Leo Nocentelli giving a syncopated funk demonstration. Taken from the The Secrets Of Funk: Using It And Fusing It! DVD, available from www.musicroom.c...
Even without his rhythm band mates GEORGE and "ZIGABOO", the people he just are so incorporated with. LEO plays some bad ass guitar and man do it sound funky!
I have the bass notation for this and it is written in C minor (3 flats). There are two riffs with two measures each. The first riff implies a C minor chord with the lick he plays...then the final two beats of the second measure are Bb and F chords. So it's a im7-VII-IV progression. The second riff implies a cm7 chord over two measures. That's if you want to loop a rhythm track. The bass guitar plays the same notes as the lick an octave lower.
The notation is incorrect, kind of. Its a C7 chord with a major 3rd. Both Leo here and George Porter, Jr. on bass on the original recording slide from the Eb note to the E natural. Should be notated in the key of F, with one flat. This can easily be seen with the two chord hits at the end of the first lick, Bb and F chords.
You're right. All the A notes have a natural, so I don't know why the publishers went with three flats. And all the E notes are notated to be bent 1/4 step higher. That's probably why it still sounds good when I play Cm///|Cm/BbF. But Leo plays a C7 in 1st position and in 8th position when he plays rhythm at 3:50. It's just V IV I...It does still seem to resolve to the C7, but it's definitely in key of F.
Oggy Bleacher Definitely NOT in F! While there is essentially 1 flat as you describe it's a C blues scale that's going on hence the C7 chord against it. The bass also plays a G7 Not an F for the last 2 beats
Kit Eakle Nope. *You're* wrong. However, you're missing a little information about why I say that. First, this is a C7 chord for the vast majority of the time. The vanilla scale that the C7 comes from is the C Mixolydian scale. Mixolydian is the mode from the 5th of the major scale. The parent scale in this tune is F Major. The notes of the chords(C7, F, and Bb) together spell the F Major scale. However, since the chord for the vast majority of the tune is C7, it makes sense to point toward the tonal center of the piece, C. It's C Mixolydian. The blues scale is not a scale in the traditional sense, where you create chords from it. The blues scale is what's played over what might otherwise be C Mixolydian, in order to add "blue" or "outside" notes, which would be Eb and Gb. There are no Gb notes in the tune, but there are Eb notes. They are all either bent 1/4 step(closer to a 1/2 step, really), or here Leo slides them up a fret, yielding E natural notes. By the way, there is no G7 in this tune. The other two chords are absolutely Bb and F. The bass tends to play an A note under than F, making it F/A. Still an F chord. Look at 1:57; a root position F chord. At 1:22, the chord is F over an A bass(F/A) on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings. The notes are x x 7 5 6 5 . If you're a guitar player, that's a "C Form" chord.
I saw Leo solo at the Wetlands club NYC in the nineties.Huge joints were passed around among the crowd.We defintely acheived lift-off.Funk simply doesnt get better than him.Met him after the show
Well to me seems like everyone to can play the guitar. Just how well? How sweet can you make it sound? Literally. Can you taste it? If I'm playing something, there's always something more I want to add. More sound, then it becomes a search for perfect notes. I started playing guitar strictly for the fact that I can play it till the day I die, and up till then, I'll constantly be learning new things. Sounds of the Earth, can't really complain about it much. Every human enjoys music!
Thank you for posting this, This clears the argument about the way this song was originally played. I learned it from Chicago Blues players and was taught just like you played it. JT
Played this tune in my first band - I was the drummer - SO much fun. I also have a 50s Gibson, no center block - 11 E strings are the best for me. Really creates a big, warm tone. Even the best on my Strat. Play on! Play on!
Thank you so much for posting these! There's very little about actual '60's soul guitar on UA-cam. People think, "oh, you mean 70's wah wah porn music?" NO. Leo, Cornell Dupree, Jimmy Nolen, even early Hendrix.
Leo is a member of the best down home funk band EVER. If you want to be "funkifized', listen to the Meters! They are not the urban James Brown type of funk, but they lay down some damned good grooves!
The riff is not just based on the pentatonic scale, it has a blue third. That imo makes it a major tune (there's a dominant 7th though which makes it mixolydian). Think about the chords that are played and the melody that you could play over it: it's major.
This took a bit for me to figure out: In the intro/chorus phrase, the first note comes on the 'e' of the one. This contrasts to the verse section, where the first note falls directly on the one. I can hear the difference, but I'm still getting accustomed to executing the phrase on my guitar. I'm used to playing jazz and blues with swung 8th notes and triplets, so Funk is a whole new realm for me.
