FREE LESSON BOOK

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 02

This lesson book goes alongside the full-length tutorial video on

The Keys Coach YouTube channel.

Introduction
Funk music is undeniably one of the most enjoyable styles
of music to play.

The repetitive, catchy, and uplifting grooves and riffs that

make up this unique genre, are not only fun to master but
Adam Saunders
Founder can also present considerable challenges, particularly in
The Keys Coach terms of harmony and rhythm!

🎧 Backing Tracks Over the years, I have played in several funk bands and in
this Lesson Book and accompanying video, I’m going to
If you would like to practice these
break down three iconic funk grooves.
grooves in your own time, you can
purchase the backing tracks used in
the video by ➡️ clicking here. These grooves span different levels of complexity, ranging
from simple repeated voicings to intricate patterns that
There are slow, medium and regular include elements of improvisation.
tempo versions included, so you can
really get these grooves under your In the video, I demonstrate using a clav sound, but rest
fingers. assured, these patterns are applicable to all keyboard
instruments!
All proceeds go directly towards
creating more awesome free content
for The Keys Coach Community 🚀 I really enjoyed making this video, and I hope you find
these grooves enjoyable and beneficial!

i v e i n !
Let’s d
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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 03

Sly and the Family Stone

Funk music emerged in the late 1960s as a fusion of

soul, jazz, and R&B, primarily African American musical
styles. It was born out of the need to bring a raw,
visceral energy to the dance floor. Pioneered by artists
like James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and
George Clinton, funk emphasized syncopated rhythms,
infectious basslines, and improvisational
instrumentation.
James Brown

With its emphasis on groove and rhythm, funk became a cultural force, influencing not only music but
also fashion, dance, and social movements, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture that continues
to resonate today.

In the 1970s, funk spawned various subgenres like P-Funk, G-Funk, and jazz-funk, each adding unique
flavors. This era saw the emergence of iconic bands like Parliament-Funkadelic, The Meters, and
Earth, Wind & Fire, pushing funk's boundaries with experimental sounds and elaborate performances.
Its influence extended globally, shaping disco, hip-hop, and electronic music, solidifying its place as a
key element in modern music. Today, funk remains a source of inspiration for new generations,
perpetuating its legacy on dance floors worldwide.

Parliament-Funkadelic

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 04

The Chord Sequence

The grooves in this video are performed over a 12-bar blues, widely considered one of the most
common chord progressions in music.

There are numerous variations of the 12-bar blues, and the version demonstrated in this video
follows this structure and is in the key of G major:

This is probably the simplest version of the 12-bar blues - we'll explore more complex variations in a
later video!

video: 2:59

As demonstrated in the YouTube video, work through this exercise by playing the root notes of the
12-bar blues in G major with just your left hand.

🎧 Backing Tracks
If you are using the Backing Tracks (click here), play this exercise with:
Track 1a - Slow 12 Bar Blues
Track 1b- Medium 12 Bar Blues
Track 1c - Regular 12 Bar Blues.

The Backing Tracks continually repeat the structure, so you can get the exercise secure before moving on.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 05

video: 5:52

Using the same rhythm as before, now try playing the root of each chord in your left hand, while
playing the seventh and third in your right hand.

🎧 Backing Tracks
If you are using the Backing Tracks (click here), play this exercise with:
Track 1a - Slow 12 Bar Blues
Track 1b- Medium 12 Bar Blues
Track 1c - Regular 12 Bar Blues.

The Backing Tracks continually repeat the structure, so you can get the exercise secure before moving on.

Enjoy this Video? 💫

If you enjoyed this video, you might like this video which breaks
down the iconic piano intro to 'Easy' by Lionel Richie!

Check it out here.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 06

video: 7:14

Now try smudging the top note of each voicing by a semitone. This adds more movement and gives
your playing more character.

When playing funk, you don’t necessarily have to smudge every voicing; otherwise, it can sound a bit
overused.

Use it sparingly! This exercise is just to incorporate the smudge technique into your playing.

🎧 Backing Tracks
If you are using the Backing Tracks (click here), play this exercise with:
Track 1a - Slow 12 Bar Blues
Track 1b- Medium 12 Bar Blues
Track 1c - Regular 12 Bar Blues.

The Backing Tracks continually repeat the structure, so you can get the exercise secure before moving on.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 07

video: 11:22

Here is the right hand repeated riff as demonstrated in the video:

🎧 Backing Tracks
If you are using the Backing Tracks (click here), play this exercise with:
Track 2a - Slow 12 Bar Blues
Track 2b- Medium 12 Bar Blues
Track 2c - Regular 12 Bar Blues.

The Backing Tracks continually repeat the structure, so you can get the exercise secure before moving on.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 08

video: 15:06

Get the G Blues Scale (shown below) under your fingers:

G Bb C C# D F G

As shown in the video, play one half of the pattern, then improvise in the gap using the G Blues Scale.

Remember to keep your improvisation as simple as possible to start with, and try and repeat elements
of your musical ideas. Notice, there are three consecutive patterns in the final four bars!

🎧 Backing Tracks
If you are using the Backing Tracks (click here), play this exercise with:
Track 3a - Slow 12 Bar Blues
Track 3b- Medium 12 Bar Blues
Track 3c - Regular 12 Bar Blues.

The Backing Tracks continually repeat the structure, so you can get the exercise secure before moving on.

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FREE LESSON BOOK: 3 CLASSIC FUNK GROOVES 09

To take this even further, try coming up with your own right-hand repeated riff.

Then, repeat Exercise 3, playing the first half of your pattern, followed by improvising in the gaps.

Also, if you haven’t already, experiment with alternative keyboard sounds. How does the sound vary
when playing on a Wurly or Rhodes, for example? What do you prefer?

Drop the team an email and let us know how you get on!

support@thekeyscoach.com

If you've found value in this lesson and want to support The Keys Coach in
continuing to bring you fantastic free Piano content each week, you can
show your appreciation by treating the team to a cup of coffee!

Just click here to buy us a coffee! Your support means a lot to us!

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 THE
KEYS
COACH

Hi! 👋
It’s Adam here!

Thanks so much for checking out this lesson book! I hope you find it
useful!

If you’re interested in more of this type of content, keep an eye on ‘The

Keys Coach’ Instagram and YouTube Channel - there is lots of content
coming your way soon!

In the meantime, check out my Podcast! Each week I chat with a different
professional keys player about their journey in music.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, then this is the

podcast for you!

Episodes are usually released every Thursday,

and there’s a massive back-catalogue of awesome
conversations to check out!

Available on all streaming platforms.

Cheers!
CLICK TO LISTEN

Adam
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