How to Make Funk Music
Unleash the Funk with Grammy-Nominated Keyboard Master Cori Jacobs!
Keyboard wizard, composer extraordinaire, and Grammy nominee Cori Jacobs is ready to ignite your musical journey with the power of funk!
Been grooving to the sounds of Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, Sly Stone, and more? Cori Jacobs has graced the stage and studio with these icons, and now he’s sharing his funky secrets with you.
Dive into the world of funk with Cori Jacobs comprehensive tutorial:
- Master the funk fundamentals: Groove like a pro with solid foundations in rhythm, harmony, and improvisation.
- Unlock cool funky techniques: Learn signature licks, voicings, and tricks that add instant funk flavor to your playing.
- Explore your creative potential: Unleash your inner funkster and develop your unique voice within the genre.
- Boost your musicality across genres: These techniques are versatile and can enhance your playing in any style.
Don’t wait! Take a chance to learn how to make a funk song and elevate your sound today. With Cori’s guidance, you won’t regret it!
Tutorial (4 videos) covered
- Intro, What is Funk?, How to read bars and notes.
- The Fundamentals of funk music, Core, Vibe, Chords, Drums, Bass, Keys.
- Pitch Bend, Groove, Cool licks and tricks, Feels, Turnarounds, Gospel Funk Chords, Progressions.
- Funk improvisation, Scales, Licks, Building a vocabulary, Progressions, Break the rules.
What is Funk Music?
Funk music is a rhythmic and dance-oriented genre that emerged from African-American communities in the mid-1960s. It’s a vibrant blend of various musical styles popular at the time, including:
-
Soul music: Soul’s focus on strong vocals and emotional expression laid the foundation for funk’s soulful singing and passionate delivery.
-
Rhythm and blues (R&B): R&B’s emphasis on rhythm and groove heavily influenced funk’s danceable nature and focus on a tight rhythm section.
-
Jazz: Jazz improvisation and complex harmonies found their way into funk, particularly in the instrumental sections and guitar solos.
-
Gospel: The energy and spirit of gospel music are evident in the driving rhythms and powerful vocals of many funk songs.
Here are some key characteristics that define funk music:
-
The Groove: Funk is all about the groove, a hypnotic and infectious rhythmic feel created by the interplay between the bass guitar, drums, and often the keyboards. The bass lines are typically funky, meaning they’re rhythmic and often syncopated (played off the beat). Drummers use tight hi-hat patterns and heavy backbeats to propel the groove forward.
-
Emphasis on Rhythm: Rhythm takes center stage in funk music, even over melody and harmony. Complex and syncopated rhythms keep listeners moving and create a sense of anticipation.
-
Instrumentation: A typical funk band features electric bass, drums, electric guitar, keyboards (often synthesizers), and sometimes horns (trumpet, saxophone, trombone). Percussion instruments like congas or timbales may also be included to add more rhythmic texture.
-
Horns: While not always present, horn sections are a hallmark of many funk bands. They can play catchy riffs, provide harmonies, or take hot solos, adding energy and excitement to the music.
-
Guitar Work: Funk guitarists often use techniques like wah-wah pedals, funky chords (often with accentuated 7th notes), and muted picking to create a distinctive sound that complements the groove.
-
Vocals: Vocals in funk can range from soulful singing to spoken word or rapping. Singers often improvise and scat, adding another layer of rhythmic complexity and emotional expression.
Funk music enjoyed immense popularity throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, with iconic artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, and Earth, Wind & Fire leading the charge. Its influence continues to be felt in various genres like hip-hop, neo-soul, and even modern pop music.
Cori Jacobs Credit (Grammy Nominated)
_
Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, Sly Stone, George Clinton, The Pussycat Dolls, Eric Benet, Avant, Judith Hill, C.J. Emmons, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and many more.
Cori Jacobs is a Grammy nominated keyboard player, composer and producer. Cori has toured and performed with Lauryn Hill, Eric Benet, Beyonce, Sly Stone and other well-known artists. He also has many placements in TV/Film including Allen Iverson documentary on Netflix and showtime, “Everybody hates Chris” and many more.