.
We
apologise for the poor video quality - our camera
is being repaired.
The first
part of the video shows the riff that we are working
towards. Then I show you how to build up that
rhythm from scratch.
The most
important thing here is the continuous movement
of your right hand. Throughout the whole thing
it should be strumming up and down with a constant
speed and force. Most of the riff is filled with
chucks. Chucks are when you strike the strings
with the pick, but nute them with your left hand.
Be careful where you place your right hand though.
Try not to place it anywhere where you might produce
a natural harmonic such as over the 5th or 7th
frets.
So start
off by just strumming up and down constantly with
your right hand and muting the strings with your
left. Do this by lightly resting your fingers
on the strings, but not too hard so that you fret
a note. Once you can get this nice and consistent
you can start to add some notes in there.
Position
your left hand so that your index finger is above
the 5th fret so that it is ready to play it at
any time. Watch the next part of the video where
I introduce some notes. All I am playing is the
first three three strings on the 5th fret. Watch
the video carefully and work out where notes are
played. If you listen closely you will notice
that there are 16 beats, and the notes are played
on 5 of these beats. The rest of the beats are
filled using chucks. If you count where the notes
occur, you will find that the come on the 1st,
5th, 8th, 11th and 13th beats.
It can be
helpful to follow the rhythm in your head or out
loud by saying:
1
& 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6& 7
& 8 & ...
In this case,
the notes occur when you say 1, 3, the & after
4, 6, 7. Try this method and practise streessing
where the notes come by saying the number louder,
or tapping on a table etc. For example:
1
& 2 & 3 & 4
& 5 & 6&
7 & 8 & ...
This takes
a lot of practise so start off slowly.
Once you
can play this rhythm correctly, it's time to start
adding iin some extra bits to liven it up a bit.
The first
thing we are going to do is to add a slide from
the 4th fret up to the 5th fret on the last &
beat of each section. It is important to remember
here that the first beat of the bar is on the
1 which is the first set of notes
played on the 5th fret, note the slide from the
4th fret. This occurs on the last beat of the
bar.
Once you
can do that, try adding in the last little fill.
Play the riff once through as you have already
learnt it, then on the second time change the
ending by adding in notes on the top two strings
on the 8th and 7th frets. These come in on the
& after the 4, and the &
after the five. You also need to play another
set of notes on the 5th fret on the &
after the 6.
Remeber to
keep your right hand moving at all times. You
will also need to mute the lower three strings
when you play the top three, to prevent any unwanted
noises creeping in.
OK! I hope
you have enjoyed this lesson! Check out the second
part Funk Guitar : Lesson
2 where I show you another cool funk lick!
Andy Webber.
Intermediate
lessons - All lessons
