Bang on Rob as usual. The guitar really opens up once you stop looking at a chord as a 'shape' that you can more around and more like a cluster of intervals.
One thing that helped me move toward this way of playing was initially to put my fretting hand in the familiar full barre chord position but just target the strumming hand on the higher strings. I found that was a good starting point. Eventually you learn to see these new little shapes inside your familiar chord shapes, but it's a good stepping stone and safety net if you forget them!
@Tedmaul99 Thank you. That sounds like a good tip which I will employ immediately. Just commented, I’m diving into electric guitar playing after decades on an acoustic and immediately realizing, my playing style on a Martin while singing-full chord, percussive, and meant to balance the vocal, does NOT necessarily elegantly transfer to a Tele. These small-but-powerful chords will really help! Peace.
great lesson, seems simple but that's one of the hardest technique to acquire, funk groove, loose right hand (or left if you are a lefty), fighting against a rigid wrist, muting strings and not others, all this is challenging, even more when you have small hands. I love funk but hate the work it requires 🙂
Great stuff! After 40 odd years of playing, I find that I am playing less and less and getting more and more out of the guitar. I almost always use two note harmony chords when playing with a group for all the reasons you have discussed.
Well Done Master Harris. Love the how you explained the cutting through the mix and not overplaying with others in the band. The solutions are simple and effective. Back to work for me if i wanna play funky like you. Thanks
Loved this Rob. Saw a Carl Verhuyen video doing something similar where he used same intervals of b3 and b7 and inverted them through the track. He said same as you to cut through the mix and put your stamp on it. Thanks.
Thank you for the video, Rob, this was what I am looking for on the guitar. I started playing a Cigar Box Guitar (3-string guitar) last year, and playing three strings is obviously less complicated than playing six. After realizing the sounds you can still get only using three strings, I figured there must be a way to do this on a regular six string guitar. And your video pops up with two and three note chords! Perfect!
Instant like and subscribe if only as your voice is soothing to hear itself, haha. Great lesson. The subject, your breakdown, and playing examples, coupled with clarity, humility, and humor makes for excellent viewing. I’ve strummed acoustic guitars for decades, along the way collecting electrics, effects, and a few amps I’ve been intimidated or lazy to explore much. Now, having care-given both folks to dignified and peaceful final exits, I’ve declared these years I have left to be mine, and learn to plug-in without fear, haha. This is very valuable information and technique for me as I make the transition from playing chunky percussive acoustic guitar meant to call-and-respond to my singing to hopefully one day sweep picking and pinching harmonics. 🙏🏽✌🏽💙 from Minnesota, USA
Groovy thanks dude been having a hard time working chords into my soloing and this is the key. Way less awkwardness with timing because of hand position much easier to swap between scales and this. Thanks a lot
I have been following your educational activities a lot since 2017. Because I was amazed by the guitar on Automaton LP - then I rediscovered Jamiroquay for myself. In many masterclasses you've said that you're sort of trying to cut through a very busy mix. And everything you say here is not news, and at first it seemed to me like it is for very beginners. However, this is a wrong line of thinking! Basics are very important! And besides, a specific example, the hands of a master, a train of thought are very important. It develops better musical taste! And in the end, this is what creates that funky buzz that we all love! Thanks a lot!
Great video! Incredibly insightful, concerning listening to what's happening musically and knowing your place in the mix, that 2 note technique is just brilliant and makes so much sense. To me, your playing is like, THE sound of Jamiroquai albums in the 2000s (even the demo track here totally sounds like a jamiroquai record!) Hope to hear more music from you soon!
Pretty much in the finest tradition of all the great session Funk/RnB and Pop players of the past. Just been watching videos of the great clean tones of the 80's a la Paul Jackson Jr, Dan Huff et al. Often very simple lines and phrases tastefully layered up top and clear as crystal in the mix. Now I just have to learn how to selectively mute while chucking as effortlessly as you do 😁
Hi Rob, I've spent the last 20 years trying to figure out how you mute in Love Foolosophy. It's a thrill to see it explained by the man himself. Many thanks!
I am a bassist who dreams the guitairsts I play with could grasp this concept. I remember many years ago playing a guitar in my bedroom to I Will Survive and coming up with a funky part on the G/B/E strings and thinking this is the .... I am in the naughty corner for suggesting such stuff these days so I just smile and put up with now.. I can have up to 3 guitairsts playing full blooded bar chords to something simliar to this. I cry inside..
Thanks for the lesson Rob your groove is awesome. What splice sample pack are you using on the backing track? It sounds great for practicing it's so hard to find good backing tracks where just rytthm guitar is missing.
