Put Some Funk In Your Hat

By Matt Byrne Originally Published In DRUM! Magazine's July 2010 Issue

Let’s work on some rocking beats that have a distinct David Garibaldi “funk” feel to them. You probably know from some of my past lessons that I’m a huge Garibaldi fan! Overall, these are straightforward sixteenth-note beats. However, they present an excellent hip-hop-style groove between the snare and kick drum, as the hi-hat pulls them both together. Remember to apply a “two-sound-level” concept to your hands: Accented notes are played loudly; non-accented notes are played as ghost notes or just a bit softer than the accented. As you become comfortable with these beats, try not to play them so “staccatto.” Begin to swing the hi-hat and increase the speed a little bit. That’s where the funk comes from.