Microtiming in early funk: a microrhythmic analysis of fourteen influential funk grooves

Beginning with “Cold Sweat” by James Brown, which is arguably the first funk track, this article focuses on the microrhythmic analyses of fourteen influential early funk grooves from the period 1967–1974. All the tracks under scrutiny were created without the use of click tracks, and many were recorded live in the studio, meaning that the determination of microtiming deviations was not straightforward. For this reason, methodologies used for note onset detection, the creation of rhythmic reference grids, and the calculation of microtiming deviations are summarised. These analyses have resulted in an empirical database of over one thousand microtiming deviations. Clear, systematic patterns of microtiming were observed, original and quantifiable data that justified many of the theories previously suggested and discussed in the literature was found, and new information regarding microtiming deviations and patterns was revealed. Sixteenth note swing rhythms were found to be an element of every track investigated (bar one, which was recorded with a drum machine with a straight feel). The degrees of swing varied from imperceptible thorough to overt funk shuffles. Evidence of backbeat delay (the slightly late articulation of beats two and four) was found to be limited. Unless specific musical instructions were being provided by lead vocalists, rhythmic elements of the tracks investigated were not perturbed by vocals. Novel findings were made demonstrating that structural aspects of musical arrangements may be highlighted microrhythmically.