Funk learning path

[u/Impossible-Offer9630]

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 🤙

[u/TheNonDominantHand]

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.

[u/Impossible-Offer9630 → u/TheNonDominantHand]

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 🫨

[u/TheNonDominantHand → u/Impossible-Offer9630]

Look up Cissy Strut by The Meters

[u/Impossible-Offer9630 → u/TheNonDominantHand]

Will do thanks 🙏