1 - The Funky Beat, p. 8, Examples 1-4.

Let’s take another look at these examples. This time we’ll concentrate on RH patterns #1 and #4.

1 - quarter notes
4 - one 8th, two 16ths
Make sure the ghost notes are super-soft.

First practice these two patterns at quarter note = 84 BPM, hands only, no feet.

2 - 4-Bar Phrases

Transcription of the 4-bar phrase

Here’s the basic hand pattern #1 on p. 8 and BD pattern #8 on p. 9 in a 4-bar phrase:

The HH note on 4 of the second bar becomes an open HH note, which sustains over the value of that note, in this case a quarter note. The SD ghost notes are played underneath the HH opening.

You can use this same principle for the rest of the examples. In other words, the last HH note of the pattern you’re using becomes an open HH note.

3 - The Funky Beat, p. 8 & 9, Combining the Hands and Feet.

Again, once we become very familiar with a hand pattern we can begin to add various BD patterns underneath as in these exercises. The hands will begin to play almost by themselves and it’s much easier to add another rhythm on the BD.

The BD patterns usually outline the SD patterns. If there’s a space between the SD notes, the BD can fill in this space.

Combining the hand patterns and the BD patterns

Again, this video has each of the hand patterns. For this lesson, work on RH pattern #1, 1/4 notes and #4, HH on one 8th and two 16ths, and add them to each of the four BD patterns on p. 9.

Play HH patterns #1 and #4 on p. 8 with each of the BD patterns on p. 9 in 4-bar phrases as listed below. This will give us a lot of practice with different HH openings with notes being played underneath them.

Keep the same HH and SD pattern throughout each example. Figure out exactly what’s happening under all the HH openings. There may be nothing, there may be some ghost notes and there may be some BD notes.

Don’t forget to change the BD in the 4th bar to “3” and the “and of 3”.

Take your time.

1. Play ¼ notes on the HH (hand pattern #1 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #5 on p. 9. Play this for 8 bars at 75 BPM.

2. Play ¼ notes on the HH (hand pattern #1 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #6 on p. 9. Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM.

3. Play ¼ notes on the HH (hand pattern #1 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #7 on p. 9. Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM.

4. Play ¼ notes on the HH (hand pattern #1 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #8 on p. 9. Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM

5. Play one 8th note and two 16th notes on the HH (hand pattern #4 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #5 on p. 9. Play this for 8 bars at 75 BPM.

6. Play one 8th note and two 16th notes on the HH (hand pattern #4 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #6 on p. 9. Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM.

7. Play one 8th note and two 16th notes on the HH (hand pattern #4 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #7 on p. 9. Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM.

8. Play one 8th note and two 16th notes on the HH (hand pattern #4 on p. 8 of The Funky Beat) along with the BD pattern #8 on p. 9.
Play the 4-bar phrase 2 times (8 bars) at 75 BPM.

9. Play to Groove 53 Slow: