Jam Sessions - Funk Style - Lesson 5

Jam Sessions - Funk Style - Lesson 5



Lyle: Here's this lesson's jam track in Cm:

Jam Track in Cm

Lyle: Let's learn a bunch of funk style rhythm riffs. Here's the first riff made from the root (C) and the flatted 7th (Bb):

riff 1

riff 1

Lyle: The second rhythm riff is the same but you'll strum the riff instead of palm muting it:

riff 2

riff 2

Lyle: I like either of the two rhythm riffs and it can be hard to decide which one to use in some circumstances.

Lyle: The next rhythm riff uses chords, Cm7 and Cm6:

riff 3

riff 3

Lyle: The next riff is made from the Cm chord. You can use either your index or ring finger to barre:

riff 4

riff 4  

Ed: I notice that your picking hand keeps moving at a regular pace. Are you actually striking strings or just keeping the beat when no notes are played?

Lyle: Ed, I keep my strumming hand moving at the tempo of the rhythm, which helps me 1. keep time, 2. keep my hand moving in the correct position as I execute the down and up strums.

Lyle: Each one of these TAB files also act as a jam track for you to play along with. Simply select the loop button for the TAB file.

Lyle: The next riff is nice for the simple reason that you're using a low bass note followed by notes on the high strings, thus creating melodic dynamics:

riff 5

riff 5

Ed: Lyle, are you muting strings when hitting the double stops at 11th fret?

Lyle: Yes, mute as many strings as you need to mute since you only want to play the 1st and 2nd strings at the 11th fret.

Lyle: The next riff uses a slow and slight bend, listen carefully:

riff 6

riff 6

Lyle: Here's another riff to try:

riff 7

riff 7

Lyle: The next riff is like a combination of the last two riffs:

riff 8

riff 8

Lyle: The next riff reminds my a little of a Billy Gibbons blues riff:

riff 9

riff 9

Lyle: The next riff is like riff 3 but played up an octave:

riff 10

riff 10

Lyle: Try to memorize a few of these riffs and play them along to the jam track. If you can memorize them in order, it would sound just like in the lesson samples at the beginning of the lesson.

Lyle: If you were to improvise some solo riffs to the jam track, I would recommend using the C Dorian minor mode since the main chords used were Cm7 to Cm6:

C Dorian mode example

skip: Yes!

Steve_K: By next lesson hopefully I will have broadband

Lyle: C Dorian mode is the second mode of the _ major scale? Fill in the blank...

skip: Bb?

Lyle: Yes! C Dorian is the second mode of the Bb major scale. This means you can play the Bb major (Ionian) scale along to the jam track:

Bb Ionian mode example

Ed: Lyle, can you recommend a reference book or other source for learning the scales and the modes?

Lyle: Ed, I made a cool Riff Interactive CD-ROM with lessons about the modes, it's called Understanding the Modes.

Lyle: Who know what the relative minor is for the Bb major scale?

Steve_K: G?

Lyle: Steve, you're right! G minor/relative/natural/pure/Aeolian is the scale you can also use against this jam in Cm:

G Aeolian mode example

Lyle: I like to use the 7th mode and arpeggiate it sometimes to get a real bluesy and funky sound. The 7th mode in the key of Bb major is the A Locrian. Here's a couple arpeggio riffs made from it:

A Locrian arpeggio example

scales

Lyle: Since the jam was centered around Cm and several of the chords used were Cm7 and Cm6, this means a minor mode of some kind is the option to use. Since a Cm6, a minor six chord was used, this is a red flag telling you to use a Dorian minor mode.

roy: If you were playing a funk in Dm, then you could use the C major scale......(Dm is the second mode in key of Cmajor)

Lyle: Correct!

Lyle: Thanks for all your great questions, I'm glad you are active and participating in these lessons. It's real fun for myself and Riff Interactive to know that what we are doing is making a difference. Keep it up and tell all your friends! If you would like to have customized help on this lesson or anything else, I can make you a lesson like this and send it to you or you can join me live for the lesson. Email at Lyle@theguitar.net for info. Thanks.