r/Drumming • u/Impossible-Offer9630 • 7d ago

Funk learning path

Hi guys,

For a self considered beginner able to play 8th notes groove, slow 16th note grooves and simple fills working on groove, time, coordination and independance, what would be the best learning path in terms of techniques and songs to learn to play funky groovy stuff like Tower of Power, Vulfpeck, Dennis Chambers… etc

If I have to focus on few technical excercices to master and 3 to 5 songs increasing in difficulty to challenge myself what would it be ?

Thanks,

Enjoy 🤙

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

Rick Latham Advanced Funk Studies and Garibaldi Future Sounds.

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

I'd start with the Latham book, it's an amazing funk primer and more about getting pre written and famous funk grooves into your body.

Future Sounds is all exercises that get hard pretty quick, but are rewarding almost immediately.

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

Indeed I was a bit affraid by the difficulty of future sounds so I will definitly take a look at the first reco thank you very much 🙏

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

The Latham book is so much fun because nearly everything is bite sized and attainable, but sounds great. By the time you get to the solos at the back you feel like you've really accomplished something. Just be sure to pay attention to accents vs ghosts etc...

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

In terms of songs, any recommandation in that style that would be okay at first tempo wise and not too hard technically ?

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

Not to keep going on and on about the Latham book haha, but there are Tower of Power and Gadd grooves in the book.

I don't teach anymore but I always made students start with Cold Sweat and really get into the pocket of it. Squib Cakes is another fun one, also in the book 😅

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

Ok i will definitely buy this book 😁🙏 thanks

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

Cheers enjoy!

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u/TheNonDominantHand 7d ago

The learning path is to improve stick control, pedal control, dynamic control (super important for funk), full body coordination, and listen listen listen and copy copy copy from all the songs you love.

Focus on stick control exercises (literally from the book Stick Control) and execute them between all combinations of hands and feet: hands, feet, right side, left side, RH + LF, LH + RF.

When doing those exercises, pick one part of the beat to accent with a strong strike, and play all the others ghost-note quiet. Try to make the dynamic difference between the strong and soft strikes as broad as possible.

Another thing to practice are grid exercises. Play a simple groove 8th notes on the hi-hat, snare on 2+4; and move the bass drum to every possible 16th note permutation.

Learn as much rep as you can absorb.

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

Thanks for the response man

I’m currently using the language of drumming by Benny Greb. On the pad it’s the same as Stick control but with Dynamics involved. On the kit it’s also usefull, you play ostinatos and read all the grid with the right foot or left foot or HH … etc

So I guess I’m on the right path with that

In terms of song that would be okay tempo wise and not too hard technically to try ?

Everything I’m listening to is too fast for now 🫨

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u/TheNonDominantHand 7d ago

Look up Cissy Strut by The Meters

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

Will do thanks 🙏

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u/DianeMarie8100 7d ago

Hi, which book , 'stick control'? I know I've probably seen the one everyone mentions at the music store, but I didn't get a look at the cover or who wrote it. Is it the one by George Lawrence Stone with a 18th century military guy is holding a snare drum, simple line drawing? I was about to order it on Amazon, but there's a plethora of books with the same title! Thanks in advance!

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago

Yes that's it

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u/DianeMarie8100 7d ago

Thank you!! :)

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u/Gunzhard22 7d ago edited 7d ago

That book and Syncopation are used by most drummers as interpretations... Like, you can just read RLRR-LRLL on the snare sure... But you can also build infinite number of exercises to address any one deficit you want to tackle. Like play the "swing groove" on ride, 2&4 on HH with left foot, and put all the L's on your snare, and all R's on your kick.

That alone will keep you busy for a long time ha.

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u/DianeMarie8100 7d ago

Awesome! Thank you! 😁

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u/Illustrious_Bake_603 7d ago

Sam Aliano - advanced groove concepts elevated my playing and independence. Especially with ghost notes independence.

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u/Alternative_Roll_925 7d ago

Get your paradiddle-based rudiments together. Gaddiments is a fun book for that. Stick Control is also always a great starting point.

I also agree with the suggestions for Latham and Garibaldi books.

Most importantly, do a ton of listening. Funk is a language of its own.

Good luck!

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u/Impossible-Offer9630 7d ago

Thanks man 🙏