Guitar driven funk?

Mark Perry · #1 01-25-2007, 12:19 PM

Hey there
I'm in a funk / soul band which currently only consists of me, a drummer and a guitarist. Haven't had much luck finding a keyboardist, one typically crucial part of any funk band.

Anyone know good bands, c.d's or songs that feature guitar as the main instrument?

The closest i can find in my cd collection is Funkadelics Hardcore Jollies, Maggot brain and Cosmic slop, a Meters best of and many cases of the guitarist playing an unispiring background, rythm role.

My guitarist loves his Hendrix style soloing, can stick to rythm (gets bored, goes back to soloing) so far weve only had a few jams which haven't resulted in any original material, only endless jamming over songs such as sex machine, flashlight etc. - fun but not really going anywhere

Dr. Cheese · #2 01-25-2007, 12:22 PM

If you are going to do it without keyboards, get a second guitarist. The greatest funk band of all time, James Brown's band, often recorded without keyboards, but relied on two guitarists, one to play single note lines, and one to do chord work. Average White Band, Earth Wind, and Fire, and Slave were all bands that worked similarly.

Planet Boulder · #3 01-25-2007, 12:25 PM

Hillel Slovak (the old RHCP guitarist, may he RIP) is a good one to check out.

AxtoOx · #4 01-25-2007, 12:26 PM

I don't know if this would interest you, but, Beck Bogert and Appice did a killer version of Stevie Wonders "Superstition" featuring Beck on guitar.

Mark Perry · #5 01-25-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

If you are going to do it without keyboards, get a second guitarist. The greatest funk band of all time, James Brown's band, often recorded without keyboards, but relied on two guitarists, one to play single note lines, and one to do chord work. Average White Band, Earth Wind, and Fire, and Slave were all bands that worked similarly.

Thats a good point, i suppose i'm often put off by the idea of two guitarists in a funk band (when too much music is guitar driven). That said i do know an amazing guitarist (as in can and will play in just about any style.
As for recordings, i'd prefer more straight funk stuff and less chilis and similar bands.
Thanks a lot for the immediate responses by the way
Keep 'em coming

stedtale · #6 01-25-2007, 12:36 PM

Do you know Fuze?

David Fiuczynski

and Screaming Headless Torsos (or any of his bands)...

hope.ram

vinnie.ram

blueingreen.ram

www.fuzelicious.com

www.screamingheadlesstorsos.com

James Hart · #7 01-25-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Planet Boulder

Hillel Slovak (the old RHCP guitarist, may he RIP) is a good one to check out.

that's who I instantly thought of too. Good call!

**baba** · #8 01-25-2007, 12:47 PM

A large part of Charlie Hunter's discography is guitar driven funk.

Some of Scofield's stuff leans to the funky side of things.

PhR · #9 01-25-2007, 12:49 PM

Betty Davis' albums had plenty of great guitar, especially her first eponymous album which featured Neal Schon and Doug Rodriguez on guitar. Not a bad rhythm section either!

stedtale · #10 01-25-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

A large part of Charlie Hunter's discography is guitar driven funk.

Some of Scofield's stuff leans to the funky side of things.

oh yeah, sco. nice one.

there's always Jimmy Nolen <drool>

stedtale · #11 01-25-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stedtale

oh yeah, sco. nice one.

there's always Jimmy Nolen <drool>

of course you already covered the "sex machine" thing....

Christopher · #12 01-25-2007, 01:03 PM

The Isley Brothers! Awesome guitar parts and solos.

Dr. Cheese · #13 01-25-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Perry

Thats a good point, i suppose i'm often put off by the idea of two guitarists in a funk band (when too much music is guitar driven). That said i do know an amazing guitarist (as in can and will play in just about any style.
As for recordings, i'd prefer more straight funk stuff and less chilis and similar bands.
Thanks a lot for the immediate responses by the way
Keep 'em coming

You have to ask yourself, are you going for a more pure funk sound, or something closer to a funk/rock hybrid. If you are going for pure funk, the rythmn guitar is anything but boring, but it requires a deep knowledge of funk and a willingness to be open to the form. In my experience, rock guitarists can often fake the funk for a while, but get bored in a genre that is dominated by rythmn and repitition. If a guitarist is into the funk, he can work within the genre and make it come to life!

stedtale · #14 01-25-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You have to ask yourself, are you going for a more pure funk sound, or something closer to a funk/rock hybrid. If you are going for pure funk, the rythmn guitar is anything but boring, but it requires a deep knowledge of funk and a willingness to be open to the form. In my experience, rock guitarists can often fake the funk for a while, but get bored in a genre that is dominated by rythmn and repitition. If a guitarist is into the funk, he can work within the genre and make it come to life!

+1

markjazzbassist · #15 01-25-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

The Isley Brothers! Awesome guitar parts and solos.

+1

Chic (Nile Rodgers smokes on guitar) and Average White Band.

Dr. Cheese · #16 01-25-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

+1

Chic (Nile Rodgers smokes on guitar) and Average White Band.

I almost feel the need to slap myself for forgetting Nile Rodgers! Chic is a great example of a band with one wonderful rythmn guitarist.

GrooveWarrior · #17 01-25-2007, 01:50 PM

Dean Brown. He plays a lot with Marcus, and is really funky! Check out the song "Take This!" on the Here CD. Very funky guitar!

Also, a great deal of Prince's music is very funky, and guitar heavy.

daveyfunk · #18 01-25-2007, 02:59 PM

yeah, i'd certainly agree with most of the above. a james brown kinda flavour would be nice guitar led. but i think you listed the obvious choice in the meters. maybe has alot of keyboards live on the recordings but live the guitars definately stand out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpl17Uqs7Bs

and the meters playing with the chillis live...how cool!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqMfuiy0eO8

we've covered a couple of meters tunes with guitar taking more of a lead and it worked for me. think drums are the crucial factor in any funk, and zigaboo rules the roost imo.

btw, i'd love to hear some of your music if you have any handy. i do looove my funk

stitchbass · #19 01-25-2007, 03:16 PM

I would like to argue that Blood sugar sex magik, is a guitar driven funk/rock album. Flea's bass work on it is responding on the whole to Frusciante's raw funk. Tunes like Funky Monks and If You Have To Ask are the best examples of this I reckon.

reitedasc · #20 01-25-2007, 04:27 PM

http://www.myspace.com/johnhickeyband

I'll try to think of more stuff!