{"id":11364,"date":"2012-10-10T12:44:50","date_gmt":"2012-10-10T16:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/takenote\/?p=11364"},"modified":"2025-10-30T09:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:01:09","slug":"basic-funk-for-drums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/basic-funk-for-drums\/","title":{"rendered":"Funk and Rock Drum Rhythms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learn-how-eighths-sixteenths-and-shuffles-shape-rock-and-funk-drum-patterns\">Learn How Eighths, Sixteenths, and Shuffles Shape Rock and Funk Drum Patterns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"excerpt-callout-block_426b5afcb331330f142f0e544ebc35fe\" class=\"excerpt-callout style-default\">\n    <div class=\"excerpt-content\">\n        <p>The following information on the funk and rock drum rhythms is excerpted from the Berklee Press book <em><a href=\"https:\/\/berkleepress.com\/drums-percussion\/beyond-the-backbeat-from-rock-funk-to-jazz-latin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beyond the Backbeat: From Rock &#038; Funk to Jazz &#038; Latin<\/a><\/em>, written by <a href=\"https:\/\/berkleepress.com\/berklee-authors\/larry-finn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Larry Finn<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><strong>Learning a New Beat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">Whenever you are learning a new beat, whether it is by reading it or by listening to it, follow these guidelines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1.<\/strong> Practice slowly. Working at a slow tempo helps you to develop muscle memory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.<\/strong> Break the beat down. Try just the ride cymbal and kick drum together, and see how they relate.\u00a0Play the right-hand and left-hand parts on a single surface. For example, you might see this beat:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11370\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-1.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Simplify the part by playing both parts on a single surface (in this case, the snare):<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11371\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-2.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"64\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>3.<\/strong>\u00a0Put all the elements of the beat together, and repeat it, over and over. Practice the beat without any added fills until it is very solid.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><strong>Notation Key<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">The notation examples in this article follow the Percussive Arts Society standard. Notes with stems pointing upwards are played by your hands, those pointing downwards by your feet. Parentheses ( ) indicate optional notes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11372\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-3.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Rock\/Funk<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Play a basic rock\/funk beat at\u2669<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>= 60\u2013120.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Basic Rock\/Funk<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: rgba(246, 213, 217, 0.094);\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11374\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-4.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This beat can be used for either rock or funk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Style depends on the whole band, not just the drummer. If the bass plays a driving eighth-note line, the basic rock\/funk beat will sound more like rock. If the bass plays a lighter, sixteenth-note feel, the same beat will sound more like funk.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Rock<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">Rock can be more raw and less syncopated than funk. It often has an even-eighth-note feel. Play a basic rock beat at\u2669<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>= 60\u2013120.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>Basic Rock Beat<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11375\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-5.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Funk<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">Funk is often approached with more finesse than rock. It often has a sixteenth-note feel. Play a basic funk beat at\u2669= 60\u2013108.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>Basic Funk<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11376\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-6.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Rock Shuffle<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">Shuffle beats are usually based on an eighth-note triplet feel. Play a basic rock shuffle at\u2669<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>= 80\u2013144.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>Basic Rock Shuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11377\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-7.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Play a half-time shuffle at\u2669<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>= 80\u2013144.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong>Half-time Shuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11378\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-8.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Further Towards Rock\/Funk<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Inter-dynamics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Not all rock\/funk tunes are loud. What matters more than the number of decibels is the interdynamics<em>\u2014<\/em>the relative dynamics of each drum compared to the rest of the kit. In rock, the snare is often louder than the hi-hat, whether in a soft rock ballad or a hard, driving tune. In other styles, the snare is often relatively quiet. In rock, the hi-hat tends to be more open and more \u201cdriving\u201d than in funk. Funk generally has a tighter, quieter hi-hat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Mastering the inter-dynamics between your drums is the key to playing a wide stylistic range.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Notation:\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11373\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-4-4.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"10\" \/>\u00a0 vs.\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11381\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-12-8.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"18\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Shuffles may be notated in either\u00a0<strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11373\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-4-4.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"10\" \/>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0<strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11381\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-12-8.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"18\" \/><\/strong>. They are played exactly the same either way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Basic Rock Shuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11377\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-7.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11380\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-11.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If music in<strong>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11373\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-4-4.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"10\" \/>\u00a0 <\/strong> is marked \u201cshuffle,\u201d play eighth notes as triplets<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11382\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-12.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"132\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This beat sounds the same as the other Basic Rock Shuffle, but is is written as straight eighth notes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Basic Rock Shuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11383\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-13.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Similarily, if you see \u201chip-hop,\u201d \u201cgo-go,\u201d or \u201cswing sixteenths,\u201d play sixteenths with this feel:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11384\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-14.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Variations<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Rock\/Funk<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Practice these beats beginning at\u2669<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>= 60. Gradually increase the tempo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11385\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-15.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11386\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-16.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Practice these beats at\u2669= 60\u2013120.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11387\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-17.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11388 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-18.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11389\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-19.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11390 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-20.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><br \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11391\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-21.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><br \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11392 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-22.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><br \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11393\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/basic-funk-for-drums-23.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" \/><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/drums?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">STUDY DRUMS WITH BERKLEE ONLINE!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this lesson for drummers, learn how to play basic funk beats with notation by Berklee Online percussion instructor Larry Finn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,9577,9583,7579],"tags":[8108,7341,554,8109],"class_list":["post-11364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-drums-articles","category-drums-lessons","category-lesson-content","tag-drum","tag-drummer","tag-funk","tag-larry-finn"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - 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