Funk Guitar: The Essential Guide (Private Lessons) [Paperback]

Ross Bolton (Composer)

Book Description

Series: Private Lessons | Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Go one on one with MI instructor Ross Bolton to get that funk groove with your guitar! This book/CD pack covers: movable 7th, 9th, 13th and sus4 chords; 16th-note scratching; straight vs. swing; slides; single-note "skank" and palm muting; songs and progressions; and more. The CD includes 70 full-band tracks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Musicians Institute Press (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634011685
• ISBN-13: 978-0634011689
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starting point for the funk!, August 23, 2004

By 

M. C Cardoso "marciohaas" (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Funk Guitar: The Essential Guide (Private Lessons) (Paperback)

I have never played funk music before - thanks to this book, now I have a clue and I'm having fun playing along with the tracks on the CD of this outstanding method. The exercises are truly useful and build gradually your funk chops from the scratch (no pun intended).
The book is much easier if you already know about dominant chords, but it does not require advanced playing.
Verry fun and instructive! A great book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good stuff, September 7, 2006

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M4®1Ř - See all my reviews

This review is from: Funk Guitar: The Essential Guide (Private Lessons) (Paperback)

this is a nice book, it starts with some basic (but useful) 16ths exercises then moves on to some very cool grooves, the CD tracks although basic do sound professional, something I appreciated ... you'd think the grooves here are easy but they are not, they are simple but not easy at all if you want to play them like Mr. Bolton does on the CD (he plays pretty much on top of the beat & he has great timing) ... most funk tricks you hear are explained here, scratching, skanks, slides, muting, funky shuffle feels ... I would have liked more exercises to develop the other rhythmic figures in this book but overall it's very good

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let The Funk Begin, November 13, 2008

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Reg 59 "book addict" (Charlotte) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Funk Guitar: The Essential Guide (Private Lessons) (Paperback)

If you've never played Funk guitar, you will when you're done with this book! I have to disagree when anyone that says this book is not for beginners. The chords and rhythm grooves on the CD are exactly what beginners need to stay interested in chords, chord progressions and structure. It will also please the ears of parents and other nearby listeners. There is more to the fretboard than shredding you know. Once you start getting the basics of this book underway, I strongly suggest listening to some James Brown, Tower of Power, Funkadelic (the sixties stuff), Rick James, Prince (the beginnings) and The Meters (Cissy Strut).
There is some very good stuff in this book!