@Ardolino21 It was not the only song my friend did for the audition. Shame he didn't get through though... His play was very good, but the jury had heard he hadn't play enough hours!
Very Funk Era fo Music......Nice........The JBs, AWB, Ohio Players, Brass Construction, Tower of Power, Brothers Johnson........... Great Stuff bro!!! Thanks!
Leo and the other meters are just laid back New Orleans kind of guys and they're very accessible and they still live there they never went off the Hollywood or nothing like that..regular Joes when not performing. and see them at the grocery store see at a crawfish boil
The number of hits this cut has taken in, along with the meters videos is a bit surprising. In that the meters are the foundation of funk! hello! Leo may be reserved on video but he is one of the crucial cats.
Hate to butt in, but the song is in C minor. C pentatonic is a minor scale. It uses the Eb major scale, but that's just the Ionian mode (Eb major = C minor). Main lick = Cm7 arpeggio, same with part B. Chords after main lick = C, Eb.
ahhh, it's "Rock and Roll Stew" from Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory. One of their lesser album cuts. Still, it rocks and has a similar funk bass line....thanx for the lesson btw
From the master himself. Sooo many people play this wrong, adding a note or 2 in the melody. Funk needs that space between notes!!
wavryder6ft SUPERTRUTH
I agree but it's nice to mix it up a little when you're playing a song for 4 mins. But yes less is more!! 😎
Here's a riff I use in a song I wrote called "Cissy Strut." Yes, how great he can say that.
Best part of the whole thing. Cool defined.
@@mlockwood5116 he enters a room and the temperature drops five degrees.
And people just start. struttin!
uncontrollably. mind you!
That was a fantasitic display of guitar playing.
leo Nocentelli.. Thank you for the awsome music!
I absolutely love this tune. Right up there with Green Onion.
Yes Onions and Time is Tight.
lifes better wnen we funkify!
right Mr stone?
Dance to da music!
Yes you everyday people!
The greatest funky groove ever. Ilove this tune and play it everyday. Thanks Mr Nocentelli.
Compared to instructional versions this is the bomb.his little strum inbetween riffs and his quick scale between the changes.
im a bass player but i would buy a guitar just for this song and this band.
One of my favourite tunes from The Meters! It's nice to see Leo using a John Lennon Signature Series Epiphone Casino...
It's so wild to think of Leo Nocentelli as a Casino player and yet here it is, evidence right in front of my eyes
A freaking KING!!! Love how he just dishes out THA FUNK! A+
PLAY IT LEOOOOO!
Even without his rhythm band mates GEORGE and "ZIGABOO", the people he just are so incorporated with. LEO plays some bad ass guitar and man do it sound funky!
Mats Nilsson h
Cool
How could I have been ignorant of this classic for so long? Very cool to see it demoed by the guy who created it.
I have the bass notation for this and it is written in C minor (3 flats). There are two riffs with two measures each. The first riff implies a C minor chord with the lick he plays...then the final two beats of the second measure are Bb and F chords. So it's a im7-VII-IV progression. The second riff implies a cm7 chord over two measures. That's if you want to loop a rhythm track. The bass guitar plays the same notes as the lick an octave lower.
The notation is incorrect, kind of. Its a C7 chord with a major 3rd. Both Leo here and George Porter, Jr. on bass on the original recording slide from the Eb note to the E natural. Should be notated in the key of F, with one flat. This can easily be seen with the two chord hits at the end of the first lick, Bb and F chords.
You're right. All the A notes have a natural, so I don't know why the publishers went with three flats. And all the E notes are notated to be bent 1/4 step higher. That's probably why it still sounds good when I play Cm///|Cm/BbF. But Leo plays a C7 in 1st position and in 8th position when he plays rhythm at 3:50. It's just V IV I...It does still seem to resolve to the C7, but it's definitely in key of F.
I'd call it "in C", but definitely more C Mixolydian mode. It's all blues based, anyway.
