Ultimate Funk Grooves for Bb Instruments by Ben Tompsett
92 of the Funkiest Sax Riffs Known to Mankind
isbn 1-882146-29-8 Front Cover Artwork: Jim Stubbington Published & Distributed exclusively by A.D.G. Productions 15517 Cordary Ave., Lawndale CA 90260 web site address http://www.adgproductions.com e mail [email protected] copyright © 2006 A.D.G. Productions
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. Printed in Canada Ultimate Funk Grooves for Bb Saxophone 92 of the Funkiest Sax Riffs known to mankind
FUNK
A style of music born in the mid sixties, that carries with it an unmistakable ‘attitude’.
RIFF
An integral part of funk music. A short repetitive musical idea, or phrase.
> ABOUT THE BOOK
Funk, and its infectious style, remains a popular part of the music we listen to today. Timeless recordings from artists such as James Brown, The Commodores, Stevie Wonder and many more, continue to enjoy massive popularity, and have had a major influence on contemporary music styles, such as Hip-Hop, Rap, and R n’ B. The Saxophone in Funk music, has its place not only in the Horn sections so often heard in this genre, but also as a dynamic solo instrument. This book contains 92 riffs that showcase the different ways in which the soloist can create a distinct Funk sound to their playing. The CD that comes with the book contains 31 different grooves that accompany
1 each of the riffs, and covers a wide range of different Funk styles, from the mid-sixties to the present day. The book is intended for the musician who wants to practically develop their playing style and improvisation technique in this genre.
> IMPROVISATION
Successful improvisation in any style of music is about developing, through playing, some form of pre-prepared material. This can be in the form of a scale that works over a given groove/chord, or even some short musical ideas/phrases. The latter are commonly referred to as ‘Riffs’, and make up much of the soloing and structural motifs that we hear in Funk music. Through playing and further developing the 92 riffs contained in this book, the instrumentalist will gain a greater understanding of playing in this style, and can improve their soloing technique.
2 > GETTING STARTED
Each page of the notation covers 1 of the 31 grooves included on the CD, and contains anything from 1 to 4 separate riffs that fit with the track.
Each groove is recorded twice.
The first version has the saxophone playing the riff against the track, followed by the same number of bars just rhythm section, for the instrumentalist to copy the given riff. The saxophone then plays the next riff on that page, and so on.
The second version is an entire track of just the rhythm section. It is intended that the instrumentalist will start with the given riff, and use the extra space to develop further ideas.
Whilst some of the riffs contained in the book are playable by beginners, the majority of the material is intended for the intermediate to advanced player. It will be necessary, with some of the more complex riffs, to practise them through first before using the CD.
3 > THE NOTATION EXPLAINED
In order to notate these riffs as precisely as possible with regards to ’feel’ and certain specialized techniques, some different notation has been used in places.
‘Ghost Notes’
The second note in the extract below is an example of a note that should be played as a ‘Ghost Note’. The best way to describe these notes is that they should be felt but not heard. Pass the fingers over the note, and allow it to sound lightly, or even not at all.
Alternative fingerings
The purpose of the alternate fingering technique used in the book, is to add slight changes of tuning/timbre to repeated notes. A slightly different note head has been used to show when an alternative fingering should be applied – see the middle 16th. note of the group of 3 D’s in the example below.
An extensive Saxophone fingering chart can be found online at the publishers website www.adgproductions.com. This chart covers standard, alternative, and even the altissimo fingerings required for some of the optional harmonics used in the book. 4 > FURTHER PRACTISE
Getting out there and playing as part of a band is essential for getting the feeling of what Funk music is really about. In order to improve ones versatility as an instrumentalist, something that is vital for ensemble playing, the material in this book covers all different keys and many different styles of grooves at varied tempos. Each riff has been specifically written for one of the 31 Grooves, but part of the further development of this material should be the practice of adapting them over the other tracks on the CD. This will in some cases involve transposition and adaptation of the riffs to make them work over the given chords/key/style, but will prove an invaluable exercise in preparing oneself for playing in a band environment, either as a soloist or section member.
> BONUS MATERIAL
6 Additional Grooves and 17 extra Riffs, that we were not able to include in the book, are available for free download in mp3 and pdf format from, www.adgproductions.com. Please enter ADG098, or the title of the book, in the search engine of the website.
5 > RELATED LISTENING
Below is a list of some of the Grooves included in the book, each with a related Artist/Band for further listening.
Groove 1 CD TRACKS 1 & 2 Page 8 The Meters Groove 2 CD TRACKS 3 & 4 Page 9 Ben E. King Groove 3 CD TRACKS 5 & 6 Page 10 Marvin Gaye Groove 4 CD TRACKS 7 & 8 Page 11 The J.B.’s Groove 5 CD TRACKS 9 & 10 Page 12 James Brown Groove 6 CD TRACKS 11 &12 Page 13 The Crusaders Groove 7 CD TRACKS 13 & 14 Page 14 Funkadelic Groove 8 CD TRACKS 15 & 16 Page 15 Isaac Hayes Groove 9 CD TRACKS 17 & 18 Page 16 Michael Brecker Groove 10 CD TRACKS 19 & 20 Page 17 Ohio Players Groove 11 CD TRACKS 21 & 22 Page 18 Tower of Power Groove 12 CD TRACKS 23 & 24 Page 19 Herbie Hancock Groove 14 CD TRACKS 27 & 28 Page 21 Junior Walker & The Allstars Groove 16 CD TRACKS 31 & 32 Page 23 Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King Groove 17 CD TRACKS 33 & 34 Page 24 Brothers Johnson Groove 19 CD TRACKS 37 & 38 Page 26 Sly & the Family Stone Groove 21 CD TRACKS 41 & 42 Page 28 Prince Groove 22 CD TRACKS 43 & 44 Page 29 The Average White Band Groove 24 CD TRACKS 47 & 48 Page 31 Parliament Groove 25 CD TRACKS 49 & 50 Page 32 Maceo Parker Groove 26 CD TRACKS 51 & 52 Page 33 Hamilton Bohannon Groove 27 CD TRACKS 53 & 54 Page 34 Rik James Groove 28 CD TRACKS 55 & 56 Page 35 Roy Ayers Groove 29 CD TRACKS 57 & 58 Page 36 Curtis Mayfield
6 > ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Card Design by Tony Masterantonio
Saxophonist, Ben Tompsett is a performer and teacher who has extensive experience of Funk music from across the years. Visit his website for current information on latest projects, albums, and live performances – www.btompsett.com
> CREDITS
Ultimate Funk Grooves for Saxophone – all material written and arranged by Ben Tompsett
Saxophones, Keyboards and programming – Ben Tompsett Guitars – Mike Ross Bass – Dave Baxter, Mike Pratt
Recorded and Mixed by Ben Tompsett
7 Groove #1 q = 106 Funk Riff #1 Track 1 + Sax Track 2 - Sax C7
Groove #1 q = 106 Funk Riff #2 Track 1 + Sax C7 Track 2 - Sax
Groove #1 q = 106 Funk Riff #3 Track 1 + Sax C7 Track 2 - Sax
8 Funk Riff #4 Funky Shuffle Groove #2 q = 90 Track 3 + Sax Gm7 C9 Gm7 C9 Track 4 - Sax
Funk Riff #5 Groove #2 q = 90 Funky Shuffle Track 3 + Sax Gm7 C9 Track 4 - Sax
Gm7 C9
Funk Riff #6 Funky Shuffle Groove #2 q = 90 Track 3 + Sax Gm7 C9 3 Track 4 - Sax
Gm7 C9
9 Funk Riff #7 Funky Shuffle Groove #3 q = 108 Track 5 + Sax Dm9 Track 6 - Sax
Funk Riff #8 Groove #3 q = 108 Funky Shuffle Track 5 + Sax Track 6 - Sax Gm7
Dm9
Funk Riff #9 Funky Shuffle Groove #3 q = 108 Dm9 Track 5 + Sax Track 6 - Sax
3
10 Funk Riff #10 Funky Shuffle Groove #4 q = 100 Track 7 + Sax G9 Track 8 - Sax
Funk Riff #11 Groove #4 q = 100 Funky Shuffle Track 7 + Sax G9 Track 8 - Sax
Funk Riff #12 Groove #4 q = 100 Funky Shuffle Track 7 + Sax G9 Track 8 - Sax
11 Groove #5 q = 98 Funk Riff #13 Track 9 + Sax E7#9 Track 10 - Sax
Funk Riff #14 Groove #5 q = 98 Track 9 + Sax E7#9 Track 10 - Sax
Groove #5 q = 98 Funk Riff #15 Track 9 + Sax E7#9 Track 10 - Sax
3
12 Funk Riff #16 Groove #6 q = 148 Track 11 + Sax A7#9 D7 A7#9 D7 Track 12 - Sax
F7 E7#9 A7#9 E7#9 Growl
Groove #6 q = 148 Funk Riff #17 Track 11 + Sax A7#9 D7 A7#9 Track 12 - Sax
D7 F7
E7#9 A7#9 E7#9 Funk Riff #18 Groove #6 q = 148 Track 11 + Sax A7#9 D7 A7#9 D7 Track 12 - Sax
F7 A7#9 E7#9 3 E7#9
13 Funk Riff #19 Groove #7 q = 86 Funky Shuffle Track 13 + Sax G#m7 Track 14 - Sax
E13
Funk Riff #20 Groove #7 q = 86 Funky Shuffle Track 13 + Sax G#m7 Track 14 - Sax
E13 3 3
Groove #7 = 86 Funk Riff #21 q G#m7 Funky Shuffle Track 13 + Sax Growl Track 14 - Sax fp
E13
14 Groove #8 q = 102 Funk Riff #22 Track 15 + Sax Cm9 Track 16 - Sax
3
Funk Riff #23 Groove #8 q = 102 Track 15 + Sax Cm9 Track 16 - Sax
Funk Riff #24 Groove #8 q = 102 Track 15 + Sax Cm9 Track 16 - Sax
3 3 3 3 3 15 Funk Riff #25 Groove #9 q = 126 Track 17 + Sax Bm7 Track 18 - Sax
E/B 3
Funk Riff #26 Groove #9 q = 126 Track 17 + Sax Bm7 Track 18 - Sax
E/B fp
Funk Riff #27 Groove #9 q = 126 Track 17 + Sax Bm7 Track 18 - Sax
E/B
16 Funk Riff #28 Funky Shuffle Groove #10 q = 94 Track 19 + Sax D7#9'13 Track 20 - Sax
Funk Riff #29 Groove #10 Funky Shuffle q = 94 D7#9'13 Track 19 + Sax Track 20 - Sax 3
3
Funk Riff #30 Funky Shuffle Groove #10 q = 94 D7#9'13 Track 19 + Sax Track 20 - Sax
17 Funk Riff #31 Groove #11 q = 111 Track 21 + Sax Em7'13 Track 22 - Sax
Groove #11 q = 111 Funk Riff #32 Track 21 + Sax A7sus Track 22 - Sax
