The metronome exercises of the last lesson are an ongoing challenge which I hope you will continue to use in your practice sessions. I use them a lot myself.
Now let’s take a look at what I call displaced backbeats. Normally of course the backbeats are on 2 & 4. What happens if we put them on some different parts of the 16th note pulse?
1 – Introduction
Drummer Clyde Stubblefield’s beat on “Cold Sweat” by James Brown was the first time I heard a displaced backbeat. It definitely displaced me! Just shifting that snare drum from “4” to the “and of 4” seriously changed the groove and drummers have been using this concept ever since.
Clyde Stubblefield
2 – Song Examples
1. “Lickin’ Stick” - James Brown, Jab’o Starks, drums
This tune kind of slipped in here. It’s a very syncopated snare drum part using rim clicks which also includes 2 & 4. And it’s such a classic that it has to be in the course somewhere!
Jab’o Starks and James Brown with band
My version of “Lickin’ Stick”, from my book 100 Famous Funk Beats published by Mel Bay:
2. “You’re A Sweet Sweet Man” - Aretha Franklin, Roger Hawkins, drums
Displaced backbeat on the “and of 4” with some tasty ghost notes added.
Aretha Franklin
drummer Roger Hawkins
My version of “You’re A Sweet Sweet Man”, from my book 100 Famous Funk Beats:
3. “Signed, Sealed & Delivered” - James Brown, Clayton Fillyau, drums
I listened to this live recording over and over when I first learned the ghost note concept. I’m sure you’ll hear the scratches on this “out of print” live recording from James Brown titled “Pure Dynamite, James Brown Live at the Regal.” Clayton was a pioneer in the ghost note and displaced backbeat concepts and he passed on his knowledge to Clyde Stubblefield and other James Brown drummers who followed him.
Clayton Fillyau
Here’s my version of the beat (from 100 Famous Funk Beats):
Compare the live version with the original single recording. Clayton changed the groove considerably in the live performance:
There’s an extensive interview with Clayton and a discography of his work in my book “Give The Drummers Some,” available in the books & e-books section of my website.
3 - Groove Examples
Pages 15, 16 & 17 in Advanced Funk Drumming contain material on displaced backbeats. Some of the displaced backbeats fall on the “ands” and some fall on the “e’s” and “ah’s.”
Check the videos and mp3’s and play along.
4 – “Pizza Man”
by The Jim Payne Band, from the CD “Yes!”
Adam Klipple, organ, Al Street, guitar, Jim Payne, drums.
This song includes displaced backbeats and ghost notes.
There are two displaced backbeats in the first bar, the “ah of 2” and the “ah of 3”. The “e of 4” is also accented in the second bar, making the two-bar phrase.
Straight 8ths on the high hat.
The groove changes up in the B section with snare drum accents on “2”, and the “e” and “ah” of 3 with a figure to finish off that section.
NOTE: I should have put a Sign at the beginning of Letter A. That’s where you should go after you play through the chart and get to the D.S al Fine.
Workbook
1. Advanced Funk Drumming p. 17.
Play each line 4 x’s and go down the page. 94 BPM
2. “Pizza Man”
Play the transcribed beat above to the track without drums. You’ll have to figure out the arrangement from the chart.
After the organ solo the groove changes for the guitar solo. It’s a quasi-latin funk groove. Make something up that you think fits the music. I don’t care if you play a cowbell, the HH or the RC with the RH. Your choice.
And you can play a straight ostinato RH pattern of 8ths if you want. Whatever grooves hardest for you.
Play appropriate fills and embellishments. Play all rhythmic figures.
Listen closely for the count-off clicks. There is some drum leakage into the guitar and organ tracks. Play on top of the track as is. Four bars of drums up front.