Muting 15 - Funky Carrot

ActionTab

Quick Reference

This handy chart tells you what every dot in the ActionTab system means. If you don't understand some of them don't worry - we have video lessons that explain them in the members section.

Fretboard & Capo

The fretboard is the area of your guitar where you play

Some songs require a capo. A capo is just a clamp which you can place on any fret. This effectively moves

the 'nut' of the guitar, allowing you to play 'open' chords higher up the fretboard. In ActionTab the capo is represented by the black bar on the left.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Space, K	Pause/Play
Home	Rewind
End	Go to End
	Step Forward
	Step Backward
M	Mute/Unmute
F	Fullscreen
H	Toggle Help
S	Save Settings
R	Restore Defaults
O	Toggle Loop
D	Toggle Delay Start
X	Toggle Light Strings
W	Flip Fretboard
C	Fretboard Color
T	Tablature
N	Normal Speed Window
B	Bookmark Position
,	Set Loop Section Start
.	Set Loop Section End
/	Clear Loop Section

Strumming Hand Dots

Fingerpick

Fingertap

Downstroke

Upstroke (Palm muted)

Pinch Harmonic

Color Codes

Applies to both hands

Thumb

1st (index) Finger

2nd Finger

3rd (ring) Finger

4th (little) Finger

Fretboard Hand Dots

Hold finger here

Bend note down

Bend note up

Hammer On

Pull Off

Slide dot this way

Prepare note

Mute note/string

Harmonic

Vibrato

Open string note (no finger)

Song Notes

This tune is from the Core Skills section on Muting.

Funky, rocky, and brilliant. Imagine you are in a 70's Car chase. Starsky and Hutch are after you for pimpin those tunes...Move those medallions out of the way and turn on your radio - this is what you hear.

A wah-wah pedal will help you get the effect heard in the normal speed version, but don't worry - the ActionTab version doesn't use any effects so you can concentrate on your muting, bending, sliding and deep study of funkism.

You don't have to use the thumb to mute from the top of the strings as is shown. However, when playing fast it will help stop those lower strings sounding out. The thumb is only used for muting the strings - it doesn't have to play any notes, so just lay it across the top of the strings - it doesn't matter where exactly, just as long as those strings don't sound out.

To play funk well, it is best to keep your strumming hand constantly strumming across the strings in a quick up and down motion. Most of the string control is then left to your fretboard hand. It is with your fretboard hand that you either mute or play notes / chords.

Your strumming hand becomes a bit like the rhythm 'engine', and your fretboard hand is doing all the steering. When strumming, you can strike only one string or more, but it is important to keep the up / downstroke movement consistent.

Occasionally putting breaks in the rhythm (keep the hand strumming motion flowing, but just don't hit any strings) can also be used to good effect. There are some examples of that being done in this tune. Those are the 'gaps' in between strikes that you hear.

Tune Breakdown:

C min - slide to - C# min (repeat)
Eb min - slide to - E min
C min - slide to - C# min (repeat)
move up 1 more fret to play the G min (same chord shape)

The next part is a funky riff sequence played between the E major and F# major (positioned around frets 7 and 9). Watch the ActionTab carefully to follow the bending, muting and notes being played. Occasional chord strikes punctuate the rhythm, but remember to keep the strumming regular (down / up / down / up etc).

Get out that wah-wah pedal and WAH!!!

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