1 Funk Lessons Jazz Coordination and Funky Ghost Note Grooves Here's another jazz groove which will work on your coordination. I believe that his type of groove has worked it's way into funk playing, as a beginning to ghost note playing. As you work through this groove, you'll hear what I mean. or those of you who !don't care! about jazz, just use this groove as a challenge. "ry and work your way through it and make it sound musical.
Some Basic Rhythms with a Funky Twist Here's a relatively basic lesson using some tried and true grooves. or some of you these may be very basic, or relatively basic. #ust let your imagination flow a little with these grooves and you'll find some new and useful grooves here. $e will just be combining some %&th note rhythms together, for some very usable grooves. I'm providing you with three ride patterns. or now, they're on the hi hat line of the staff. f course, you're free to place them wherever you want( ride cymbal, )*hat, china, floor tom +hmmm...that would be cool-. "he first ride pattern is a basic one, found in many different styles of music.
"his second pattern is not as common as number one. It can be heard in music from rasil and, in a somewhat lesser e/tent, from 0uba and other 0aribbean countries. 0ombining this pattern with bass drum and snare will provide some nice work for interdependence +or independence, depending on how you conceive of the concept-. It%12ll also give you some new inspirations for different sounding grooves and patterns.
"he third pattern comes to me from the drum called chico, from 3ruguay. 4u'oll notice an accent above the first %&th note. $hen practicing at first, leave this accent out. "his pattern is difficult enough without adding an accent. "he accent does give this pattern a real different swing.
5ow, your job is to mesh the ride patterns with some bass6snare patterns. I'm providing just three with which to begin. f course, there are thousands more. "hese will get you started.
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Give it ! or Turnita Loose "Studio #ersion$ 7, here is 8A 357 If you haven't heard this song, the srcinal by #ames rown, go and find it, put it on the 08 player, let it ride a few thousand times, get up, get into it, get involved. Here's the lesson in three different versions, asic, Intermediate, and riginal 9ecipe. It's a baaaaaaaad groove "he groove is in 262 or 0ommon "ime. A:I0 ;9<= * 5 ;H:" 5"=:
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Two Ghost Note %atterns "hese two patterns are @uite common, and I feel, very important to !understand! and play well, with a good feel. "he first groove is from #ohn onham and $hen the ?evee reaks. 5o bass drum is included yet "hat'll be for the ne/t lesson. "he second groove is a very typical groove that's played by many drummers. I was first made aware of this groove by drummer ernard urdie "he ghost notes are to be played softly, in comparison to the louder accented backbeats +B C 2-.
If you'd like to add a 8, try it first on % C D. 5ow, this might sound simplistic to some of you, but, the most important thing is the groove. I could add a bunch of more intricate 8 parts +maybe I will for the ne/t lesson- but, for now, let's stick to the ride and snare pattern and the 8 on % C D. As always, enjoy
& Lessons 'rom (The )it *aker( Bernard (%retty( %urdie ernard urdie is arguably one of the most recorded drummers of all time. His grooves have been heard with Aretha ranklin, :teely 8an, #ames rown, and hundreds if not thousands of other artists. 4ou may have heard that he recorded with the eatles. well, ernard says he did. I believe him >emphis :oul :tew, by 7ing 0urtis, is a baaad groove. lease find the album entitled !7ing 0urtis ?ive at the illmore $est!. uy It ?isten to the live version of >emphis :oul :tew. "here is no way that written music can convey the masterful groove that ernard urdie lays down. =njoy and hear from you soon "his first groove is a basic look at ernard's pattern. ractice this lsowly to make sure that all the notes !line up! correctly. nly get some tempo and make it groove when the coordination is right.
5ow add a different hihat pattern.
And now the fun begins. "his pattern on the hihat provides a great motion and feel to the groove. Honestly, you have to hear ernard play this to really appreciate how this all fits together. $hen we play, most drummers !learn! to keep time with their left or hihat foot, pumping eigth notes or some subdivision of the beat. "hat's how the sound of this pattern is achieved. y pumping eighths and playing the hand pattern, the hihat opens on the last %&th of the groove. It makes for such a sweet sound #ust try this.
5ow, of course, you must add this hihat pattern to the groove. ;ood luck
Bernard %urdie+s ,roove 'rom *em!his Sou- Stew. If you're a drummer, you have to have these two 08s( 7ing 0urtis ?ive at the illmore $est Aretha ranklin ?ive at the illmore $est It's very important for you to understand the basic patterns which underlies this wonderful groove. #ust scroll up and you'll find these patterns.
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Bernard %urdie+s Groove 'rom *em!his Sou- Stew "continued$ "his is a continuation of a groove I covered on the site a while ago. Here is is. It's the great drummer, ernard urdie playing wit 7ing 0urtis, on 7ing 0urtis ?ive at the illmore $est. It's such a great groove and so important in many respects. In the first groove, you're playing eighth notes in the HH, accenting on the downbeat. And....all the ghost notes as well. And...making it groove. 4our main gig is to make this thing swing ;roove two adds another ride pattern for the HH. An added level of independence will now be attempted and hopefully successfully achieved As always, take your time to make sure this all works to make a smooth groove.
%urdie Re,,ae Groove "his groove came into my drumming from a couple of resources, both with ernard urdie on drums. ne song was 8aydreamin', the other was ?ove the ne 4ou're $ith, both sung my the great Aretha ranklin. ?ove the ne is from the amazing record, Aretha ranklin ?ive at the illmore $est. 0heck this out if you need a nice reggae feel. lay cross stick on the snare and open HH on % and D, as noted.
Chad Smith Groove At the >usicians Institute, where I teach, students play in what are called ?ive erformance $orkshops +?$s-. "his past week, "ell >e aby was the song to be performed. :o....I worked on it with some students. Here's how I heard 0had :mith's part. irst, here's the +relatively- basic groove.
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5ow, adding an accent on the downbeat, in the hi hat
And lastly, the open sound in the HH, on the downbeats. I think that 0had's getting this sound by playing Eth notes with his HH foot and really smashing the HH to get the open sound. "his is reminiscent of Harvey >ason's HH on 0hameleon by Herbie Hancock, although Harvey's sound was much more subtle. 0had's is more smashing of a sound Anyone have other ideasFF
Rock Steady retha Frank-in with Bernard %urdie on drums "his is one baaad groove. I'm not %GG of the 8 part. >aybe one of my web visitors can check out this great song by Aretha ranklin, and see if they can transcribe this any better.
5ow, adding a %&th note in the hi hat in beat B.
pening the HH on the !ands! of % and D
5ow, one more open sound on the last %&th note of beat B.
S!ankaLee3 )er4ie )ancock 'rom the a-4um Thrust5
6 "his is a must have 08. If you don't own this 08, get it I've been trying to transcribe the drum intro from :pank*a*?ee. "his is close. Anyone want to tryFF 0ome on (*- ;ive it a shot and email it to me.
