Traditional Funk and R&B Rhythms

Funk and R&B drumming lives in the pocket. This course shows you how to build the feel, finesse, and discipline that keep a band locked in time while still sounding soulful and musical. You will learn the parts of the kit that truly drive the groove, from hi hat touch to ghost notes that breathe life into every backbeat.

Led by veteran drummer and educator Jason Gianni, you will break down essential patterns behind classic tracks, including the Fatback and Cold Sweat families of grooves. Along the way you will dial in authentic 70s drum tones through smart tuning and head choices so your kit sounds right for funk and soul.

Across step by step lessons, you will refine ghost note control, explore tasteful variations, and practice fills and transitions that lift the song without losing the pocket. By the end, you will be ready to perform classic R&B and funk grooves with authenticity and precision on stage and in the studio.

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to perform classic R&B and funk grooves with authenticity, musicality, and precision.

What You’ll Learn

• Core funk and R&B grooves, including the Fatback and Cold Sweat, plus how to vary and orchestrate them across the kit
• Hi hat, snare, and bass drum techniques that improve time feel, subdivision clarity, and dynamic control
• Ghost note concepts and displacement ideas that add movement without clutter
• Drum tuning approaches and head selections that deliver classic funk and soul tones
• Musical fills and transitions that keep the groove intact between sections

Is This Course for You?

This course is ideal for drummers who want to lock down deep pocket time and consistently serve the song. It suits players with basic coordination who are ready to add nuance and articulation to their hi hat, snare, and kick. You will follow a structured path that builds ghost note vocabulary, tasteful fills, and repeatable, musical tone. Whether you play live or record at home, the lessons help your funk and R&B grooves sound authentic rather than generic.

If you are newer to technique or stick control, pair this course with an intro technique path for faster progress. If you already play funk and R&B regularly, use the groove variations and displacement studies to refine your feel and expand your toolkit.

Meet Your Instructor

Jason Gianni is a drummer, educator, and author whose career spans Broadway pits, touring acts, studio work, and international clinics. He holds advanced percussion degrees, has taught at The Collective and major universities, co-authored The Drummer’s Bible, and recorded the theme for SpongeBob SquarePants. Jason brings stage tested clarity to technique, tone, and musical decision making so you learn approaches that translate immediately to the kit.

What’s Included

• Step by step lessons on techniques and tuning
• Groove Variations across kick, snare, and hi hat
• Detailed breakdowns of the Cold Sweat and Fatback grooves
• The Chicken groove with authentic rhythm section approach
• Ghost note patterns and displacement studies
• Practical examples, play-along guidance, and repeatable practice frameworks drawn from the lessons on the page
• Lifetime access to all updates and future additions to this course’s lesson set