How to Read Funk Music Drum Tabs

A lot of people have asked me how to read the funk music drum tabs that I write, so I thought I would write a quick article explaining how I do it.

Introduction to Funk Music

Funk is a style of music that originated in the 1960s. It is characterized by a strong bass line and percussive groove. Funk songs typically have a catchy hook or riff that is repeated throughout the song. If you’re a drummer, you can learn to play funk songs by reading funk music drum tabs. In this article, we’ll show you how to read funk music drum tabs.

What is Funk Music?

Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s. Funk is a blend of soul, jazz, and R&B that creates a groove-oriented style of music. Funk songs are often based on a distinctive bass line played by the electric bass or bass guitar. The rhythms of funk songs are usually syncopated, or offbeat.

Funk music was popularized by artists like James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince. Funk has influenced other genres of music, including disco, hip hop, and rock.

The History of Funk Music

Often described as a cross between soul and rock music, funk was first developed in the late 1960s by African-American musicians who blended elements of both genres to create a new, distinctly American sound. One of the earliest and most influential funk bands was James Brown and the Famous Flames, whose 1967 hit “Cold Sweat” is considered by many music experts to be the first ever funk song.

Over the next few years, other artists began to experiment with this new style of music, and by the early 1970s, funk had emerged as a distinct genre in its own right. Some of the most popular funk songs of this era include Parliament’s “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),” George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog,” and Brown’s own “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.”

Funk continued to evolve throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with artists like Prince, Rick James, and Earth, Wind & Fire helping to popularize the genre with mainstream audiences. In more recent years, artists like Outkast, Janelle Monáe, and Bruno Mars have kept funk alive and well in the 21st century.

How to Read Funk Music Drum Tabs

If you want to learn how to read funk music drum tabs, there are a few things that you need to know. Drum tabs are a great way to learn how to play funk beats on the drums. They can be a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, they are really easy to read. Let’s take a look at how to read funk music drum tabs.

The Basics of Reading Drum Tabs

Drum tabs are a form of musical notation that is used by drummers in order to help them learn how to play songs. Unlike traditional sheet music, which uses a series of notes and rests to indicate what should be played, drum tabs use a series of symbols and numbers that correspond to specific drums and percussion instruments. In order to read drum tabs, you will need to familiarize yourself with the various symbols and their meanings.

The most basic symbol in drum tabs is the vertical line, which represents a measure (or bar) of music. The numbers that appear on these lines indicate which beats within the measure should be played. For example, a 4/4 measure of music would have four beats, so the number 4 would appear on the first beat, the number 3 would appear on the second beat, the number 2 would appear on the third beat, and the number 1 would appear on the fourth beat.

Within each measure, you will also see a variety of other symbols that indicate which drums should be played and how they should be played. The most common of these symbols are listed below:

-X: This indicates that a specific drum should be played with an accented (or emphasized) stroke.
-O: This indicates that a specific drum should be played with a normal stroke.
->: This indicates that a specific drum should be played with a grace note (a very short, unaccented stroke).
-|: This indicates that a specific drum should be played with a staccato (or shortened) stroke.
-R: This indicates that a specific drum should be played with a rolls (a series of evenly-spaced strokes).

Reading Drum Tabs Step-by-Step
Now that you know some of the basic symbols used in drum tabs, let’s take a look at how to read them in context. In this example, we will use a simple 4/4 measure of music:

X . X . | X . X . | X . X . | X . O .
The first thing you will notice is that there are four vertical lines present, indicating that this is a 4/4 measure of music. You will also notice that there are three different types of strokes indicated within this measure: accented strokes (indicated by an “X”), normal strokes (indicated by an “O”), and grace notes (indicated by a “>”). In this example, the accented strokes fall on beats 1 and 3 while the normal strokes fall on beats 2 and 4. The grace note falls on beat 4 between the two normal strokes. Finally, you will also notice that there is a staccato symbol present after the fourth beat indicating that this particular stroke should be shortened or cut off early.

The Different Symbols Used in Drum Tabs

In order to understand how to read funk music drum tabs, it is important to become familiar with the different symbols used. These symbols indicate what drum or percussion instrument is to be played, and how it is to be played. The following is a list of the most common symbols used in drum tabs:

Drum Symbol – This symbol indicates that a drum should be played. The type of drum that is to be played will be indicated by a number next to the symbol. For example, a “2” next to the drum symbol indicates that a snare drum should be played.

Hi-Hat Symbol – This symbol indicates that the hi-hat should be played. The type of hi-hat stroke that is to be performed will be indicated by a number or letter next to the symbol. For example, a “2” next to the hi-hat symbol indicates that a closed hi-hat stroke should be performed.

Ride Cymbal Symbol – This symbol indicates that the ride cymbal should be played. The type of ride cymbal stroke that is to be performed will be indicated by a number or letter next to the symbol. For example, a “2” next to the ride cymbal symbol indicates that a paradiddle stroke should be performed on the ride cymbal.

Crash Cymbal Symbol – This symbol indicates that the crash cymbal should be played. The type of crash cymbal stroke that is to be performed will be indicated by a number or letter next to the symbol. For example, a “2” next to the crash cymbal symbol indicates that an accented paradiddle stroke should
be performed on the crash cymbal.

How to Read Drum Tabs for Funk Music

Drum tabs are a written representation of drum beats. They are commonly used by rock and metal bands as a way to communicate drum parts to drummers. However, they can be used for any style of music, including funk. Funk drum tabs can be a bit more challenging to read than other styles because of the syncopated nature of the beats, but with a little practice, you’ll be reading them like a pro in no time.

Here is an example of a simple funk groove written in drum tab format:

The top line represents the hi-hat, the middle line represents the snare drum, and the bottom line represents the bass drum. The numbers on each line represent which drums to hit and when to hit them. In this example, you would begin by hitting the hi-hat on beats 1 and 3, and then add in the snare on beat 2. The bass drum is played on beats 1 and 3 as well.

You may also see quarter note (Q) or eighth note (8) symbols above or below the lines to indicate how long each note should be played. In this case, each note would be played for a quarter note duration.

Once you have the basic concept down, try practicing with some more complex funk grooves. As you get better at reading drum tabs, you’ll be able to play along with your favorite funk songs in no time!

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning how to read funk music drum tabs can be a great way to improve your skills as a drummer. By taking the time to learn how to read these types of tabs, you will be able to better understand the music you are playing and be able to play it more accurately. With that said, there is no substitute for practice and you should always make sure to practice regularly in order to improve your skills.

The Benefits of Learning How to Read Funk Music Drum Tabs

If you are a drummer who is interested in funk music, learning how to read funk music drum tabs can be a great way to improve your skills. Drum tabs are a type of musical notation that uses symbols to represent different parts of the drum set, making it easy to read and write drum music. While traditional sheet music can be difficult to read, drum tabs are easy to understand, making them an ideal way for beginners to learn funk drumming. In addition, they can also be a valuable tool for experienced drummers who want to learn new songs or improve their skills.