The Funkmasters -- The Great James Brown Rhythm Sections 1960-1973: For Guitar, Bass and Drums, Book & Online Audio (Manhattan Music Publications)

This is a very complete guide to the workings of one of the great R&B rhythm sections. The book is composed of 23 lessons examining the rhythm grooves for a selection of James Brown hits. Two CDs accompany the book. The lessons are arranged in chronological order by the date the songs were cut. Each lesson has printed material including an ensemble chart and individual charts for drums, bass, and guitar. Both staff and tab are given for guitar and bass. Historical and musical comments accompany each lesson. The CDs include four tracks per lesson: an ensemble track and the three individual instruments played at a slower speed. The mix is very clear and it is easy to distinguish the individual instruments in the ensemble track. While clearly intended as teaching tools, the tracks do have a feel that keeps the music compelling. In terms of the level of difficulty, someone who didn't know this music might glance at the charts and conclude that the bass parts were (mostly) elementary, the guitar parts only slightly more difficult, while the drum parts combine fairly standard hand technique with advanced kick drum playing. Of course, this is misleading. It takes great timing to combine these parts in a way that has soul, and that's the great value of these lessons. A bass player (guitarist, drummer) trying to play this music has to really understand how he or she fits in with the other members of the ensemble. This is a very successful attempt to spell that out for the player. One quibble: the organization of the historical material helps support the lessons, but makes it difficult to read as a straight narrative. One request: how about volume two with keyboard and horn charts?

I want to thank the writters of this book for all the research and work that they put into this book and music cds! I am a saxophone and trumpet player who loves James Brown and moreover his tight-well-rehersed-musical-sidemen. The bass players, drummers, guitarist and hornmen of James Brown were some of the best in pop music history. James Brown and his side men inovated pop/rock/rb/soul music like Miles Davis did to jazz. Like Miles he was a great talent scout who knew what he wanted and how to put it together. About the book/cd. I can now hear all the complex stuff going on thanks to the great isolation examples on the cd. Then I play along with the complete tracks with my horns...kinda of like a James Brown playalong. The music is challenging, the timming is challenging but when you learn to play these great groove tracks you can handle any pop/rock/rb/soul music that comes your way. The guitars, bass and drum examples played on this cd are top quality by first rate musicians. Sometimes I just put the cds in and listen while driving. Get this book you will not regret it!!!!

James Brown and the many fine musicians who worked with him literally "wrote the book" on modern groove playing. They were the original architects of funk and, as the most sampled ensemble in history, they're also the de facto creators of hip hop's beats and the many related dance-oriented styles such as Drum and Bass, House, Trance, etc. In fact, the influence of this ensemble is so great that it is often taken completely for granted. These aren't just the rhythms that grooving musicians play, these are the beats that our drum machines play! Rhythm section players, particularly drummers and bassists, who haven't studied JB's music in depth, are in danger of committing malpractice. Get this book/CD package and study it or listen closely to recordings and transcribe the parts yourself. Either way, the importance of this body of work cannot be overstated and, as a contemporary rhythm section player, it will serve as the backbone of your rhythmic education.

This book simply spoils you -- you find yourself wishing that other musicians would receive this sort of treatment, and that every James Brown song recorded were included. I play quite a bit of funk on bass, but I play other genres as well. They all benefit from the knowledge and technique I've gained from these exercises. Play along to "Sex Machine" and "Talking Loud And Say Nothing" and you'll develop monstrous stamina. Also, thanks to this book, I'm the only person I know of who can't play any drum beat except for "Sex Machine."

The Godfather of soul, funk and rhythm - James Brown was it and more. He was a hard task master BUT it must have been SO GOOD to play from him live. I love the history and stories behind the songs, especially the band members who equally put their heart and soul into it. For me it gives me great pride to try and do the same when I play guitar to any James Brown song. Good book layout, simple and clever on matching the music arrangement of drums, bass and guitar together. Visually it shows how they 'seam' together to give the final polished product. Well done! Guy P

Came across this 5 years ago and as a result formed a James Brown Tribute Band that gigs around Melbourne! It has all I needed to learn and practice classic funk grooves. To be able to see the guitar, bass and drum charts lined up really helps everyone to make the groove authentic and funky. A key to James Brown is playing your notes in the right spot. Only wish a couple more songs were added from after 1973.

This is one of 3-5 guitar books that gets better over time. I spent $1000+ for a funk course at Berklee, earlier this year, and have learned more from the first 20 pages of this book for a fraction of the cost. What a mistake on that class. Best audio tracks ever, and not just for guitar. Tabs are clear; pace is ideal.

I've always wanted to understand how James Brown got that Funk sound. This book breaks it down for drums, bass, and guitar. It isolates each part so you can focus on finding the groove. The transcriptions are accurate, although some recordings may have variations depending on the player. The book also gives a brief history of the players behind the Godfather of Soul. Bootsy is a monster, and this book has his lines laid out for you. Worth it!