I grew up on a diet of Metallica so for the first 30 years I never played a 7 chord. Now of course I am into literally anything on guitar and last couple of weeks I’ve been doing a lot of this stuff but I do have a habit of making everything sound as you say “full” I always kinda thought making chord smaller were kinda cheating but your absolutely right. Nice to see a Divided by 13 amp too. Very pretty things
Hey Rob, very interesting stuff 🙂 I guess funk style is similar to playing rhythm in the old big band ensembles it’s about finding space and letting bass/piano fill in the low end… Have you done a vid of your studio equipment, amps and set up yet bro? I note the OX box and Fryette Power Station…
This is great tutorial! Thank you, Rob! Btw I have one question about how much input gain did you use on Quad cortex with Silver sky? I put input gain on mine to +8. I also use your Divided by 13 capture and it sounds amazing!
Im just wondering, if there were no keyboards (only bass and drums) would you consider the same approach or would you play more complete chords?, asking for a friend. Cheers
Nice video ! Do you mind sharing your signal chain, or at least your effects ? I am curious about the compressor actually. I feel like it is part of that sharp and clear sound.
Hi Matthieu. The signal chain is just the guitar into a Princeton Reverb going through an Ox Box. No compression at all. I added a tiny bit of reverb in the box.
Love the video, great stuff! But, may I ask something, please? Why is whole of youtube calling two notes a chord? Not just you, everybody. A chord is, by definition, 3 notes or more, while two notes make an interval. Is it a matter of simplification, or what's the deal, here? I feel like I'm nitpicking in people's eyes, but as I know I'm 100% right, I find it incomprehensible that no one cares about nomenclature and language in general. It seems sad, because if we continue down this road, one day we won't understand each other at all because "it doesn't matter." What do you think? Cheers!
This is gold, very warm and groovy, strange that Google Algo only suggested this now
Thanks for watching
Rob, Jamiroquai is one lucky guy having you as his guitarist bud. Thanks for your tutorial and your great playing 🙏🏻
Thanks dude.
Btw, Jamiroquai is the name of the band 😊
Rob IS part of it, been a fan since I was a kid ❤
Thanks for this! So simple in concept, but the interplay between muting, strumming, squeezing, and touch is the tough part.
It's a rare player who thinks of how a tune sounds as whole and minamalizes their part for the greater good of a clean mix. Respect!
Bang on Rob as usual. The guitar really opens up once you stop looking at a chord as a 'shape' that you can more around and more like a cluster of intervals.
One thing that helped me move toward this way of playing was initially to put my fretting hand in the familiar full barre chord position but just target the strumming hand on the higher strings. I found that was a good starting point. Eventually you learn to see these new little shapes inside your familiar chord shapes, but it's a good stepping stone and safety net if you forget them!
@Tedmaul99
Thank you. That sounds like a good tip which I will employ immediately. Just commented, I’m diving into electric guitar playing after decades on an acoustic and immediately realizing, my playing style on a Martin while singing-full chord, percussive, and meant to balance the vocal, does NOT necessarily elegantly transfer to a Tele. These small-but-powerful chords will really help! Peace.
To me full chords sounds pretty damn good , played by you
Hah. Well , thank you.
I learned this "less is more" approach many years ago while studying jazz. Great lesson! Thank you.
great lesson, seems simple but that's one of the hardest technique to acquire, funk groove, loose right hand (or left if you are a lefty), fighting against a rigid wrist, muting strings and not others, all this is challenging, even more when you have small hands. I love funk but hate the work it requires 🙂
Great stuff! After 40 odd years of playing, I find that I am playing less and less and getting more and more out of the guitar. I almost always use two note harmony chords when playing with a group for all the reasons you have discussed.
Thank you Rob... you can transform the simple into something extraordinary
Let’s Groove tonight 🎵🎸. Many thanks rob
I love your strumming in Get lucky.
Many try to teach the funk, but few have the funk. You have it and can teach it 👍
Well Done Master Harris. Love the how you explained the cutting through the mix and not overplaying with others in the band. The solutions are simple and effective. Back to work for me if i wanna play funky like you. Thanks
Loved this Rob. Saw a Carl Verhuyen video doing something similar where he used same intervals of b3 and b7 and inverted them through the track. He said same as you to cut through the mix and put your stamp on it. Thanks.
Great playing, very smooth.
Awesome! I’ve been looking for a tutorial like this for years! I’ve always loved that sound. Looking forward to more content from you! 🤩
Awesome, thank you!
