Why are SO MANY Funk songs in E minor? - AN INVESTIGATION
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► STREAM THE SPOTIFY LISTENING GUIDE: open.spotify.com/playlist/45v...
And yeah... Hollywood Swinin' is in E Major 🤦♂️
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SOURCES
The inciting article: pagesix.com/2018/02/12/did-mi...
The Quincy Interview:
www.vulture.com/2018/02/quinc...
TOPICS COVERED
MIchael Jackson
Off The Wall
Workin Day and Night
Rick James
Mary Jane
Mashup
Remix
Billie Jean
Thriller
Bill Withers
Use Me
Bass Guitar
Double Bass
E minor
Funk Music
Soul
Music History
Classical Music
Beethoven
Domenico Dragonetti
Fender
Jazz
Monk Montgomery
Quincy Jones
Пікірлер: 736
Be sure to check out www.lalal.ai/, a next-generation music source separation service for fast, easy and precise stem extraction. Remove vocal, instrumental, drums, bass, guitar, synthesizer, wind and string instruments, and piano tracks without quality loss.
@thornyback
Жыл бұрын
Everyone calls him Superfreak... along with his tagline "Cocaine's a hell of a drug"
@DuragsTuRiches
Жыл бұрын
Your videos are maad dope keep up the great work
@EricBishard
Жыл бұрын
I mean I get, this information he puts out is just too high quality, to get 1 mil subs you need to make cheesy content. Let's just be happy knowing we know a secret
@MetaphysicalMusician
Жыл бұрын
Emin -A7 = E Dorian
@MetaphysicalMusician
Жыл бұрын
And every one Steals from Everyone we are musicians that's what we do 🤣Paganini Stole from Bach
With the bass being the backbone for most of the songs, I believe it is due to the open E string being easiest to slap.
@RightStickRob
Жыл бұрын
100%
@joetheegohunter
Жыл бұрын
yea its lowest.. also to levarage hammer ons and pull offs
@KyleKalevra
Жыл бұрын
And the same bassist playing on almost every Motown song from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
@mississippijohnfahey7175
Жыл бұрын
It's also super comfortable to play in E minor on keyboards which are pretty much as ubiquitous as bass guitar in funk
@alfberger3150
Жыл бұрын
And the deepest note on a 4 string with standard tuning, in a lot of metal and electronic music there's a lot of focus on making songs in the keys with the deepest bass
That workin day and night/mary jane mix is butter
@ICanWriteLeftHanded
Жыл бұрын
the BIll Withers one is heat too!
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
@stereo-soulsoundsystem5070
Жыл бұрын
Its work.Workin.WORKIN fam good work
@Miguelrockwell
Жыл бұрын
Yeah I’m doing the Bill Withers one with Serato Stems for sure tonight at my DJ gig. That ish was funky.
dude the fact you don't have a million subs yet is insane. your videos are so professional, fun and informative yet it never feels pretentious or snobby, just pure music facts. and the mashups!
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
@danielasbjrnsson7500
Жыл бұрын
I second this!
@jakw
Жыл бұрын
Third!
@goldendragon7853
Жыл бұрын
@@diggingthegreats yea man my favorite channel for learning about the different colors of music. Really beautiful stuff man!!
@MrKez666
Жыл бұрын
fourthed. it's definitely picking up steam!
You are the music teacher we all wanted in high school.
How tf you putting out so much well produced genius content? I swear you're some kind of plant with a huge team behind you or something 😅
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
I wish! It would make my life a whole lot easier haha
@nobodynothing6551
Жыл бұрын
Nah he's just a bamf
@kristenmlondon
Жыл бұрын
I swear I thought this was something one of the majors was putting out. It's TOO GOOD.
@t.c.o.g.773
Жыл бұрын
DR. SIRI😆
@keisi1574
Жыл бұрын
@@diggingthegreats Which one of your team wrote that response?!? Ha
That Mary Jane/Use Me mash up was 🔥 AF!!!
@fayettenampeach
Жыл бұрын
Yea that was smooth!!
The only song that inspired Billie Jean was I Can't Go for That by Hall & Oates according to Michael himself. He listen the song endlessly and found a way to make a new groove out of it. He even told that to Daryl Hall during the we are the world recording.
@rofea
Жыл бұрын
That’s what I thought
@marlonkemp5627
Жыл бұрын
Carreberian Queen Billy Ocean Not To Be Confused With Billie Jean Michael Jackson!
@elnorey
Жыл бұрын
Michael never said it himself. Daryl could’ve made it up
@hipowa909
Жыл бұрын
It was actually a song by donna summer called state of the union or something like that.
