What is funk really like?

[Mihai Sorohan]

Ever thought to take a simple melody and make it in several very different styles ?

[zuluMusic2]

Yes, I've had that thought. Anything to criticize in that new attempt? Or any clues what to try next?

[Mihai Sorohan]

Well, one day I'll might ask something and you'll be the one who answer and help...
I hope you'll make more tracks and get the hang of it

[zuluMusic2]

One more try! What does it sound like? Better/worse? Funky?
What I've learned is that funk is about rythm and feel, and I suppose I have a good groove, but that right feeling is difficult to get with computer software so I'd better give up and leave the funk stuff for the real bands.

[Mihai Sorohan]

Man, as a general advice:
Never give up !!! There is always space for improvement but that doesn't mean that you should give up, that means that you have to try more and harder

I'll listen to your new track and I'll tell you my opinion.
Cheers

[zuluMusic2]

Heh, that's the comment I was first expecting and you are quite right. That was a clever/evil way to get a quick reply too
(been watching 'Happy Days' too much lately, their silly ideas are contagious)

[Mihai Sorohan]

You... you, evil planner

Ha ha... LOL
now about your track:
The sound is right, the groove is there, the diversity in instruments is nice.
I like the slightly distorted bass sound and the brass/ trumpets sounds good.What do you use ?

What I don't quite get is the tonal center, the point around that all should gravitate.
Around 1:17 is a modulation that spice up a little bit and at 1:57 the brass sound "james bondish".
Maybe you should get a second opinion.

[zuluMusic2]

This has been pretty much tesing things out so far, I myself think that the overall structure is decent, but the problem is that I don't quite have a melody that holds everything together. It's more like different seperate parts been glued together with force, not in a melody line. But making that main melody is difficult when you stay within one scale, or maybe not one scale but as the comp consist of pretty much only one chord it restricts a lot. And there where I have an alternate comp I do get a better melody (1:17, 1:57, 0:24-0:37) but it's not that funky anymore. And many people have said that you get the funkiest stuff using only one chord.

[zuluMusic2]

I changed my mind about the part 1:12-1.32, it is quite funky with the bass there. Made the bass a bit distorted to make it audible even without bass boost.