Funk note choices
Lesson time: (2min 16sec)
Bruce Gertz shows the note choices that give funk its sound, built on 16th notes around the root, 6th and flat 7th.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Understanding Funk in Music
Now, let's discuss the essence of funk.
- Foundation: Funk is primarily based on 16th notes.
- Common Notes:
- The root
- The sixth
- The flat seventh
These notes are very typical in funk music, and you'll definitely recognize them when I play.
"One, two, three, and so on."
Do you recognize that? Or that's the minor version with the six and seven.
Minor Key Elements
What else is common?
- Count: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
- This pattern follows a minor key.
Remember, you can use any notes you want; these are just some that have been established.
The Walking Bass Line
Consider the old walking bass line, for instance,
the same idea applies here.
- The bass line has been played so much that it has become established.
- People recognize it, and because they recognize it, they feel secure when they play along.
About the instructor
Bruce Gertz is an award-winning bassist (acoustic and electric), composer, educator, and author. He is a professor of bass at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 1976. Bruce is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance Award Grant, the Massachusetts Cultural Council Musical Composition Award, and numerous outstanding bassist awards from the Boston Music Awards, A.S.C.A.P. Plus Popular Awards, and multiple recognition awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. Bruce also serves on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists. He has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie, among many others. In Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves, Bruce puts all of that experience to work for you. You'll learn to build solid, swinging bass lines and lock into authentic grooves across funk, jazz, and fusion, so you can hold down the bottom end and walk into any band situation with confidence. His extensive discography and additional information can be found at www.brucegertz.com. read more