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Guitar Tutorial

Funk Rhythm Guitar

Instructor: Martin Miller
Topic: Rhythm
Style: Funk
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  • Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Funk

    Excerpt: Hello IGers, Today we’re getting into some funk rhythm guitar. These riffs will be useful for getting your timing and groove in shape as well as expanding your vocabulary of rhythm styles. Before we do the actual playing let’s clear up a few principles. SoundUse a clean tone (or slightly breaking up) and go for a middle position or single coil ...

    Media Length: 0:26

  • Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Funk

    Excerpt: All the examples in this tutorial are over the same II-V-I chord progression (Dm7-G7-Cmaj7). Here are the first 3 examples... Example ASingle notes can often be enough. Here I use a note (C) that is common to all the chords and a little fill towards the end of the bars. The sound is created by using some heavy palm muting.  Example BSame as Example A ...

    Media Length: 3:32

  • Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Funk

    Excerpt: Next up is a riff that utilizes only the 3rd and 7th degrees of each chord. With a busy rhythm section underneath this can be enough to deliver the harmonies while maintaining a dry, percussive feel. Note that this example uses a lot more space, as well as a few slides and hammer-ons to mix things up. I do add a few random dead notes depending on my mood. F...

    Media Length: 1:05

  • Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Funk

    Excerpt: For the last two riffs I decided to add some colour tones to the 3rd and 7th (such as the 9th and 13th) to get a more interesting sound. Note that none of these examples utilize a root note. Root notes are not always necessary when you’re playing along to a bass track. Avoiding root notes can sometimes help prevent the lower register from getting mudd...

    Media Length: 1:02

  • Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Funk

    Excerpt: Now it's time to practice the rhythms from this tutorial with the backing track. Be sure to mix up the patterns after a while and experiment!

    Media Length: 1:54