Who invented funk drumming?

James Brown
Funk developed in the United States during the mid-1960s as a hybrid of soul, jazz, and blues music. It was one of the first styles of music to place more emphasis on rhythm than melody and harmony. The key innovator of funk music during the 1960s was James Brown, who began his career in the 1950s as a soul musician.

What is a funk beat?

The funk beat was a heavily syncopated, aggressive rhythm that put a strong pulse on the first note of the musical measure (“on the one”), whereas traditional rhythm and blues emphasized the backbeat (the second and fourth beats of the measure).

What is the difference between funk and disco?

The best way to distinguish funk from disco is to look at harmony. Specifically, we can look at how much a given song uses blues tonality. Disco uses all kinds of harmony, but funk is dominated by one specific kind: blues tonality. The difference is not in the beats; both of them use rock-solid funk grooves.

Who is best funk drummer?

The 15 Greatest Groove Drummers Of All Time

  • AL JACKSON JR.
  • JIM KELTNER.
  • ZIGABOO MODELISTE.
  • ANDY NEWMARK.
  • JEFF PORCARO.
  • BERNARD PURDIE.
  • RINGO STARR.
  • CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD/JABO STARKS. Without the dynamic duo of Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks there would be no David Garibaldi, no Dennis Chambers, no Gerald Heyward.

What kind of grooves do Funk drummers play?

Some funk grooves are played very straight while many others utilize slight degrees of swing. There is a wide range of possible feels between a straight eighth-note groove and a triplet shuffle. Many funk grooves are played somewhere in the middle, so learning to play half-swung feels is necessary to become a good funk drummer.

How to make a good funk drum beat?

Once you have mastered each funk drum beat, practice repeating the groove for 3 bars and then add in a 1-bar fill to develop smooth transitions within a musical context. Start off slow around 60 BPM and work your way up to 120 BPM using a metronome once you feel confident with each exercise!

What kind of feel does a funk groove have?

Another aspect of feel comes down to swing. Some funk grooves are played very straight while many others utilize slight degrees of swing. There is a wide range of possible feels between a straight eighth-note groove and a triplet shuffle.

Who was the original funk drummer for Stevie Wonder?

Commitment to the groove is everything. When you’re grooving hard, you don’t want to interrupt the flow with fills. Stick your groove in their faces instead. Many people don’t realize Stevie Wonder is also a drummer and was tutored by one of the original Funk Brothers: Benny Benjamin.