Groove #11 q = 111 Funk Riff #33 Track 21 + Sax A7sus Track 22 - Sax fp
Funk Riff# 34 Groove #11 q = 111 Track 21 + Sax Em7'13 Track 22 - Sax
3 3 18 Funk Riff #35 Groove #12 q = 95 Track 23 + Sax F#m7 Track 24 - Sax 3 3
F#m9 A,7/B Gm7/C G13
Funk Riff #36 Groove #12 q = 95 Track 23 + Sax F#m7 Track 24 - Sax
F#m9 A,7/B Gm7/C G13
Funk Riff #37 Groove #12 q = 95 F#m7 Track 23 + Sax Track 24 - Sax
F#m9 A,7/B Gm7/C G13 3
19 Funk Riff #38 Groove #13 q = 120 Track 25 + Sax E7/B Bm9 Track 26 - Sax Bm9
Funk Riff #39 Groove #13 q = 120 Track 25 + Sax Bm9 E7/B Track 26 - Sax
Bm9 mp
Groove #13 q = 120 Funk Riff #40 Track 25 + Sax Bm9 E7/B Track 26 - Sax
Bm9
20 Funk Riff #41 Groove #14 q = 108 D/A A7 Track 27 + Sax A7 Track 28 - Sax
D/A A7 A7 Growl
Groove #14 q = 108 Funk Riff #42 Track 27 + Sax A7 D/A A7 Track 28 - Sax
A7 D/A A7
Funk Riff #43 Groove #14 q = 108 A7 D/A A7 Track 27 + Sax Track 28 - Sax 3
A7 D/A A7
21 Funk Riff #44 Groove #15 q = 96 Funky Shuffle Track 29 + Sax F#m7'13 Track 30 - Sax
3 3
Funk Riff #45 Groove #15 q = 96 Funky Shuffle Track 29 + Sax F#m7'13 Track 30 - Sax 3
Funk Riff #46 Groove #15 q = 96 Funky Shuffle Track 29 + Sax F#m7'13 Track 30 - Sax 3
22 Funk Riff #47 Groove #16 q = 130 Track 31 + Sax Bm9 A2 G,9 Track 32 - Sax
E/F#
Funk Riff #48 Groove #16 q = 130 Bm9 Track 31 + Sax A2 G,9 Track 32 - Sax
E/F# Funk Riff #49 Groove #16 = 130 q Bm9 opt. A2 G,9 Track 31 + Sax Track 32 - Sax 3 3 3
E/F#
23 Funk Riff #50 Groove #17 q = 114 Track 33 + Sax F#m7 B/F# Track 34 - Sax
F#m7
Funk Riff #51 Groove #17 q = 114 Track 33 + Sax F#m7 B/F# Track 34 - Sax
F#m7
Funk Riff #52 Groove #17 q = 114 Track 33 + Sax F#m7 B/F# Track 34 - Sax
F#m7
24 Funk Riff #53 Blues Swing Groove #18 q = 85 Track 35 + Sax Track 36 - Sax A7#9
3 3 3 3
D7 3 3 3 3 3 3
A7#9 3 3 3
E7#9 D7 3 3 3 3 3 3
A7#9
25 Funk Riff #54 Groove #19 q = 109 Track 37 + Sax Gm7'13 Track 38 - Sax
Funk Riff #55 Groove #19 q = 109 Track 37 + Sax Gm7'13 Track 38 - Sax
Funk Riff #56 Groove #19 = 109 q Gm7'13 Track 37 + Sax slight shuffle Track 38 - Sax pp
26 Funk Riff #57 Groove #20 q = 100 Track 39 + Sax G7#9 C7 Track 40 - Sax
Eb7#9 D7#9 G7
Funk Riff #58 Groove #20 q = 100 Track 39 + Sax G7#9 C7 Track 40 - Sax
Eb7#9 D7#9 G7
Groove #20 q = 100 Funk Riff #59 Track 39 + Sax G7#9 C7 Track 40 - Sax
Eb7#9 D7#9 G7
27 Funk Riff #60 Groove #21 q = 115 Track 41 + Sax Ab7sus Track 42 - Sax
