Latin Funk Connection
This will be the first in a few lessons about what I've found to be a distinct connection between funk and latin grooves and rhythms. It's part of a class I teach at the Musicians Institute. These first four grooves focus on a ghost note pattern I found (a looong time ago!), played by the great Bernard Purdie. This is the first example. Then, when taking lessons with Jose Quintana (Changuito) in Cuba, he gave me the second example, which is just like the first, except no backbeat. That was an amazing moment for me, to make that connection! So, first you have an accented eighth note pattern in the ride with the two snare patterns.
Then, you have an eighth-2 sixteenth pattern in the ride.
I've added a simple bass drum pattern to add to these four grooves.
Quicktime videos of the first (576 kb) and third (544 kb) patterns, the one with the backbeats. There's no bass drum. Yes, they're basic. And yes, they're important to learn and to be able to play!
Latin Funk Lesson Two
This is the second in a few lessons about what I've found to be a distinct connection between funk and latin grooves and rhythms. It's part of a class I teach at the Musicians Institute. These next two grooves continue from our previous lesson, but now add another ride pattern. I've found this ride pattern very useful for faster tempos. What can happen, is that as you practice these patterns and their coordination, you can begin to develop solo ideas as well, using the ride patterns and the other limb which can be orchestrated as a solo.
First, the backbeat groove, with ghost notes.
Now, the more "Cuban" sounding groove.
I've added a simple bass drum pattern to add to these two grooves. Once you've "got" this bass drum pattern, especially with the more "latin" sounding grooves, try omitting the downbeats. Then, omit the ands of the beat, leaving just the last 16th of 1 and 3.
For groove, coordination, and overall fun, these are real nice! Enjoy!
back to top
