EXAMPLE7 NILE RODGERS (FUNK)

cd track 17

Nile Rodgers and his Fender Stratocaster (nicknamed The Hitmaker) have featured on countless top 40 hits from a wide range of artists such as Chic, Madonna, David Bowie and Daft Punk. Our Nile Rodgers jam showcases his signature combination of funky 16th-note rhythms and posh chords.

[Bars 1-end] There are several key things that will help you get Nile’s sound. The first is the use of a light-gauge pick which helps to provide a snappy attack to the strumming. The second is the neck pickup, which provides a hollow, funky tone. Arguably the most important and often overlooked part of the Nile Rodgers style is the way he strums the strings. Nile divides the strings up into sections and then strums from bass to treble sets in an alternating pattern. This way he can introduce even more texture and rhythm into the part. He explains that this division of the chord and strings helps him think like a drummer.