[PsychoRythum]

I really like the strumming patterns from the old 70s disco songs. Could I please have advice on how to play disco?

I know they use slides a lot, and a trick they use is to change the barring finger to get lots of different voicings on one chordshape. This makes it sound more complicated than it actually is... What are some common strumming patterns? What about embelishing the chords? What do I have keep in mind to get it together?

Also, what equipment do they use to get that "compressed" kind of "funky" sound? Or is it just usually a totally clean tone?

[krissovo]

Disco and funk is quite difficult as its mainly bass lines with the guitar playing one or two chords. The riffs and chords are quite easy but the difficulty is getting the sound by muting/unmuting the strings and the attack with your picking hand.

I did this a while ago should give a start
Make it Funky - A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar

[gravitas]

Funk Tones vary. Clean is usually the way to go, and it's both satisfying and effective. There are extra effects you can add, ie, compressor, wah, etc, but a slid clean tone is where you should probably comfortable first.

As always, emulate your favourite artists- Tower of Power, Roger & Zapp, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Dr. Dre, whatever. Imitate, Implicate, and Innovate.

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by krissovo

...I did this a while ago should give a start
Make it Funky - A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar

That's a great primer, Kriss - thanks for the link!

[scotty_b]

Funk can be a combination of single-note lines and chords.
There is often an underlying pulse of 16th notes, and the guitarist will have the picking hand move constantly and accent certain or play certain beats within that. It is common to mute the strings and strum those as well.
Get used to playing steady 16ths with a metronome, and then maybe mute the second note or chord of each beat as a place to start. Dominant and minor chords are the most common harmonies used in funk.

[PsychoRythum]

JayJay, since you asked...

Well, uh to tell you the truth I'm not familar with many disco songs I enjoy all the disco songs I hear though. (like all the samples in the link krissovo gave - thanks krissovo too for the link!

I've been listening to Japanese pop and rock lately, which has a lot of that kind of guitar playing, and also great musicanship in general (like cool bass riffs and melodies). So some J-Pop songs are just disco songs really, with the strings playing a melody (like the Electric Light Orcheastra). Also, a lot of the songs have funky guitar lines, whether its heavy rock or even a more ballady kind of song. They have cool guitar solos and fills as well!

I'm very familar with "Kung-Fu Fighting", a song a lot of people seem to hate with a passion, but I like it because of the guitar and its just a happy song. The guitar work on that song isn't very difficult with some practice (I have the Guiter Pro tab of it!). I like the tone of his guitar on that song too.

[scotty_b]

Check out Maceo Parker or Prince for some great funk.