Your tone is just lovely
Thanks Rob for your great videos and for the music you created with Jamiroquai. Gave me a lot of joy through the years!
great Lesson and agree the guitar cuts through the rest very nicely and stands out...Thanks...
Thank you for the video, Rob, this was what I am looking for on the guitar. I started playing a Cigar Box Guitar (3-string guitar) last year, and playing three strings is obviously less complicated than playing six. After realizing the sounds you can still get only using three strings, I figured there must be a way to do this on a regular six string guitar. And your video pops up with two and three note chords! Perfect!
Glad it’s useful for you
I agree.
As usual brilliant tips !!!!!!!Great and clean sound .Make things simple .Thank you Rob.
Top Tut, cheers Rob, makes a lot of sense concentrating on the higher registers to cut through and not muddy the sound.
Rob! You just proved less is MORE! Love the lesson, funky!!!
Glad you like the lesson.
Instant like and subscribe if only as your voice is soothing to hear itself, haha. Great lesson. The subject, your breakdown, and playing examples, coupled with clarity, humility, and humor makes for excellent viewing. I’ve strummed acoustic guitars for decades, along the way collecting electrics, effects, and a few amps I’ve been intimidated or lazy to explore much. Now, having care-given both folks to dignified and peaceful final exits, I’ve declared these years I have left to be mine, and learn to plug-in without fear, haha. This is very valuable information and technique for me as I make the transition from playing chunky percussive acoustic guitar meant to call-and-respond to my singing to hopefully one day sweep picking and pinching harmonics.
🙏🏽✌🏽💙 from Minnesota, USA
Hah. Soothing ?? I’ll take that :)
Good to see you Rob
well explained and demonstrated! kudos!
Groovy thanks dude been having a hard time working chords into my soloing and this is the key. Way less awkwardness with timing because of hand position much easier to swap between scales and this. Thanks a lot
This material is wonderful, thank you very much, I hope one day to be able to enjoy your music live. I send you a big hug from Argentina
Thanks Rob, taught which such patience and detail...hope to see you one day at boom&twang or the elite music camps
Brilliant!
Thanks
Great explanation of minimizing chord structure . Thanks 🎸
Glad it was helpful!
@@RobHarrisGuitar
Absolutely , it opens up a new way
of looking at playing rhythm guitar 😃
Useful tips. Thanks Rob
You’re most welcome
Thanks Tim. Glad you found it useful
I have been following your educational activities a lot since 2017. Because I was amazed by the guitar on Automaton LP - then I rediscovered Jamiroquay for myself. In many masterclasses you've said that you're sort of trying to cut through a very busy mix. And everything you say here is not news, and at first it seemed to me like it is for very beginners. However, this is a wrong line of thinking! Basics are very important! And besides, a specific example, the hands of a master, a train of thought are very important. It develops better musical taste! And in the end, this is what creates that funky buzz that we all love! Thanks a lot!
Love it… you know it bro🙏🏻
This is gold !!! Keep on the good work
Brilliant ...thanx
What a great lesson!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video! Incredibly insightful, concerning listening to what's happening musically and knowing your place in the mix, that 2 note technique is just brilliant and makes so much sense.
To me, your playing is like, THE sound of Jamiroquai albums in the 2000s (even the demo track here totally sounds like a jamiroquai record!)
Hope to hear more music from you soon!
This is brilliant. Great advice. I'll be putting it to good funky use. 👍🏻
I totally agree Rob !
Very Maroon 5 👍👍 I'm a great user of shell voicings and Van Eps style chords
Thanks a lot for the great video Rob! Would you mind sharing the link to the backing track on Splice?
Ow, I'm trying to learn pop guitar... your playing is just fantastic!!!
Great lesson Rob :) Love this approach :) I've always struggled with breaking down the Maj7 chords, but this really helped :)
Great feel!
I needed this! Thanks Rob!
Great lesson Rob. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Pretty much in the finest tradition of all the great session Funk/RnB and Pop players of the past.
Just been watching videos of the great clean tones of the 80's a la Paul Jackson Jr, Dan Huff et al. Often very simple lines and phrases tastefully layered up top and clear as crystal in the mix.
Now I just have to learn how to selectively mute while chucking as effortlessly as you do 😁
Hi Rob, I've spent the last 20 years trying to figure out how you mute in Love Foolosophy. It's a thrill to see it explained by the man himself. Many thanks!
Great lesson!
I am a bassist who dreams the guitairsts I play with could grasp this concept. I remember many years ago playing a guitar in my bedroom to I Will Survive and coming up with a funky part on the G/B/E strings and thinking this is the .... I am in the naughty corner for suggesting such stuff these days so I just smile and put up with now.. I can have up to 3 guitairsts playing full blooded bar chords to something simliar to this. I cry inside..
