One song, three grooves

The progression

Four chords, two bars each: eight bars.

Groove 1: funk

The chords barely ring, the muted strokes make the groove. Think “snare drum” on 2 and 4.

Groove 2: reggae

A short stroke on every offbeat, and silence. Same tempo as the funk, but reggae sounds more laid-back: the silence between strokes makes the groove.

Groove 3: the 6/8 ballad

The same chords become a lullaby.

Putting them together

1. Each groove on its own, twice through the progression, until it holds without effort.
2. Two grooves in a row: eight bars of funk, eight bars of reggae, without stopping. Prepare the switch during the last bar: think of the new pattern before it arrives.
3. All three: funk, reggae, 6/8, then back to funk. Keep the same tempo for funk and reggae; for 6/8, let the sway settle in.

Record yourself. When you play it back, each groove should have its own character: tight for funk, airy for reggae, broad for 6/8.

Going further

Do the same with a song you know: play it as reggae, then in 6/8. Some take on a completely different feel; it’s an easy way to create your own version of a song.

You’ve got it when…

• You play the progression as funk, with the muted strokes, at 75
• You play the progression as reggae, then in 6/8
• You switch grooves every 8 bars without stopping