Funk music is a very particular style that arouse from R&B, or Rhythm and Blues and had it’s peek of popularity between the 1960’s and the 1970’s.
The name funk originally means a strong odour, but it started being used to describe certain R&B songs that were more upbeat.
Naturally the adjective “funky” started to mean “very groovy “.
The most distinctive characteristic of funk is the importance and heaviness of the bass guitar in its songs.
Legendary bass players like James Jamerson, Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham (Sly & the Family Stone) started including the melodies of basslines as the centerpiece of songs. The “slap bass” technique, for instance, was credited to Graham and was later developed by some other bass players and became a highly recognizable component of funk.
The basic idea behind funk music is to create as much grooviness as possible. In this sense, the melody of the bassline is the center of the song and the rhythms are very complex, but the structure of the song is rather simple.
I’d say that funk music wants your mind to be in the groove of the bass, and your body in the rhythm of the drums. All other elements can be added up, like singing, guitar, saxophones, trumpets, Hammonds , etc..
In the 80’s funk saw a big decline in popularity, especially because of the widespread use of synthesizers and the popularity of cheesy pop-rock.
Most people in the 80’s were either listening to hillbillies with mullets or to androgynous semi-vampires singing tacky love-rock songs.
In the 90’s there was a small come back of funk, because lots of hip hop artists, who were inspired by a glorious past, started sampling classic funky tracks.
Today, music is available for everyone, and all styles are known. There is space for all music genres to cohabit. Funk has become a niche with its legion of loyal followers, who spend hours on the internet looking for a rare single, or in a thrift shop looking for an old 45’ with an awesome beat.
Funk music is still played today, and there are lots of bands who still try to capture (some successfully) the power of grooviness. If you’re looking for cool funk loops you should check out Future Loops samples packs.
They have the best in extra juicy funk samples for you to make killer tracks that taste like vinyl. Go get some real funk samples with Mike Clark’s Funk Drums.
