Groove is King

In a previous blog post called “Keep the Groove First and Foremost“, I shared a personal experience about struggling with groove during a performance. Despite years of playing and teaching, I found myself rushing, losing the pocket, and ultimately detracting from the feel of the music. This reinforced an essential truth: groove must always come first.

Whether you’re playing funk, jazz, blues, or rock, your ability to lock into the groove is what makes people move. At Guitar Lessons Ithaca, we emphasize this core principle in our lessons, helping students develop a strong rhythmic foundation before anything else. In this post, we’ll explore why groove matters more than technical gymnastics, practical ways to develop your rhythm, and how one of my students mastered the funk guitar parts of Nile Rodgers’ Chic songs.

Why Groove Matters More Than Speed

In the video “Groove Over Gymnastics,” the presenter highlights a crucial point: guitarists often worship speed and technical ability, but that’s not what makes a song great. Think about the songs that make people dance—it’s never about shredding; it’s about rhythm, feel, and how the groove sits within the beat. Even the fastest players like Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan had impeccable rhythm chops before anything else. Their ability to lock into a groove made their solos even more compelling.

Groove makes everything sound better. You can be the most technically gifted guitarist in the world, but if your timing is off and your rhythm is sloppy, you’re just noise. This is why, at Guitar Lessons Ithaca, we focus on developing a strong sense of timing and rhythm in our students before diving into complex solos.

The Pocket is Sacred

The “pocket” isn’t just about playing in time; it’s about playing with a sense of feel that enhances the groove. The best rhythm guitarists understand where to place notes within the beat. Some sit right on top of the beat, like ACDC or James Hetfield of Metallica, while others lean back a bit for a fatter feel, like Stevie Ray Vaughan. Funk legends like Nile Rodgers create insane movement just by their right-hand accents. Watching any Chic performance is a masterclass in groove.

One of my students, deeply passionate about funk, wanted to dive into the guitar parts of Nile Rodgers’ Chic songs. We started with “Le Freak” and “Good Times,” focusing on the tight, percussive rhythm playing that Rodgers is famous for. I emphasized the importance of muted strums, dynamic swells, and rhythmic accents to create motion. The student quickly realized that funk isn’t about overplaying—it’s about space and groove. By the end of our sessions, they could lock into the groove with precision, making even the simplest chord progressions hit hard.

Practical Ways to Get Funkier

1. Metronome Work: Play with a metronome but make it funky. Set it to click only on beats two and four. This forces you to feel the groove rather than robotically follow it.

2. Play Less, Mean More: Cut down on excess strums and let the groove breathe. Funk is about space. Use ghost notes and accents to create motion.

3. Play with a Drummer: Nothing will improve your rhythm more than locking in with an actual drummer. You’ll feel where the beat sits in a way that no metronome can teach.

4. Loop Yourself: Record a rhythm part, then solo over it. If the loop isn’t sitting right, neither will your lead playing.

5. Funky Guitar Tips:

• Root on the “1”: Always hit the root note on the downbeat to ground your groove.
• High “Stabs”: Add quick, sharp chord hits on the higher strings to punctuate the rhythm.
• Syncopation: Incorporate cool off-beat rhythms using up-strums for that signature funky feel.

Work these three elements together until you get the feel. Once you’re comfortable, add embellishments to the chords, usually using your pinky. Next, incorporate simple single-note lines that oscillate between chord tones or connect them. Sometimes, just playing the 3rd and 7th of a chord sounds great, and you can slide into them from a half-step below for added flavor.

Try to get to know major 7, dominant 7, and minor 7 chords in every CAGED system shape. Understand which notes you can pick out from these chords on just two or three strings. Use hammer-ons to superimpose other related chords on top of the main chord for added complexity. And for an extra layer of funk, consider adding a wah-wah pedal to your setup.

Learning from the Masters

James Brown’s guitarists, like Jimmy Nolen, are prime examples of groove mastery. Nolen, known as the Godfather of funk guitar, invented the “chicken scratch” playing style—minimal notes, maximum groove. Other notable funk guitarists include Phelps “Catfish” Collins, who played on “Sex Machine,” and Alonzo “Country” Kellum, who kept the tight, locked-in guitar work alive in Brown’s later years.

Their music wasn’t about solos; it was about locking in. The guitarists played in tight, percussive bursts that acted like a rhythm section within the rhythm section. That’s the power of groove.

Teaching Groove at Guitar Lessons Ithaca

At Guitar Lessons Ithaca, we offer specialized funk guitar lessons that focus on developing your groove. Whether you’re a beginner looking to understand the basics of rhythm guitar or an advanced player wanting to dive deep into funk techniques, we’ve got you covered.

One of our standout lessons involved teaching a student who was really into funk the intricate guitar parts of Nile Rodgers’ Chic songs. We dissected songs like “Le Freak” and “Good Times,” focusing on right-hand technique, syncopation, and dynamic control. The student not only learned to play these songs but also developed a deeper understanding of how to serve the groove.

We also use resources like the video “Groove Over Gymnastics” to reinforce the importance of groove in our lessons. This video is a great reminder that groove is the foundation of great music, and it’s something we emphasize in every lesson.

The Secret to Standing Out as a Guitarist

The secret to standing out as a guitarist is simple: make people move, not just listen. Guitarists who balance feel with technicality—like Prince, John Frusciante, and David Gilmour—are remembered not for how many notes they played, but for how they made people feel.

Prince was one of the funkiest guitarists ever, capable of shredding but never overplaying. John Frusciante made the Red Hot Chili Peppers sound cool with his funky, syncopated rhythm. David Gilmour played slow, melodic lines where every note was perfectly placed in the groove.

If you aren’t making the groove better, you’re making it worse. This philosophy is at the heart of our teaching at Guitar Lessons Ithaca.

Conclusion

Groove is the foundation of great guitar playing. It’s what makes people dance, feel, and connect with the music. At Guitar Lessons Ithaca, we prioritize groove in our lessons, ensuring that our students not only play notes but make people feel the music.

If you’re interested in mastering the art of groove, sign up for a free trial lesson to see if Guitar Lessons Ithaca is a good fit for you. We offer lessons both in person and online. Simply fill out this form and start your journey towards becoming a groove master.

Remember, groove is king. Lay it down or go home.