Funk Facts for Kids

The rhythm section of a funk band, like The Meters shown here, creates the core beat of funk music.

Funk is a lively type of music that started in the United States during the 1960s. It was created by African American musicians and singers. Some famous names include James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, and The Meters.

Funk music really focuses on the rhythm and beat. It blends sounds from Rhythm and Blues and soul music. Funk is mostly dance music, made to get people moving!

Funk bands use many instruments to make their rhythms. These include the electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and electric organ. Many funk bands also have a "horn section." This part of the band usually has saxophone players, a trumpet player, and sometimes trombone players.

The Electric Bass in Funk
History of Funk Music
Images for kids
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The Electric Bass in Funk

In funk music, the electric bass guitar is super important. It has a bigger role than in many other types of popular music. A lot of funk songs are built around a strong "bass line." This is a catchy melody played by the electric bass player.

Some well-known funk bass players are Bootsy Collins, Louis Johnson, and Larry Graham from Sly & the Family Stone. Larry Graham even invented a special way of playing called "slap bass technique." With this technique, the bass player hits and pulls the strings to make a really strong, percussive rhythm.

History of Funk Music

Funk in the Late 1960s

James Brown was a key artist who helped create funk music.

The American singer and musician James Brown was one of the first funk artists. In 1965, James Brown recorded a song called "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Many people think this was the very first funk song! Other music groups soon started to copy the rhythms and style that James Brown and his band created.

A band called The Meters played funk music in New Orleans. They had popular songs like "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut" in 1969. Another funk group, The Isley Brothers, also had a hit song in 1969 called "It's Your Thing."

Funk in the 1980s

Prince was a very talented musician, singer, and songwriter.

In the 1980s, funk music began to change. Funk musicians started using electronic instruments more often. They used synthesizer keyboards and electronic drum machines. This was different from the earlier funk, which used electric bass, electric organ, trumpets, saxophones, and drums.

Rick James had big hits in the 1980s with funk songs like "Give It To Me Baby" and "Super Freak." The famous band Queen also had funk-influenced songs, such as "Another One Bites The Dust." The musician and singer Prince also released many popular funk songs.

Some other major funk bands from the early 80s include Cameo, Zapp, The Gap Band, The Bar-Kays, and The Dazz Band.

Later in the 1980s, two new styles of funk appeared: "funk rock" and "funk metal." These styles mixed funk music with rock and metal music. Bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, Jane's Addiction, Prince, Primus, Fishbone, Faith No More, and Rage Against the Machine played these new styles.

Funk music also had a big impact on 1980s hip hop music. Many hip hop artists used parts of old funk songs by James Brown or George Clinton to create new hip hop tracks.

Funk in the 1990s and 2000s

In the 1990s and 2000s, funk rock bands like Outkast and Van Hunt continued to make music. Also, hip hop musicians in these decades kept using funk songs by James Brown or George Clinton to make new hip hop music.

Images for kids

A thirteenth chord (E 13, which also contains a flat 7th and a 9th)
Bootsy Collins performing in 1996 with a star-shaped bass
The drum groove from "Cissy Strut"
Guitarist Nile Rodgers is best known for his performances with Chic.
Isaac Hayes playing keyboards in 1973
Singer Charlie Wilson
Funk horn sections typically include saxophones and trumpets. Larger horn sections often add a second instrument for one of the saxes or trumpets, and a trombone or bari sax may also be used. Pictured is the Earth, Wind and Fire horn section.
James Brown, a progenitor of funk music
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in 2006
The Original Family Stone live, 2006. Jerry Martini, Rose Stone, and Cynthia Robinson
Me'shell Ndegeocello playing electric bass
Talking Heads combined funk with elements of art rock.
Dr. Dre (pictured in 2011) was one of the influential creators of G-funk.
Chaka Khan (born 1953) has been called the "Queen of Funk".
Janelle Monáe (born 1985) is part of a new wave of female funk artists.

Funk facts for kids

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