Percussive Strumming
The percussive strum is a very important technique used in Funk guitar playing. It is achieved by forming a chord shape with the left hand and placing it on the strings, but not pressed down on the frets. A percussive note or chord is indicated by using an X in place of a notehead. Here is an example using an E7 chord. In the first bar the chord is played normally, while in the second bar percussive strumming is used.
E7
E7
This example shows how percussive strumming can be used.
In most Funk music, the groove is based on an underlying feel of constant 16th notes. To become a good Funk player, it is essential to have complete control over the use of 16th notes. A good way to master the use of 16th notes is to strum constant 16ths with the right hand and select which part of the beat will sound by pressing down with the left hand. The other parts of each beat should be sounded as percussive strums. Here are some exercises using this technique. Be sure to count while playing each example. Also try tapping your foot on the beat without any hesitating or extra taps in between beats.