Oggy Bleacher Definitely NOT in F! While there is essentially 1 flat as you describe it's a C blues scale that's going on hence the C7 chord against it. The bass also plays a G7 Not an F for the last 2 beats
Kit Eakle Nope. *You're* wrong. However, you're missing a little information about why I say that. First, this is a C7 chord for the vast majority of the time. The vanilla scale that the C7 comes from is the C Mixolydian scale. Mixolydian is the mode from the 5th of the major scale. The parent scale in this tune is F Major. The notes of the chords(C7, F, and Bb) together spell the F Major scale. However, since the chord for the vast majority of the tune is C7, it makes sense to point toward the tonal center of the piece, C. It's C Mixolydian. The blues scale is not a scale in the traditional sense, where you create chords from it. The blues scale is what's played over what might otherwise be C Mixolydian, in order to add "blue" or "outside" notes, which would be Eb and Gb. There are no Gb notes in the tune, but there are Eb notes. They are all either bent 1/4 step(closer to a 1/2 step, really), or here Leo slides them up a fret, yielding E natural notes.
By the way, there is no G7 in this tune. The other two chords are absolutely Bb and F. The bass tends to play an A note under than F, making it F/A. Still an F chord. Look at 1:57; a root position F chord. At 1:22, the chord is F over an A bass(F/A) on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings. The notes are x x 7 5 6 5 . If you're a guitar player, that's a "C Form" chord.
Those quick little runs that he's doing on the b section are cool and so simple I'm stealing those! Great video thanks Leo 😊
I saw Leo solo at the Wetlands club NYC in the nineties.Huge joints were passed around among the crowd.We defintely acheived lift-off.Funk simply doesnt get better than him.Met him after the show
Well to me seems like everyone to can play the guitar. Just how well? How sweet can you make it sound? Literally. Can you taste it?
If I'm playing something, there's always something more I want to add. More sound, then it becomes a search for perfect notes. I started playing guitar strictly for the fact that I can play it till the day I die, and up till then, I'll constantly be learning new things. Sounds of the Earth, can't really complain about it much. Every human enjoys music!
If you can perform for people and they groove to it and tell you that you are good and dont throw things at you.
Thank you for posting this, This clears the argument about the way this song was originally played. I learned it from Chicago Blues players and was taught just like you played it. JT
Wow this is gold lesson from the origin writer of the Iconic Funk Music, thanks so much 🙏💛
this groove will NEVER go away... LOVE the meters.. started it ALL!!!
Still love this, that rhythm, totally in the groove!
Wow the actual writer legend Leo shows the real way to play it.My hero thx for the lesson God Bless! It just doesn't get funkier than this.
Played this tune in my first band - I was the drummer - SO much fun.
I also have a 50s Gibson, no center block - 11 E strings are the best for me. Really creates a big, warm tone. Even the best on my Strat.
Play on! Play on!
Thank you so much for posting these! There's very little about actual '60's soul guitar on UA-cam. People think, "oh, you mean 70's wah wah porn music?" NO. Leo, Cornell Dupree, Jimmy Nolen, even early Hendrix.
Pure gold!
Man he only played "Cissy Strut" in slow speed and i get back all my inspiration for playing the guitar.
Leo "the Breeze" Nocontelli just gave me a guitar lesson - a funk guitar lesson. Did I die and go to heaven?
Love this.a master that helped write the book on funk guitar.thank you
You are fantastic - great you play it slow in the beginning! In particular for new beginners like me, playing along with an alto sax....
Leo is a member of the best down home funk band EVER. If you want to be "funkifized', listen to the Meters! They are not the urban James Brown type of funk, but they lay down some damned good grooves!
James Brown,,,Sly and The Family Stone,,Curtis Mayfield,,,Charles Wright and The and The 103rd St.Band And The Meters were creators of FUNK!!!!!
The secret of Funk is : Groove, Feel and Syncopation
He must be in his 60s and he is still a cool dude. I got right into that.
The cool people in their 60s usually smoked a lot of weed, drank a lot of booze, and had a great time out of life. live it up
this is so cool to see Leo doing that man...🍻🎸 I know this is old school UA-cam upload I'm glad to still see it's here though..🙏
Man, this is one inspired and gifted cat.
The riff is not just based on the pentatonic scale, it has a blue third. That imo makes it a major tune (there's a dominant 7th though which makes it mixolydian). Think about the chords that are played and the melody that you could play over it: it's major.
Love the drums? Swings so nice in the rhythm section.
whoa the man himself. rad. wish this was hd
I ain't heard this song since the cool evening of oct 21, 1969.
ok this guy is the man...he just gets right in the groove around 4 min when he "gets a little rhythm"
I Love Leo Nocentelli 🙏Coolest Guy on the planet
Bad ass tune.
OMG, HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LOVE THIS...!!!
