Comments on: Early Beta Release of How to Play a Funk Groove, II

By: Debra

Debra — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:48:14 +0000

Jonathon,
This tune is amazing! Please keep doing what you are doing. And thank you!!
Debra

By: hendrikstok

hendrikstok — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:37:04 +0000

Hi,

Is there also a funk groove lesson for beginners, as you mentioned in the videos that the funk groove lessons are advanced?

By: hendrikstok

hendrikstok — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:35:57 +0000

Hi,

could you make a song and notation of the first ‘funk groove’ lesson?

Great that you do this paino funk groove. sometimes I find it a bit dull, same groove.

By: exjob2222

exjob2222 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:18:57 +0000

This one seems more jazzy. It shows off your skill, obviously. I liked the first one more bec. of the funk nature of it.
I appreciate you doing these pieces though. I have improved beyond what I thought I could. two handed playing is some work.
Other thoughts: bass line seems similar to first piece. It might be interesting to hear I and II combined somehow. need to listen more….Thanks!

By: andytan

andytan — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:50:31 +0000

can’t wait any longer for Jonathan Wilson’s next master peice. Maybe it will have more bebop,jazz and blues.. Sounds yum_my?

By: andytan

andytan — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:43:42 +0000

Hi all! As a mechanic i will expect other amature mechanics to do what i’m doing.somtimes it will be hard for them to follow up as some precision stuffs require them to be very skilled to handle like machining and grinding. And these materials handed by Jonathan Wilson also require one to be skillful enough to play.It takes lost of time and effort for amatures to handle moreover even if most learn the whole song,most will not know how to apply them for their own playing or modified them.But for advanced players like dbertels for example, these materials are well utilized.

By: dbertels

dbertels — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:58:19 +0000

Hi Jonathan
Well what can I say, this is another superb work of music – slightly jazzier than the first series.
It’s actually quite hard to find fault with it. But since you asked for some feedback – here goes
(most of it regards the notation):
1 – I really like grouping the notes so each group ties the notes in each beat of the bar together (including the rests) – I did that in the scores I sent you… It just makes for easier reading.

2 – Add some chord symbols maybe.

3 – A word about the harmonies used would be great, such as your favourite voicings – I know, where do you stop …

I liked your series before, though I always thought that the slow versions were maybe a little too slow – even for beginners – it tends to lose the feel at that tempo.

Lastly it would be great for people to have access to midi files – so they can adjust the speed at will with whatever software they’re using … (I believe a mix of video instructions and midi would be ideal).

Again – a great job, and thanks for the sharing.

By: andytan

andytan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:17:45 +0000

Wow Wow woW….the more i listen to this new funk groove2,the more i can’t wait to put my fingers into practise.. Those licks and bluesy stuff reminds me of the various spice in my country for making good curry.. One need to put the right amount to achieve the right taste. Just like how Jonathan Wilson harmonised those licks and bluesy to achieve the right sound affect to play tricks on one’s ears. YahooO ! I can’t imagine how girls in my Church will react when they heard this stuf_f. Well Done Jonathan Willson! I owe you on_e

By: andytan

andytan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:25:32 +0000

if you want these songs,just let me know and i will send them to you.

see ya,
Andy(from malaysia)

By: andytan

andytan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:20:54 +0000

Looking back at what you did in expertvillage and youtube,especially tons of words written down by you to teach people how to play your funk and blues make me feel ashame of myself.because i did so little to contribute for this world compare to you. This world really need more people like you JOnathan WIlson !
But to some, you’re a curse. Actually i wanted to buy jazz 101 ,102 and 300pg book from hearandplay.com and another from playpianotoday.com,but after i come accross your site and your information, i no longer wanted to buy from them. Imagine there’s more people like me out there doing the same. Perhaps one day they’ll be less people buying from their sites because of your free yet advance piano lessons. Sometimes before going to bed, I’ll be think of your lessons and wonder why on earth somebody will put so much effort and time to put up so many quality advance lessons just for free ?I still can’t figure out why.
Your funk groove 2 is another mind blowing lesson. I gave up your funk groove 1 before my brain blown up. i had difficulty co-ordinating left and right hand. But that doesn’t mean i will quit forever, because your lessons really open up the virginity of my brain to explore new foreign sounds and style of playing that even a play by ear guy like me would have trouble figuring out by hearing. But thanks to you, with your lessons especially your great licks and bluesy gave me some concepts and hints to create another set of licks that are constantly evolving(sorry this doesn’t mean i belive in evolution) From my point of view,all 3 lessons are equally advance and great for learning purposes but i still prefer your blues lesson that have more variety of sounds. One of the sites for example like hearandplay.com uses music or songs that people are fimiliar with and break them down to teach. This attracts people to learn the entire song eventhough it is difficult because they are fimiliar with that particular song and moreover they like the song. Just and idea Jonathan. Why not you pick & improvise some songs of famous singers like Mariah Carey,Utada Hikaru and some famous jazz songs of frank Sinatra and make them a lesson?
Great jazz song that i’ve heard is ”First love” Jazz version by kenny james (One of the most well known songs in Asia99% fimiliar with this song) Fly me to the moon Jazz by yoko takahashi(from the animation neon genesis evangelion)
And frank sinatra’s song in spiderman 3 where it is sung by the main acteress spiderman’s girlfriend, lyric started out with ”they say falling in love is wonderful”….
One of these songs in your lessons will make you as wellknown as any celebrity. You can make your own improvised version or you can mimic them.Both are attractiv_ve.

Thanks Again,
andy (from malaysia)