The truth is, defining funk as just a genre is not only difficult, but does a disservice in defining what it truly is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funk as a philosophy existed before funk as a genre existed. It\u2019s a creative spirit that goes beyond the Mixolydian mode,<\/a> syncopation, or 16th notes. It\u2019s not defined by dominant 9th chords on the guitar. Funk is a commitment to the feel and the groove above all else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James Brown was funky, but Michael Jackson was also funky. Parliament was funky, but Fela Kuti was also funky. Zapp & Roger was funky, but so were artists like Jamiroquai and DJ Quik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can keep going, as it would be a crime to leave out artists like Prince, D\u2019Angelo, Sly and the Family Stone, Pleasure, Rick James, Graham Central Station, Kool & the Gang, and many, many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Funk is all about making you, the listener, move. It\u2019s about making you dance above all else. There\u2019s no doubt that music has an ability to put us in a trance state, and funk is about locking into that state for as long as possible, whether you\u2019re the creator or the listener. It\u2019s quite hypnotic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, funk as a genre is simply defined by a few sonic characteristics that pioneering music artists of the genre in the late \u201860s, \u201870s, and \u201880s had in common\u2014and we can\u2019t dive into these characteristics and the history of funk without paying homage to the \u201cGodfather of Soul,\u201d<\/a> James Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the James Brown biopic (a must-watch for any music creator), he treated every instrument as a drum. Saxophones, guitars, and bass\u2014they were all drums, coming together and hitting different notes at different times, syncopating on upbeats and always emphasizing the downbeat to create a harmony of funk and groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My favorite way that James Brown would create this effect was through a technique called \u201cquestion and answer\u201d or \u201ccall and response.\u201d It\u2019s a powerful songwriting device, and once you master it, you can create memorable grooves with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, let\u2019s analyze a childhood favorite of mine, \u201cThe Payback\u201d by James Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow James Brown pioneered the sound of funk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n