Linear Funk Drumming

Learn how to incorporate the powerful Linear Funk style into your drumming.

"Linear Funk Drumming, by master drummer and educator Jim Payne takes us on a rhythmical journey from the beginnings of funk to the innovative grooves of today and the possibilities of the future. It's a complete guide to linear funk drumming and a must for any serious musician, amateurs as well as seasoned pros. The funk is in good hands!" Mike Clark – Drummer with Herbie Hancock; Wayne Shorter; Albert King 

What is linear funk? The basic principle of linear drumming is to play only one piece of the drum kit at a time. Linear funk uses this principle with the main tools of funk - the Hi-Hat, Snare Drum and Bass Drum. Playing these pieces of the drum kit one at a time can create a flowing, super funky groove which has more power, more space, and more clear definition for a more powerful funk!

The book provides a step-by-step approach beginning with short, simple “Essential Phrases.” Some of these phrases are rudiments, some are partial rudiments, many are new phrases. Then it progresses from 1 and 2-bar phrases to longer possibilities, and eventually to free improvisation. The focus is on incorporating the legendary history of funk to build the organic, innovative grooves of today and provide the tools to create the funky grooves of the future. 

Linear Funk Drumming also includes extensive multi-media learning supplements:

• 67 demonstration videos
• 12 play-along tracks (each with Full Mix, Drums Only, and No Drums)
• 32 live, studio-recorded drum grooves
• 30 produced beats by Samwell Payne, taken from the groove transcriptions and available as MIDI files.

Linear Funk Drumming is valuable for everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. Every drummer needs some funk!

Sample Pages:

• Page 23
  • Produced Beat
  • Video Demonstration:

• Page 55
  • Audio
• Page 67
  • Produced Beat

Endorsements:

"Jim Payne's Linear Funk Drumming connects the dots between 1950s Philly Joe Jones jazz drumming and the 1970s Oakland funk pioneers Mike Clark and David Garibaldi in a textbook that should inspire today's drummers to come up with their own new grooves. His methodical exercise progression is both practical and musical. Thank you, Jim, for connecting the dots for the rest of us." Peter Erskine – Drummer with Weather Report; Steps Ahead; Chick Corea 

"Jim Payne is a fantastic musician and one of the great teachers of drumming. His new book takes the popular subject of linear funk drumming, as played by David Garibaldi, Mike Clark, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Nate Smith, and makes it immediately digestible. I love the way that Jim introduces a simple phrase and sticking and builds on it through creativity, orchestration, and (eventually) rhythmic variations. This is the BEST way to build a musical vocabulary in any style, and Jim's book guides you through that important process perfectly! The coolest musical ideas come from allowing simplicity to evolve into complexity." Mark Griffith – Editor-in-Chief, Modern Drummer 

"In his excellent new book Linear Funk Drumming, Jim Payne brings his vast experience as a teacher and author, and it's also important that he brings the experience of playing with some of the people who created the music, the innovators of funk music." Bill Stewart – John Scofield; Maceo Parker

"Jim Payne has written THE book on linear funk drumming. Being a jazz drummer himself, he has studied the techniques that make funk drummers unique. Hanging out and playing with cats like Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis and myself solidified his knowledge of what to do, how to do it, and when to do it in funk situations. Read this book. Follow his lead." Fred Wesley – Drummer with James Brown 

Jim Payne is both a renowned artist and educator, with a long career as a performer, professor, producer, and collaborator with the best musicians in both jazz and funk. As member of the online faculty at Berklee College of Music, Jim Payne has taught R&B/Funk Drums for over 15 years, and has also performed with greats like Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Slickaphonics, and the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra. He has written several acclaimed books on funk drumming, and also teaches interactive courses at his School of Funk at www.funkydrummer.com.