what's the difference

[msangster]

What's the difference between R&B and Funk?

 

[JimK]

They have becomne almost interchangable, right? I sometimes use both interchangably...I put Funk under the big R&B umbrella. i.e. Funk is a sub-genre of R&B.
There was a time when R&B was based on Blues changes while Funk was less dependant upon Blues-type of changes.
R&B, which preceded Funk, was maybe more about the vocals...Funk has the instruments more in the forefront with maybe more syncopation.
Some R&B is funky, some Funk is R&B-ish.

What does www.allmusic.com have to say?

 

[Woodchuck]

"You can't describe funk. It's like trying to write down an orgasm." - Rickey Vincent

 

[SuperDuck]

Sounds messy.

 

[NJL]

Sounds messy.

It is.