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The 'Funky Drummer' Beat! Last viewed: 9 minutes ago

Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Man, I've been trying to figure out the “Funky Drummer” beat by Clyde Stubblefield for years. He invented/played this groove when he was James Brown's drummer back in the 60's. I saw Clyde live several times and even though I would watch him like a hawk, I could never quite figure out how he was playing the Funky Drummer groove. I got real close on my own, but never quite nailed it... until now!

I got this Jared Falk video from a drummer friend of mine that shows how to play the Funky Drummer groove exactly like Clyde did it! If, like me, you were never able to quite nail this classic groove, here it is!

(*For intermediate to advanced players. Might prove a bit frustrating/challenging for newbies. It requires a respectable amount of control and use of dynamics to pull it off, but worth a try nonetheless. This monster is simply a good cut above beginner level. Don't feel bad if you can't nail it. Work at it. It'll improve you as a drummer just to practice the individual techniques required to execute this groove.)

http://www.drumeo.com/blog/famous-drum-beat/

Enjoy... I know I will. I've been trying to figure this one out for ages. I wish the Internet had existed back when I was young and soaking up as much drumming info as I could. The young bucks today have no idea what an incredible resource the Internet provides them in terms of access to teachers and information.

It's a Brave New World!

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 1292 Threads: 147

Thanks for this, John! This is the ultimate breakbeat, the most sampled one ever. Funk dna ;)

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Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Get yer Funk DNA directly from the Man himself!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3xSXc1vy5I[/ame]

Such a cool groove. The first time I heard it, it sounded like -two-drummers were playing. Completely blew my mind. Then followed years of every once in awhile my recollection of the groove and trying to figure out how he was doing it. I had this 'half-baked' version of it that I was able to sus out for myself, but hard as I tried, I was never able to reproduce it faithfully. This guy Jared Falk took it apart and shows, step by step, how to play the 'actual' Funky Drummer. I'm still struggling a little with that ghost/accent move with the left hand, while maintaining the hi-hat groove with the right. The bass drum part is something I use for other grooves, so I'm comfortable with that part. Still futzing with the hands. Some of those old cats could really play! Hard to follow their footprints in the snow sometimes. They were that good! When you try to play some of this stuff yourself, you gain a whole new respect for the skill and raw talent some of those guys had/have.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 729 Threads: 82

This beat was sampled for NWA's 'Straight Outta Compton". Perhaps one of the best Rap songs ever.

Vintage Drum Student
Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 2115 Threads: 26

Love it. Indeed the internet is a magical place.

tnsquint
Very proud owner of a new Blaemire Snare 6.5 x 14 made by Jerry Jenkins "Drumjinx"
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
Posts: 629 Threads: 227

Nice video!!!from THE MAN, his bad self. When we were starting out in the 60's early 70's.You had a TRY and copy all of James Brown songs and drum parts.I was pretty good at it.One had to play James Brown songs at dances and party's.Hey Hey,I feel all right Huh Huh Huh 2 times and on and on and on.Thanks for the video.V

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Posted on 11 years ago
#6
Posts: 639 Threads: 28

Yeah, I could never hear all the nuances on the recording. I learned from this video. It's still not easy for me to play at speed. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq8_FesAVio[/ame]

Posted on 11 years ago
#7
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

From FatherTime

Yeah, I could never hear all the nuances on the recording. I learned from this video. It's still not easy for me to play at speed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq8_FesAVio

This guy plays it the way I play it based on 'what I thought' was going on. He plays straight 16's on the hats, no accents and the bass drum part is wrong. In the video I posted, Jared Falk has -nailed it-! The beat sounds just like Clyde's original. Without the accents added in conjunction with letting the air out of the hats, and the correct bass drum rhythm, it gets changed into something else. Close, but something else.

Speaking of 'something else,' Mr. Clyde Stubblefield was 'something else!' :p

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#8
Posts: 1955 Threads: 68

From Purdie Shuffle

Speaking of 'something else,' Mr. Clyde Stubblefield was 'something else!' :pJohn

Yes Sir Very good drummers can copy these innovative beats; great drummers invent them. I'm going to work on this one over the weekend.

-No Guru... still learning more every day-
Posted on 11 years ago
#9
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

> great drummers invent them

One of the things I liked about Falk's presentation is that he made it a point to say that, he uses riffs he learns from great drummers to inspire him to come up with his own grooves. That's the fun part of copying the greats. You always find new stuff on your own along the way, or as a direct result of studying the inventions of others.

Example: Years ago when I was struggling to learn the Purdie Shuffle, I accidentally stumbled on a double paradiddle groove/riff that I still play to this day. Completely accidental discovery. I was messing around with different fills when I slipped out this dbl. paradiddle riff that didn't fit and didn't sound good in the context of the Purdie Shuffle. But... it sounded killer on its own, just as riff! If I hadn't been trying to learn the Purdie Shuffle, I never would have found it.

Grist for the mill... it fuels your own creativity! Kinda what it's all about.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#10
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Something else here