KVR Audio

VexedToRestOnYou · Post by **VexedToRestOnYou** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:17 am

I am trying to learn how to improvise in a kind of funk or nu "disco" fashion. However, whenever I try to improvise whatever I play comes out as kind of rigid, melodic and cheery rather than funky. What's the best way to learn a style? Would it be to listen to bands like daft punk, justice, electric six etc. and try to play what they are playing to get the hang of it? Or would it be better to learn from a book?

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:23 am

bit of both, id say funk comes from the heart more than the head though. a book may not be the best place to start.

listen, hear, feel.

VexedToRestOnYou · Post by **VexedToRestOnYou** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:47 am

vurt wrote:bit of both, id say funk comes from the heart more than the head though. a book may not be the best place to start.

listen, hear, feel.

Thanks I think I am just going to try and play along with my records till I get it.

7kilo · Post by **7kilo** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:52 am

-edit-

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Thu May 08, 2008 1:10 am

Although the members of those bands might play instruments themselves, their actual released material doesn't feature much live playing. Think melodic instruments used percussively and single-bar loops repeated ad infinitum. It sounds like you're playing melodies and harmonies over a style of music that features very little of either.

ilkombo · Post by **ilkombo** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:10 pm

i suggest u to search forums that talk about that style, when i learned somethin about dnb i went in dnb forums.
4 evert style u want to do u need to learn the basics,in that genre is important know how they use filters, how they use lo fi reducers on drums, how they use vocoders,
that's the basics, the when u have tha ABC u can do your music, and for sure u need a lot of try with your sequencer

psenior · Post by **psenior** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:50 pm

Funk music is derived from latin music. To get the feel for playing good solid funky lines, listen closely to the congas and use their rhythms when playing your melodies.

kahnikaze31 · Post by **kahnikaze31** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:25 pm

When I get stuck on a style, I listen to it nonstop for weeks and end up discovering tons of different artists along the way. Eventually it just seeps in without me even realizing. Your ears are really the best teacher you can ever have.

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:51 pm

while some latin music has similar derivations as some funk musics, eg., afro cuban areas, it is not very correct to say that funk music derives from latin music.

a style such as this is not shallow, and you better think in terms of immersion in as much of its roots as you can find. and don't expect to get it in terms of weeks.

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:33 am

There is a certain amount of yourself you will bring to a piece no matter how hard you try to avoid it. If it's not in you it's not going to come out of you. The best funk players are confident in their abilities and sure of their musical direction. They get what they are doing they don't apologize for a bit of it.
Dance to funk get your groove on mentally first. It's not a chess game.

jimmyvee · Post by **jimmyvee** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:00 am

Dance......???
That's for Girly Men...

If you want to learn funk, you should get a Hohner D6 Clavinet type of preset, then listen to all of those old disco 70's bass lines and woodshed them. Once you can play them w/ your left hand, add you right hand hand and start syncopating.
It's a groove, and once you start groovin' you'd be surprised how the easiest little lick or melody can be made into a tune.

Best Way to Learn a Style?