I've started getting funky on my new Fender strat, and have already started playing Love Rollercoaster and Le Freak... but I was wondering if any of you could give me a list of essential songs a funk guitarist should be able to play?

C'mon y'all!

sorry this forum isn't what it used to be...


You say funk, start with the inventor;

James Brown

Then move to;
Sly and the Family Stone

You mentioned some 70s stuff but these cats are essential;

Early EWF, early Kool and the Gang, George Clinton (in all of his historic bands) and then there's Cameo, the Gap Band and you don't have 70's funk without the Bar-Kays!

Yeah, I'm already hip to the funk, I was looking more for a list of funk songs with really cool guitar parts....
[Edited 10/10/08 6:31am]

christopherlala said:

Well as someone who is OBSESSED with the funk, all I can say is most of the songs by the artists I've posted have really cool guitar parts.

With James and most of them, the guitarist part is almost an endurance test to see if you can keep a consistent rhythm for the whole song mostly based on a riff or a groove (minimal if any solos)...and do it for 12-30 minutes without faltering.

That's just my

What do you consider funk? Linear one-note runs, or the rhythm scratching? Go check out "Love Power Peace" by James Brown for some amazing funk guitar.

Check out the high-up guitar lick in More Bounce to the Ounce.

"Sing a Simple Song" by Sly, which can lead to other, similar linear funky runs like "Just Got Paid Today" by ZZ Top, Castles Made Of Sand by Jimi, etc.

The guitar part to Sex Machine is awesome. The guitar part to Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose too.

The guitar riff at the end of "Kiss" by P.

High Fashion and Mutiny.

Secret Song Inside by Chili Peppers.

Swing Down by Beau Hall. that's right I said it.

Irresistable Bitch live on the Purple Rain tour.

some of the best funky guitar is live the parade tour (1986), on the jams between songs.

sly - family affair (the intro),

dead on it,

irresistible bitch (live),

kiss (extended)

and more i cant think of atm

3 Chains O' Gold
Orgasm
Savior
....eye'll write in more l8:)