Hi,
I wonder if anybdy would be willing to offer some suggestions for a rhythm guitar part which i could play during a jam of the Maceo track 'pass the Peas'. I have some ideas but just cant seem to get 'Deep' enough into the groove (if that makes sense to you!). It sounds as if i'm playing over the groove, not being part of it. I play the track in 'D' and most of the time i find D9 (and variants of) works quite well but it gets tierd. Also, Sometimes when i play a real dirty funk chord (more hendrix based chords etc..) it sounds too nasty/harsh for the style of track. I need to find a middle ground between a sweet and dirty lick. Anybody got any finger lickin' suggestions for chords and licks which i could add to my bag of tricks?

Thanks

Inversion! Try playing only the 7th and the 9th. try to lime out the root and the 5th, i don´t know. Substitute the chords for other with the same tritone! Try lots of things, one thing will sound right. maybe

7salles said:

I know, i'm trying. i just havent found something that i really feel. i like what prince plays on the aladdin dvd. fuck knows what it is though!

PRNelson said:

if you want i can plug my axe and try to pick out what he plays, but the DVD is in the room of my sistah, i hate that territory.
[This message was edited Sat Jun 19 13:25:28 2004 by 7salles]

7salles said:

Yes, i'd be extremely gratefull. Thank you

The secret to playing the guitar groove on that song is exactly what you're doing. One chord, one rhythmic pattern, nothing else.

There's no magic nor flair going on in the song. It's the 7th chord, hit twice on a synchopated pattern, and just stick to that like stank on a dead dog.

No variations. No changeups. (well except for the turnaround) The beauty to that song, guitar-wise, is that it's merely a percussive instrument, adding to the rhythm of the song, as opposed to being a lead instrument.

That's probably the biggest mistake guitarists make with funk -- assuming that they have to contribute more to a groove than just a single chord. When you start adding variations in the chord or the rhythmic pattern, you pull attention to yourself, and away from the groove. I've seen a million guitarists do it.

And dont get me wrong - I'm not pulling a "been there, I know everything" statement like I always do. I'm guilty of the same thing. Guitarists are lead instrumentalists - we think of our role as one of the "front" instruments - even when playing rhythm guitar, but if you go listen to funk guitar - the old classics from JB or Sly or P, the guitarist's role is much less signifigant.

So, go find those other chords, look for ways to pull more out of the song, and the further you go down that path, the more you'll end up feeling like you're playing OVER the song as opposed to adding something to it.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Often am.

otan said:

Good advice, i completely understand. I'm stuggling to find 'that' chord though! any suggestions?

Can't go wrong with this chord (cept I dunno what it's called):

In the key of E:
E 0
B 3
G 0
D 2
A x
E 0

So then, on whatever is the root note fret, 0 being the key fret, 3 and 2 being 3 and 2 frets up from the Key fret, (so then, if the song's in A, key fret is the 5th fret, index lays across the 5th fret, the pinky plays the B string on the 8th fret, ring finger plays the D string at the 7th fret.

It's got an open dissonance suspended feel going.

Not to whore my own site or nothing, but there's a good funk guitar chord tutorial at this link:
http://www.funkmusician.c...9&Itemid=1

(and I swear, this weekend, I'm putting together a new guitar tutorial).
[This message was edited Tue Jun 22 9:14:37 2004 by otan]

I always will try to put a little flair in every funk i play, maybe it´s because i am from brazil. maybe that´s the reason bossa nova sucks compared to funk.

otan said:

thats the chord! I'll take it, thanks! As a sign of appreciation, please feel free to sleep with my wife

PRNelson said:

Hey thanks! I already did!

EASTER? i HARDLY KNEW HER!

otan said: