Hemiola applications: funk

Here are some very straightforward funk applications derived from the 3:2 polyrhythm in 4/4 in the hemiola basics post. By isolating each measure, revoicing the parts slightly, and adding obvious things like a downbeat on the bass drum or backbeats on the snare, you can make some familiar-sounding funk grooves. I've broken it down into steps for my students:

I've given a couple of optional embellishments-- on part one the bass drum on the 'e' of 4 causes the polyrhythm to bridge the barline, running from the 'e' of 4 to the 'e' of 3; on part two the open hihat on the & of 1 emphasizes that note as the beginning of the polyrhythm.

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