Groove #21 q = 115 Funk Riff #61 Track 41 + Sax Ab7sus Track 42 - Sax
Funk Riff #62 Groove #21 q = 115 Track 41 + Sax Ab7sus Track 42 - Sax
28 Groove #22 q = 98 Funk Riff #63 Track 43 + Sax F#7sus4 Track 44 - Sax
G/A Ab/Bb A/B Bb/C B/C# Funk Riff #64 Groove #22 q = 98 Track 43 + Sax F#7sus4 Track 44 - Sax
G/A Ab/Bb A/B Bb/C B/C#
Groove #22 Funk Riff #65 q = 98 F#7sus4 Track 43 + Sax Track 44 - Sax
G/A Ab/Bb A/B Bb/C B/C#
29 Funk Riff #66 Groove #23 q = 109 Track 45 + Sax Db7 Track 46 - Sax
Funk Riff #67 Groove #23 q = 109 Track 45 + Sax Db7 Track 46 - Sax
Funk Riff #68 Groove #23 q = 109 Track 45 + Sax Db7 Track 46 - Sax
30 Funk Riff #69 Groove #24 q = 90 Funky Shuffle Track 47 + Sax D7sus 3 G13 Track 48 - Sax
D7sus G13
Funk Riff #70 Groove #24 q = 90 Funky Shuffle Track 47 + Sax D7sus G13 Track 48 - Sax 3
D7sus G13 opt. Funk Riff #71 Funky Shuffle Groove #24 q = 90 Track 47 + Sax D7sus G13 Track 48 - Sax
D7sus G13
31 Groove #25 q = 100 Funk Riff #72 Track 49 + Sax E7sus Track 50 - Sax
Funk Riff #73 Groove #25 q = 100 Track 49 + Sax E7sus Track 50 - Sax
Groove #25 Funk Riff #74 q = 100 E7sus Track 49 + Sax Track 50 - Sax
32 Groove #26 q = 102 Funk Riff #75 Track 51 + Sax Am7 Track 52 - Sax
C D Am7 C D
Funk Riff #76 Groove #26 q = 102 Track 51 + Sax Am7 C D Track 52 - Sax
Am7 C D
Funk Riff #77 Groove #26 q = 102 Am7 Track 51 + Sax C D Track 52 - Sax
Am7 C D
33 Funk Riff #78 Groove #27 q = 110 Track 53 + Sax C#m7'13 Track 54 - Sax
E7 F#7 3
Funk Riff #79 Groove #27 q = 110 Track 53 + Sax C#m7'13 Track 54 - Sax
E7 F#7 Funk Riff #80 Groove #27 q = 110 Track 53 + Sax C#m7'13 Track 54 - Sax
E7 F#7
34 Funk Riff #81 Funky Shuffle Groove #28 q = 92 Track 55 + Sax Em9 A13 Em9 A13 Track 56 - Sax
A13 Em9 A13 Em9
Funk Riff #82 Funky Shuffle Groove #28 = 92 q A13 Track 55 + Sax Em9 A13 Em9 Track 56 - Sax
Em9 A13 Em9 A13 3 Funk Riff #83 Funky Shuffle Groove #28 q = 92 Track 55 + Sax Em9 A13 Em9 A13 Track 56 - Sax 3
Em9 A13 Em9 A13
35 Funk Riff #84 Groove #29 q = 138 Track 57 + Sax Gm7 Track 58 - Sax Fm7
Cm7 Gm7
Funk Riff #85 Groove #29 q = 138 Track 57 + Sax Fm7 Gm7 Track 58 - Sax
Cm7 Gm7
Groove #29 q = 138 Funk Riff #86 Track 57 + Sax Fm7 Gm7 Track 58 - Sax
Cm7 Gm7
36 Funk Riff #87 Groove #30 q = 92 Track 59 + Sax G,7/A Track 60 - Sax
Groove #30 q = 92 Funk Riff #88 Track 59 + Sax G,7/A Track 60 - Sax
opt. 3
Groove #30 q = 92 Funk Riff #89 Track 59 + Sax G,7/A Track 60 - Sax
opt.