Leo n the Meters are the funkiest EVER!
beautiful epiphone casino! i have one exactly like it. lovely guitars
the whole time i was listening to this awesome song, i kept thinking....
what's that other guy's job?
Leo and the Meters ROCK! and keep rockin!
Right to the heart of it! Ty.
I like that song over thirty years
Prove it
That guitar sounds amazing!!
Man, that's a sick epiphone.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful knowledge, vive le Funk!
He is the orginal player on the orginal hit record with The Meters. He wrote it and he plays it exactly like the orginal.
@getthetapjj Yeah it sounds good. I like the way it fills that extra space. Funky!
Right. Great players play "simple" But going up with groove and feeling like Mr Nocentelli .
Leo is the Man!!!
This took a bit for me to figure out:
In the intro/chorus phrase, the first note comes on the 'e' of the one.
This contrasts to the verse section, where the first note falls directly on the one.
I can hear the difference, but I'm still getting accustomed to executing the phrase on my guitar. I'm used to playing jazz and blues with swung 8th notes and triplets, so Funk is a whole new realm for me.
great great great
leo is the man
It's an Epiphone Casino with P-90 pickups. Hollowbody, no block inside.
@Ardolino21 It was not the only song my friend did for the audition. Shame he didn't get through though... His play was very good, but the jury had heard he hadn't play enough hours!
So simple yet so funky.
black people playing guitar rule!..thank god not all of them like rap or hip hop!..show us how to do it !! they truly have the groove and I love it
That's a mother fucking kick ass groove!!
it is a lennon reissue, you can tell by the black washer pad under the pickup switch..
Niggaz got some SICK tone. Man is he sooo smoooooth. AWW FUNK ME !!!
Very Funk Era fo Music......Nice........The JBs, AWB, Ohio Players, Brass Construction, Tower of Power, Brothers Johnson........... Great Stuff bro!!! Thanks!
Who'd a thought SO many folks know Leo personally. Wow
Leo and the other meters are just laid back New Orleans kind of guys and they're very accessible and they still live there they never went off the Hollywood or nothing like that..regular Joes when not performing. and see them at the grocery store see at a crawfish boil
The Original Funkmaster! Leo Rocks (funkily)
Beautiful epiphone casino
I like to hear musicians play this around Dennis Chambers, sweet!!
funky is as funky be... and this B FunKy!
thats pretty awesome
The number of hits this cut has taken in, along with the meters videos is a bit surprising. In that the meters are the foundation of funk! hello! Leo may be reserved on video but he is one of the crucial cats.
4:22 sounds amazing
Hate to butt in, but the song is in C minor. C pentatonic is a minor scale. It uses the Eb major scale, but that's just the Ionian mode (Eb major = C minor). Main lick = Cm7 arpeggio, same with part B. Chords after main lick = C, Eb.
Very Good! Genius Fingers.
Great riff
ahhh, it's "Rock and Roll Stew" from Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory. One of their lesser album cuts. Still, it rocks and has a similar funk bass line....thanx for the lesson btw
rock and roll stew came after. it was from 1971 the low spark of High heeled boys
funkiest instrumental of all time
so badass
@pretorious700 My thoughts exactly. John Mayer's so far has been the only other that captured my attention
omg i love this... pumpin energy..
Cissy strut is one of the most awesomely simple songs ever, but "simple" doesn't mean "easy". Most cover versions I've heard just don't capture it.
that's Groooove !!! mr J.Scofield knows what i'm talking about..
Such touch!
They don't make music like that anymore shame.
@AbeRivera LOL Matt Schofield plays this song as a cover. Leo is the Original Artist LOL!
Grant Green used the Gibson version of that guitar.
oh so sweet the sound,so loose but ssoooo tight!
Oh shit! was this guy in the band, The Meters? they're bloody brilliant
@lewars1912 that's his hype man.
Woooow! Coool! Coulda been even cooler if you were playing with a good leader guitarist! Great work!It's a pleasure listening to ya!
@fretbuzz59 Thanks! Tried it out. It sounds good.
Thanks for the lesson!!!!
Man that shit is soo Funky ,I have to open my Windows!!
try improvising along to this using the C mixolydian mode
Not a single fret buzzed not a single buzz from the pickups either that guitar is set up to perfection
i want a casino.
and i want that hat! funky is good.
Genius
I'm honoured. To get this private lesson...
ah this is where John Mayer covered it, I couldn't think of the Funk Band or guitarist name