funk

Latest about funk

Left-Alex Hutchings; Center-Jack Gardiner; Right-Charles Berthoud
Giacomo Turra stole their work – now, Jack Gardiner, Alex Hutchings, Charles Berthoud and a host of guitar and bass players are teaming up to deliver the ultimate funk masterclass

By Janelle Borg Published

The instrumental diss track, Slapocalypse Reborn, puts the spotlight back on the players who were wronged by Turra

Guitarists
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performs at Living History Live: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter at The GRAMMY Museum on December 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter went to a James Brown gig – and had to step in as his sideman at the last minute

By Janelle Borg Published

Brown may be known as the the “Hardest-Working Man in Show Business”, but it seems like Skunk is also worthy of that moniker...

Guitarists
Triple exposure of Bootsy Collins, US funk bassist, playing a star-shaped bass guitar on stage during a live concert performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, in Hammersmith, London, England, Great Britain, in June 1978
Bootsy Collins’ Space Bass design was turned down everywhere he went – his ‘last straw’ proved the winner

By Janelle Borg Published

Back in 1975, the funkateer had a larger-than-life vision for his dream bass – one which would see him knock on the door of many a luthier and music store before it became a reality

Bassists
Bassist Bootsy Collins performs at PNC Music Pavilion on July 22, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Bootsy Collins is one of the all-time bass greats, but he started out on guitar. Here’s the sole reason why he switched

By Janelle Borg Published

Before he became ‘the’ Bootsy Collins, William Collins was a young guitarist who desperately wanted to join his brother's band

Bassists
Bootsy Collins performs during the 2012 Voodoo Experience at City Park on October 26, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
20 funk bass legends who took low-end groove to new heights

By Nick Wells Published

A rundown of the best funk bass players of all time, featuring the trailblazers, the early innovators, and the monster groovers around today

4 Comments
Bassists
Patrick Patterson of Cymande feels the funk as he performs SXSW 2022, playing his sunburst Gibson ES-339 – a guitar that's served him well over the years.
Sampled by Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul and the Fugees, Cymande shaped the sound of hip-hop. Now they’re back to claim their legacy

By Andrew Daly Published

Cymande’s influence on hip-hop culture is huge. But with new album Renascence, the spotlight returns to the funk institution, and Patrick Patterson is here to play

Guitarists
Cory Wong playing his signature Fender Stratocaster
Think playing rhythm guitar is boring? Cory Wong is here to change your mind

By Cory Wong Published

In his inaugural Guitar World column, Cory Wong establishes the principles – and the mentality – of good rhythm playing, and how you can make yours fun

6 Comments
Artist Lessons
Grace Bowers performs on Day 1 of BottleRock Napa Valley at Napa Valley Expo on May 24, 2024 in Napa, California
Grace Bowers on moving past the blues guitarist label – and where she’s heading next

By Janelle Borg Published

Bowers’ blues chops were the gateway to her making a mark on the guitar scene, but her album and live performances show that she’s much more than just a one-genre player

Guitarists
Three funk guitar maestros [l-r]: Hamish Stuart of Average White Band crouches down to play his Telecaster; Nile Rodgers of Chic gives the audience some love; and Claydes Charles Smith of Kool and the King holds it down with sunglasses on in an archive B/W live shot.
The glitterball guitar heroes of ’70s funk were masters of rhythm guitar – and their techniques will make you a better player

By Jon Bishop Published

Unpacking the techniques pioneered by the likes of Nile Rodgers, Hamish Stuart and Claydes Charles Smith

Artist Lessons
Jude Smith, funk guitar maestro and Pickup Music educator, poses with a Fender Telecaster Deluxe.
Palm-muting is the secret to good funk guitar – here’s how you can use it to funkify chords, double-stops and single notes

By Jude Smith Published

Learn the secret ingredient to funk guitar parts that groove and swagger

Lessons
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