37 Funk Riff #90 Groove #31 q = 104 Funky Shuffle Track 61 + Sax Track 62 - Sax Em7 A/E
Em7 A/E
Funk Riff #91 Groove #31 q = 104 Funky Shuffle Track 61 + Sax Em7 A/E Track 62 - Sax
Em7 A/E Funk Riff #92 opt. Funky Shuffle Groove #31 q = 104 Track 61 + Sax Em7 A/E Track 62 - Sax 3
Em7 A/E
38 ---- DISCOGRAPHY ----
ARTIST ALBUM YEAR
James Brown Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag 1965 Junior Walker & the All-Stars Shotgun 1965 Bar-Kays Soul Finger 1967 The Meters The Meters 1969 Sly & the Family Stone Stand! 1969 Curtis Mayfield Curtis 1970 Roy Ayers He’s Coming 1971 Funkadelic Maggot Brain 1971 Isaac Hayes Shaft 1971 The Fatback Band Let’s Do It Again 1972 Marvin Gaye Trouble Man 1972 The J.B.‘s Food for Thought 1972 Betty Davis Betty Davis 1973 Herbie Hancock Head Hunters 1973 Kool and the Gang Wild and Peaceful 1973 Stevie Wonder Innervisions 1973 War Deliver the Word 1973 Charles Wright Doin‘ What Comes Naturally 1973 The Crusaders Scratch 1974 The Isley Brothers Live It Up 1974 Ohio Players Skin Tight 1974 The Blackbyrds City Life/Unfinished Business 1975 The Brecker Brothers Brecker Bros. 1975 Billy Cobham A Funky Thide of Sings 1975 Brass Construction Brass Construction I 1975 Tower of Power Urban Renewal 1975 The Average White Band Person to Person 1976 Bootsy's Rubber Band Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band 1976 Rose Royce Car Wash 1976 Wild Cherry Wild Cherry 1976 The Commodores Commodores 1977 The Brothers Johnson Blam!! 1978 Hamilton Bohannan Summertime Groove 1978 Cameo We All Know Who We Are 1978 Earth, Wind and Fire The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 1978 Rick James Come Get It! 1978 Defunkt Defunkt 1980 Zapp Zapp 1980 Prince Sign o‘ the Times 1984 Maceo Parker Mo‘ Roots 1991 Prince Musicology 2004 Maceo Parker Schools In! 2005 Funk and its infectious style, remains a popular part of the music we listen to today. Timeless recordings from such artists as James Brown, The Commodores, Stevie Wonder, The Meters, The Crusaders, Brecker Brothers, The Average White Band, Sly & the Family Stone, Tower of Power, Prince, The Blackbyrds, Manu Dibango, Maceo Parker, Junior Walker & the All Stars, and many more, continue to enjoy massive popularity and have had a major influence on contemporary music styles, such as Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B.
The saxophone in Funk music has its place not only in the Horn sections so often heard in this genre but also as a dynamic solo instrument. This book contains 92 riifs that showcase the different ways in which the soloist can create a distinct Funk sound to their playing. The audio CD that comes with the book contains 31 different grooves that accompany each of the riffs, influenced by the aforementioned artists, and covers a wide range of different Funk styles from the mid-sixties to the present day. The book is intended for the musician who wants to practically develop their playing style and improvisation technique in this genre.
Popular books for saxophone published by A.D.G. Productions available through A.D.G. Productions or your local music store. 100 Ultimate Jazz Riffs for Bb instruments Latin Solo workout for C, Bb & Eb instruments Jazz Solo Series for Bb instruments 100 Ultimate Blues Riffs for Bb instruments Blues Horn Ensemble Playing Outstanding Jazz Saxophone Solos For Bb instruments
Published & Distributed by: A.D.G. Productions 15517 Cordary Ave., Lawndale CA. 90260 isbn 1-882146-29-8 http://www.adgproductions.com (310) 379 1568
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