Intro to Funk and Soul Grooves
Lesson time: (1min 15sec)
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Play Authentic Texas Blues Guitar
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Exploring Funk Guitar Playing: A Blend of Blues and Soul
So, another style of playing, which I feel is very close to a lot of blues stuff that I'm into, is more kind of funk and soul. You know, I'm really into artists like:
- James Brown
- Sly Stone
Their kind of guitar playing is all about finding that pocket and that groove.
Transition into Funk Guitar
I thought it'd be cool to move into discussing funk guitar playing, coming from the Texas blues influence, which is one of my early inspirations.
Then, we'll get into more of a kind of funk, like:
- The Meters
- New Orleans style music
To me, these styles are closely related because it's all about:
- Groove
- Getting into a zone harmonically
The Connection Between Blues and Funk
I think blues, funk, and everything in between all comes from the same place, it's playing with feeling.
- There's a lot of blues in there.
- When you listen to James Brown or Prince, you can really hear that blues influence.
The earthy, kind of raw sound is always present.
Layering Guitar Parts
So, I'm just going to layer up a couple of different guitar parts over a drum groove.
- It just stays on the one chord the whole time.
This is kind of how I would approach layering up a couple of different guitars.
About the instructor
Scott McKeon has given a lifetime of dedication to his craft as a guitarist. Initially inspired by his dad's love of blues, soul and rock music, he took up the guitar at the age of four and has developed a reputation as one of the UK's most in-demand guitarists, both in the studio and performing live. In 2014, Scott got a call to play in Sir Tom Jones' band, alongside Robbie McIntosh and Pink Floyd drummer Gary Wallis. The blues, rock 'n' roll and gospel-orientated set allows Scott to call on his early influences and travel the globe. Performances so far have included five European tours, three tours of the US and South America, and tours of Australia and the Far East, as well as TV appearances including Later... with Jools Holland and TFI Friday, and playing New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2019. Scott's third album, 'New Morning', is an earthy, raw, guitar-led record showcasing his range and ability as a guitarist. The album was recorded live in the studio at RAK in London, capturing the energy and spontaneity of the sessions. It was produced by Paul Stacey (Black Crowes/Oasis), and features Jeremy Stacey (Sheryl Crow/Tal Wilkenfeld) on drums, Rocco Palladino (Tom Misch/D'Angelo) on bass, and Gavin Conder (Rufus Black/The Kondoors) as vocalist on several tracks. Scott also has a signature fuzz pedal and signature pickups, modelled on his '62 Strat. In his course, Scott shares the tone, phrasing and feel behind authentic Texas blues guitar, showing you how to dig into the style and make every note sing. read more