Funk Drumming: Key Elements to Boost Your Skills
Funk drumming has its own special sounds and rhythms. Here are the important parts you need to pay attention to:
Backbeat Emphasis: The snare drum usually hits on the 2nd and 4th beats. This makes a strong beat that everyone feels.
Hi-Hat Syncopation: When you play the hi-hat drum, hit it on the offbeats. This creates a "chick" sound and adds to the fun rhythm.
Bass Drum Variations: The bass drum doesn’t always just play straight notes. It often plays tricky rhythms that make you feel excitement. A popular pattern is to hit the bass drum on the 1st beat and the "and" after the 2nd beat.
Sixteenth Notes: Adding some sixteenth notes can make your drumming more interesting. A cool way to play is to accent the 1, "e," 2, and "a" of those notes.
Ghost Notes: These are soft hits on the snare drum that help fill in the space between the main beats. They give your groove a little extra without being too loud. Ghost notes make up about 20% of funk drumming.
Rim Shots and Cross-Sticking: Using rim shots during fills creates a sharp sound that stands out from the softer beats.
Two-Bar Fills: Many funk drummers use fills that last for two bars. They often mix toms and snare drumming, which builds excitement before going back to the groove.
Dynamic Range: Funk drumming is all about playing with different volumes. On a scale from 1 to 10, funk patterns usually range from about 6 to 8 in loudness.
Swing Feel: While this is more often heard in jazz, adding a slight swing to your funk drumming can set your groove apart. A little triplet feel on the hi-hat can help with this.
By mastering these parts, you'll really improve your funk drumming skills!
Funk Drumming: Key Elements to Boost Your Skills
Funk drumming has its own special sounds and rhythms. Here are the important parts you need to pay attention to:
Backbeat Emphasis: The snare drum usually hits on the 2nd and 4th beats. This makes a strong beat that everyone feels.
Hi-Hat Syncopation: When you play the hi-hat drum, hit it on the offbeats. This creates a "chick" sound and adds to the fun rhythm.
Bass Drum Variations: The bass drum doesn’t always just play straight notes. It often plays tricky rhythms that make you feel excitement. A popular pattern is to hit the bass drum on the 1st beat and the "and" after the 2nd beat.
Sixteenth Notes: Adding some sixteenth notes can make your drumming more interesting. A cool way to play is to accent the 1, "e," 2, and "a" of those notes.
Ghost Notes: These are soft hits on the snare drum that help fill in the space between the main beats. They give your groove a little extra without being too loud. Ghost notes make up about 20% of funk drumming.
Rim Shots and Cross-Sticking: Using rim shots during fills creates a sharp sound that stands out from the softer beats.
Two-Bar Fills: Many funk drummers use fills that last for two bars. They often mix toms and snare drumming, which builds excitement before going back to the groove.
Dynamic Range: Funk drumming is all about playing with different volumes. On a scale from 1 to 10, funk patterns usually range from about 6 to 8 in loudness.
Swing Feel: While this is more often heard in jazz, adding a slight swing to your funk drumming can set your groove apart. A little triplet feel on the hi-hat can help with this.
By mastering these parts, you'll really improve your funk drumming skills!