James Brown's funk, all in D minor?

[btrag]

I've been spending a lot of time playing along to James Brown tunes. Exclusively, his really hard funk period from the early 70's. It seems like the overwhelming vast majority of these songs are in the key of D minor. Literally, a bass riff built off the D minor scale that is repeated for the length of the song, with the bridge moving up to the G minor. This seems so consistent with these tunes, I'm starting to get a little suspicious of the accuracy of my ear. I'm not trusting my ear. Am I correct about all of this?

[onlyclave]

Whatever it is, it's GOT to be funky.

[MarkTAW]

There's a book with tons of James Brown transcriptions that I have yet to work my way through... Is it called The Funk Masters? It's a great book about the history of James Browns' backup band & worth the read even if you don't get to the transcriptions right away.

[soong]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Whatever it is, it's GOT to be funky.

lol this doesnt help the thread at all but gotta love this comment.

[Scot]

Absolutely correct about "D" although I don't really hear the 1 chords as minor but more as Dom7's with a lot of b3's. The 4 chords are definitely not minor. I'd like to see the transcriptions.

[Gabe.]

The three JB songs I personally know are all in D minor.

[Winterpegbass]

The opening to "Make it funky" goes like this:

Bobby: What you gonna play now?
JB: Bobby...I don know. But whatsinever i play.... It's got ta be funky.

The book is "The Funkmasters: The Great James Brown Rhythm Sections 1960-1973" by Allan "Dr. Licks" Slutsky and Chuck Silverman

In the book "Cold Sweat" is D dorian with horns moving from Em7 to Dm7 with C7 and F7 in the bridge.

"Give it up or turnit loose" is also in D dorian with G9 and F#9 in the bridge.

"Mother Popcorn is D7 with C9 and F9 in the bridge.

"Superbad" is D7(no 3rd)

The book is worth every penny!

[barbarbass]

Yes, D minor, but not really a true melodic minor (like Mozart's 20th piano concerto or something). More of a minor pentatonic.

But anyway, many of them are built on D. And why not? It's a nice key for bass -- you have your roots for IV and V below that fifth-fret tonic on the A string (and above as well) -- the key falls comfortably under the hands.

If you play it up at the 10th fret, same thing -- and you can get that nice solid thuddy 60s sound.

[ClassicRock55]

Originally Posted by Winterpegbass

The opening to "Make it funky" goes like this:

Bobby: What you gonna play now?
JB: Bobby...I don know. But whatsinever i play.... It's got ta be funky.

The book is "The Funkmasters: The Great James Brown Rhythm Sections 1960-1973" by Allan "Dr. Licks" Slutsky and Chuck Silverman

In the book "Cold Sweat" is D dorian with horns moving from Em7 to Dm7 with C7 and F7 in the bridge.

"Give it up or turnit loose" is also in D dorian with G9 and F#9 in the bridge.

"Mother Popcorn is D7 with C9 and F9 in the bridge.

"Superbad" is D7(no 3rd)

The book is worth every penny!

Any book with the good Dr. Licks in it is worth my money, he did a phenominal job on "Standing in the Shadows of Motown"

question though, what is the book notated for? bass, guitar, drums, horns? all of them?

I can't read treble clef..yet, its on my summer to do list

[rodl2005]

Gotta be the greatest Key for funk then!! Well apart from all the others ;-D

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Gotta be the greatest Key for funk then!! Well apart from all the others ;-D

I think D is the saddest of all minor keys.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

I think D is the saddest of all minor keys.

It makes people weep instantly .

Get Up Offa That Thang is G Mixolydian. I think a lot of the "D minor" tunes you are thinking of are D Dorian. Gotta love the Mixolydian and Dorian. They fit so well for bass under Pentatonic.

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by barbarbass

Yes, D minor, but not really a true melodic minor... More of a minor pentatonic.

You are correct. The only song of JB's that I can think of that I would consider truly minor would be "It's A Man's Man's Man's World".

[JimK]

You would think the horn guys would have wanted more things in Eb?

[JimK]

Originally Posted by ClassicRock55

question though, what is the book notated for? bass, guitar, drums, horns? all of them?

I can't read treble clef..yet, its on my summer to do list

First off...The JB/Slutsky book is for the rhythm section...no horns (no keys, either, IIRC).
The book has transcribed parts (& TAB, IIRC) for bass, drums, & guitars.

A couple of the transcribed tunes are from this album-
http://www.amazon.com/Doing-Their-Th...2172570&sr=8-2

Worth picking up, IMO.

..as is this one by The J.B.'s-
http://www.amazon.com/Funky-Good-Tim...2172644&sr=1-7

[jeremynyc]

D just probably worked well for his voice.
And yes it's mostly D7, but they put b3s over it just like any "blues".

[StyleOverShow]

Definitely it was JB vocal range that kept everything in the same key.

Worked with a couple of people in his 70's bands and they didn't have nice things to say about working with him.

[cymbop]

"Now, in order to get down, I got to get in D... Funky D..."

What tune is that from? Funky Good Time?

[Just J]

Originally Posted by Winterpegbass

"Give it up or turnit loose" is also in D dorian with G9 and F#9 in the bridge.

Need to get that book, but the transcription I have of Give it Up with Bootsy on bass is D7... I think. The main bass line plays a maj 3rd. Am I missing something?

[EDIT] Nvm, considering I'm playing the b7 of the G during the bridge, I guess that would make the song D dorian.

[mambo4]

Originally Posted by JimK

You would think the horn guys would have wanted more things in Eb?

My first thought as well...but D minor == F major, which is an other horn friendly key.