This is from the Funk Basics guitar series in the Jamzone. This is the third guitar layer, go to the associated articles to learn more!
So we've layered 2 guitars already to get a simple, but funky backing track. Now let's add our final guitar layer to complete the groove. Here we use some chorus, reverb, delay, the bridge pickup, and same combo amp on a clean channel. Aim for a bright sound (high mid and treble), and use slightly more volume than for the previous 2 guitars.
The delay is set at 600 ms, the chorus is very slight, and there is plenty of reverb. This all helps the lead stand out more...
This 3rd guitar layer is slowed down for you, and the backing guitars are removed to help you learn it easier. Once you can play it, loop the normal speed audio and jam away to the full tune!
The lead guitar starts over the first Cm arpeggio played by Guitar 2. However, you can only hear Guitar 2 in the normal speed audio.
The lead plays out a melody using notes from the C natural minor scale (C D Eb G Ab Bb C). This is the reason we used the simple arpeggio for Guitar 2 - so we can use it as a backdrop for the lead guitar melody. Guitar 2 plays out a simple Cm arpeggio, and the lead guitar blends in over the top.
This is a simple example of how to build melodies together using guitar layers. Notice how the lead guitar is actually quite mellow, not fast and furious - even though the rhythm is quite manic! This works because of that slow, simple Cm arpeggio underneath. Even in fast rhythmic styles like funk, there is room to change the feel and pace of things with just a little planning.
After this melodic solo, we use the lead guitar to work rhythmically. Just little bursts now and again can be more effective than whacking out continuous riffs. Remember, there are already 2 guitars playing and the danger is to make things unnecessarily busy. Funk is all about chord stabs and rhythmic punctuation. If you just layer lots of continuous guitar rhythms together, things can quickly become mashed and meaningless.
If you can play the Guitar 2 part, then the rest of this lead should be quick to grasp. That's because the strumming is very similar. The main difference is with the fretboard hand. The chords are different, and so is the arrangement of stabs (applying pressure on the frets with your fretboard hand) and rhythmic muting (releasing pressure).
The first funky chord is C5 - holding the notes G, C, G up at the 12th fret. Keep your fingers at a shallow angle so you can fret across the strings easier. Notice the 2nd finger stays in place so that you can quickly release the little finger and sound out the Csus4 chord (G, C, F) before returning to C5 again.
After the gap, we play a simple C5 arpeggio (to complement the arpeggio played underneath by Guitar 2). Then, use the same C5 chord as previously, but alternate to a quick G maj (no 5th) chord - G, B, G.
This time notice there is rhythmic muting used after the chord stabs.
Just follow the Tab if you get stuck with the rhythm strokes. It is slowed down to make things easier, but work on that speed once you have the hang of things - see if you can play along with the normal speed audio!