@stuatagovailoa7536
Жыл бұрын
@@elnorey have you listened to ‘I can’t go for that’ ? Because it has a very similar sound to Billie Jean
I love you using your bass playing as a framing device within these comparisons. It really does a great job of driving your ideas home about the chord progressions being used, all the while adding more of yourself into the content, thus giving yourself a stronger identity as you dissect the songs in an efficient manner.
I’ve been on KZread for like, twenty years. This is theFIRST channel that’s held my interest, challenged my music history education (in a good way - nobody EVER told me about Beethoven and the classical bass evolution), AND got me all geeked about the sponsor! Incredible.
You make making music sound so simple, yet its so HARD. Thank you for allowing us mortals to understand the complexity of music.
@OdaKa
Жыл бұрын
@@darrellmfume4020 it's both..
@OdaKa
Жыл бұрын
Just make bad music. That's pretty easy. heh.
@godjhaka7376
Жыл бұрын
It's all how your brain perceives. Music or anything is hard for some, very easy to understand for others.
@godjhaka7376
Жыл бұрын
@@OdaKacash me outside girl got more views and subscribers and can't speak proper english
@mississippijohnfahey7175
Жыл бұрын
It's not that it's that hard, but maybe you are expecting too much from yourself too soon
Great video as always! I’m a fan of MJ’s work and I’m a fan of Quincy’s work, especially his work with MJ. Q is an undeniable legend of course. But the last several years Q’s been throwing a lot of dirt on MJ’s name and legacy. This would be foul even if MJ were alive to defend himself and it’s even more foul sense he’s not.
@charlie-obrien
Жыл бұрын
But it made us pay attention to Q again, Right? I think the mystery is solved.
@Mike-ow4ot
Жыл бұрын
Quincy lacks class. Huge musical talent, but a trash human being.
The bass line on the song "thriller" is inspired by Rick james' "give it to me baby".
@Silly81
Жыл бұрын
True, I hear that also, and (plot twist) Rick accused Quincy Jones of stealing the bass line for Thriller.
@keithroberts4952
Жыл бұрын
@@Silly81 let's just say Rick was not in a good mood during those days. He ranted about Prince to anyone who would listen, complained about not being played on MTV (he had a point actually) complained some more about Prince and so on and so forth.
The reason why most funk is written in E minor is because the BASS guitar's lowest note at the time was E. At times, like I do, a player might tune down to E flat or D for a deeper tone.
@bustabass9025
Жыл бұрын
Or grab a five string tuned to low B, which for me is the better move. Not only do you get those five notes below low E but it also gives you greater range across the fretboard. This helps minimize a lot of shifting positions to play octaves and double octaves.
@dethbolt000
Жыл бұрын
@@bustabass9025 I'm a guitarist and a bassist. I am an aggressive rocker and funker. My hands are large and I play a five for less intricate baselines, but prefer a 4 detuned because the space between strings makes more feasible for pop -slapping.
You are becoming one of my favourite music KZreadrs. I’m currently getting into hip-hop and funk/soul, as well as dabbling with production and sampling, and your channel really accelerates my acquisition of love for & knowledge of these things. Your videos are so informative and easy to follow, yet filled with so much fun and love for music. Thank you for another great video, you deserve far more views and subscribers!
Rod Temperton composed Thriller and it‘s inspired by “Heartbreak Hotel“ a song Michael previously wrote and recorded. It’s on the Jackson‘s Triumph album, That’s mostly where everything came from (from the theme to the music)
@Prospect_
Жыл бұрын
The baseline of Thriller is heartbreak hotels baseline sped up
@JULIANSBEATS
Жыл бұрын
The Thriller baseline is mostly the baseline from Rick James Give it 2 Me.
@weefy117
Жыл бұрын
I can see that, but dude you can't tell me that they didn't hear Give it to Me Baby's bass line and weren't atleast inspired by it lmao. I'm a massive MJ fan, but come on now
I have to say, the homework done here is top notch. It is one of those things I've always kind of suspected and felt like I knew, but I've never been able to put it all together and connect all the thoughts. Nicely done
“Good artists copy, Great artists steal” Picasso. Everyone gets inspired by something the great ones take that and make it so good you think they were the one who did it first. Good stuff as always. As a bass noob keep dropping that knowledge.
@wwddwi2183
Жыл бұрын
Yeah that’s a hack, not artists or creatives. The great ones make the song theirs through the creative effort. Skill, talent, emotive response to the challenge of making it theirs. The greats don’t copy or steal. Because they always cite their influential heroes. For without those influences what would we the artists be? My apologies, I keep seeing that statement.✌🏿🔆👍🏿 Bass noob as well😂
@OdaKa
Жыл бұрын
@@wwddwi2183 what are you talking about? I get what you're saying, but it doesn't make the original quote invalid. All that stuff is implied within the original quote by those who understand it.
That Use Me/Mary Jane mash up was thicker than cold grits!
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
😂😂
I really love how you always tie the end of one of your videos to the beginning of another one. It's kinda like a "cinematic universe-esque touch" but with videos? I don't know how to describe it, but it's cool! You're so cool, man 😉
That Mary Jane / Use Me mash up is absolutely 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯😭😭
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
PLEASE release the working day and night and Mary Jane Mashup in full with you on bass. That sounded killer🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hey man I'm an Irish bassist who just recently discovered your channel and I absolutely love it! All the artists/genres you do videos on are ones I've really gotten into over the last few months so finding out about your channel has made listening to this type of music all the more enjoyable. Keep doing what you're doing my guy :D
Your explanation of the double bass was spot on, so many people get the roots of the instrument wrong but you got it!
I like your video so much! I like that there are always fun facts, a story with a good structure, and a summary. All of that makes a video both entertaining and educational.
*It should be noted that many popular songs were composed on the guitar, and like the four strings on the bass, the bottom four strings on the guitar are tuned E, A, D, & G. So whether a song was written on guitar or bass, the same keys that are easy and convenient on one would also apply to the other. And as the bass and especially the guitar are both very popular instruments, many popular songs are written in keys that are easy and convenient on both.*
@reswofford
Жыл бұрын
The same idea allbeit somewhat less applies to Jazz music which favors keys simple for horn players Bb, F, Eb, Ab while bass and guitar are simpler to play in E, A, D, G.
@hannuback
Жыл бұрын
I write a lot of stuff in E minor just because there are a lot of good open harmonies etc. It's just what guitar is as an instrument. Suits my vocal range well too!
@mcgritty8842
Жыл бұрын
Same with electronic music. It all kinda works around the range of the bass/sub
@mississippijohnfahey7175
Жыл бұрын
It's also super comfy and fun to play Em on keyboard. People think funk is all bass guitar but synths and keyboards were just as common, often playing the bassline
@Kreln1221
Жыл бұрын
@@mississippijohnfahey7175 A Minor is even easier on keys, as it's the relative minor of C Major, so it's all the white keys, with no sharps or flats...
Man I just discovered your channel and I’ve been binge watching all of your videos. Extremely thought out and digestible scripts about music history. You’re my new favorite channel.
I’ve heard the story that Billie Jean is basically Say No Go by Hall & Oates for the last ten years. Michael was one for inspiration to say the most. Big edit: correction- I Can’t Go For That, it’s obvious that De La Soul is on my mind 😅
@LogicalNiko
Жыл бұрын
Daryl Hall indicated several times that Michael approached him during the We Are The World Sessions and indicated the main intro and groove inspiration from “I can’t go for that” and he just swapped the order a bit. Daryl of course thought that was a great honor but didn’t see it. Although it’s not that uncommon for artists l, or Michael specifically. A lot of Michael’s works show he was paying attention to multiple genes of music both in and outside pop music. He did the same thing with choreography and stage production. It’s really the composition of various inspirations that was unique.
The quality of the info, explanation and illustration in your videos gives me funk face. Your videos are STANKY good!
This channel covers the absolute creme-de-la-creme of music. Me and some friends used to run a funk and hip-hop night back in the late00s/early 10s that focused on that magical sweet spot between funk and hip-hop and watching these vids just takes me back to those days when we'd be digging through records or one of us would find a sample that popped up in a song (WhoSampled wasn't as much of a thing then although it is very useful too). Keep making these vids, you're style/delivery is really warm and engaging and your taste in music is dynamite.
This video deserves an award. Assuming it can all peer reviewed, your presentation is both entertaining, creative and educational. Very well executed or at least I enjoyed it!
No Doubt's "Hella Good" also kicks off with that beat.
Bruno Mars' "Calling All My Lovelies" sounds similar to Mary Jane.
This is gold. We need those full mash-up’s in mp3!
Thank you so much for spreading all this knowledge on funk and soul and all the groove! Such wonderful music the world needs more of, we're savoring every second 👀
More specifically...funk songs are in the key of E *dorian* minor. That Em-A7 repeating chord is a classic i-IV dorian vamp.
Dude, these mashups you are doing are"cold blooded". 👍 Keep the FUNK alive.
Brilliant video after brilliant video. Brother the content you are consistently putting out is just pure gold.
This is possibly my favorite KZread video of all time! Being a bass player whose favorite genre is funk, you really gave a great history listen here. Keep up the good and informative work!!!!
all of this content is so so valuable you have no idea, im goin to class everytime I watch one of your videos lets gooooooooo keep it up youre a very good communicator congrats
Nifty bass playing, great concepts and you're clearly both having fun and a fan of the stuff you're covering. Dig it a lot, great work!
This man just took me to school and it was fun. I don't know anything about keys or chords or writing/reading music...but this guy had me for every second of this video. I'll be surfing his channel fa sho!
Your breakdowns are awesome , love the details
Thank you! Love your videos and bass playing! 🔥🔥🔥
Love the channel, love this episode, love the history involved 👏🏾
Thanks for your all of your hard work 🤘🏾
Such a great personality! Love your vids
DAMN. THOSE. MASH-UPS. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏🙏
Dude keep up the great vids! 🔥and thanks for the spotify listening guide
I love you, never stop uploading
Love this channel man!
Each new video from you is outstanding/ on 🔥🔥🔥, longing for your next one, all the time.
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏 thank you
Your music history expertise never fails to vow me away
Just discovered your channel-as a music teacher, I appreciate how you can break down music concepts for literally ANYONE-you have quite a gift, besides the fact that you’re a dope bassist!
Ran across your videos and they are jewels, very informative, and entertaining. Thanks for the subject and history lessons. Awesome Dude❤🌹🌹🔥🔥🔥
Love the content. These videos are great.
Incredible work as always. The love of the music pours through in each video!
That Mary Jane Use Me mashup is phenomenal
I could listen to you for hours straight! 🤓 Very Nice job!!
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
Keep up the great work. Another dope vid.
Such a great video! Thanks for the great content!
I was a music major back in the day and still am a musician at heart. I have all the albums you cite. Yes, albums. I enjoyed the music history lesson. Well done! I subscribed and will spread the word about your channel.
Your content is phenomenal 👏🏽
Brilliant video 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Much, much respect.
Came for video stayed for your bass playing. Groovy AF 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
You are an excellent storyteller You will expand into world wide documentaries/films based on anything you choose to teach Congratulations
Your bass playing is excellent. You got the groove my brotha!
Great video! This fills in the blanks about my own beats and why, when sampling, I always seem to gravitate towards E
You deserve wayyyyy more subs than this, the quality is unmatched. Routing for you bro!
My brother, this was a MASTER CLASS on eminor. Wow! As a producer who interpolates a lot of sample material, I constantly have come across eminor and supposed that I personally had an attraction to it, but you just put the nail on the head with this one! It has a historical and practical reason to be in some of the best songs ever made! I'm excited to compose my first song intentionally in eminor to A7 just for this reason and see how it sounds! Never stop doing what you're doing! I don't think theres anyone else who lays down as good as you!
The truth is Michael came up to Rick in a club about street songs. Mike like how Lanise kept a hard heartbeat like groove without all the fills
Very, very well done! Great job. I love your content.
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
Bro thanks for that musical history. Very good. Very important. Love it.
Awesome work man. Absolutely loving your content ❤
I really love how you make a living off of learning about music and teaching us. Me my friends and my dad enjoy ur videos
This was a fantastic history lesson, even as a bassist I didn't know all this stuff. Thanks for the great video!
Those mashups though. I can listen to that all day. You have made me a huge fan.
Rick James had said in the liner notes for the CD compilation, "Rick James Bustin' Out", that Quincy Jones approached him and told Rick that he used part of Give It To Me Baby for the title cut of Mike's Thriller album. Which actually makes sense.
Wow! I never knew that was the history of how the bass came into being. Always learning something new here. And yeah, that Em-A7 progression is all over the place. A lot of Philly Soul songs used it as well ("You Got What I Need" - Teddy Pendergrass, "Love is the Message" and "TSOP" - MFSB, and more).
Very informative! Thank you. Subscribed!
Great video and info - thanks!
Dope channel. Music history is important. Keep putting out content!
The first 30 seconds of "One Nation Under A Groove" is another of many examples of that Em- A7 progression, and it was also released in 1978. Given Michael's proximity to Rick James though, the Mary Jane theory is likely more plausable.
Bruh! This if freaking awesome! Thank U.
Informative and entertaining. Thank you.
Great Videos! Amazing channel.
Dang, bro - super funky playing there, very tasty - subbed.
Holy shit, that Mary Jane/Use Me mashup is fucking incredible
Holy shit! That was art! New sub 🤘
Thanks for this video I learned a lot!
Elucidating. Keep up the good job I love it.
I like your versions too 😍
Love your content ❤
what a great history video. im very educated on a lot of this stuff but I had to sit back and take in new info here lol. great shit
WOOOOO! keep it up bro... An upload or 2 a day would be great 🤣😅 loving the content
@diggingthegreats
Жыл бұрын
Haha! If only I could!
I just discovered this channel. This stuff is fantastic!
That Bill Withers x Rick James mashup was nastyyyyy 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
As a bassist that has played both double and electric bass in an orchestra I'm glad you covered all this. Keep up the great work!
a really great video ! subscribed :)
Interesting ! very dope videos ! thank you