Thanks for the lesson Rob your groove is awesome. What splice sample pack are you using on the backing track? It sounds great for practicing it's so hard to find good backing tracks where just rytthm guitar is missing.
Hey Leo. I just found a drum
Loop , a keyboard loop and then I played a quick bass part. Loads of great stuff on Splice.
Great video! Any chance to get that backing track? Cheers!
You are an awesome player.
Effective innit...Rob, have you posted anything on bubble picking? Thx...Jamie
Thank you for the breakdown!❤
Love this....thanks
You are so welcome!
cool ideas
Good one Rob !!
Cheers Eshaan.
Thanks for the wisdom, Master.
One of t he best rhythmic players imo
Something I've done that seems to work is to think in terms of a chord progression even on a one chord jam.
Absolutely.
The best lesson man!! Thanks 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Magic 👌
That's a beautiful axe you're using
Let me get that axe lol sell it to me!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you! You too!
Hello Sir,
Can you make a breakdown of you do you get the Tone in your daw? Your guitar sounds absolutelly beautiful (Great playing too :D)
Coming soon!
Yes! This is the same thing Nile Rodgers says,2-3 notes in a chord
I grew up on a diet of Metallica so for the first 30 years I never played a 7 chord. Now of course I am into literally anything on guitar and last couple of weeks I’ve been doing a lot of this stuff but I do have a habit of making everything sound as you say “full” I always kinda thought making chord smaller were kinda cheating but your absolutely right. Nice to see a Divided by 13 amp too. Very pretty things
Hey Rob, very interesting stuff 🙂 I guess funk style is similar to playing rhythm in the old big band ensembles it’s about finding space and letting bass/piano fill in the low end… Have you done a vid of your studio equipment, amps and set up yet bro? I note the OX box and Fryette Power Station…
Great stuff ! Who makes your cool Strat ?
It's made by Patrick James Eggle. It's my new signature guitar.
What is the name and make of Rob's guitar. It sounds great
It's my Signature guitar by Patrick James Eggle.
This is great tutorial! Thank you, Rob!
Btw I have one question about how much input gain did you use on Quad cortex with Silver sky? I put input gain on mine to +8. I also use your Divided by 13 capture and it sounds amazing!
Thanks Rob, I get the chord theory, cant for the life of me replicate that funky sound. Still It gives me s great steer, thanks again👍
Make it look so easy😊
Im just wondering, if there were no keyboards (only bass and drums) would you consider the same approach or would you play more complete chords?, asking for a friend. Cheers
Nice video ! Do you mind sharing your signal chain, or at least your effects ? I am curious about the compressor actually. I feel like it is part of that sharp and clear sound.
Hi Matthieu. The signal chain is just the guitar into a Princeton Reverb going through an Ox Box. No compression at all. I added a tiny bit of reverb in the box.
Do you also do this for the chorus of Time wont wait?
Do you use Minor 9 chords in place of min7ths??
Sometimes , yes
When you say it sounds too full. its got more of a nile type of feel. so not a bad thing.. except his sound is a bit more twangy
Indeed. I guess it’s just a matter of taste.
Can you make wideo with just major and dominant chords??
May I ask what is the amp, pedal, and settings. Thanks
Love this! Legend!
Damn that intro was NICE
Another question, do you accept bookings for Collaborations, br alois
Are you sometimes starting the slides on an up strum for syncopation? I cant figure it out
Let's hear that Super Champ! 😍
Yeah Rob 👍
Can I ask which guitar and amp you are using, thank you
It’s a Fender Princeton Reverb
Did i miss something or you didnt show the higher position for the Bb7M?
Yeah, seems like he plays the 5th and the 2nd of the chord. Any thoughts?
strumming pattern??
Love the video, great stuff! But, may I ask something, please? Why is whole of youtube calling two notes a chord? Not just you, everybody. A chord is, by definition, 3 notes or more, while two notes make an interval. Is it a matter of simplification, or what's the deal, here? I feel like I'm nitpicking in people's eyes, but as I know I'm 100% right, I find it incomprehensible that no one cares about nomenclature and language in general. It seems sad, because if we continue down this road, one day we won't understand each other at all because "it doesn't matter."
What do you think? Cheers!
Ledge
You sound like you have been influenced by Nile Roger's and his style of playing.
Absolutely, I’m a huge fan of Nile.
@@RobHarrisGuitar meeeee tooo!