To write in this style, I need to research multiple different elements of funk metal and learn how to demonstrate some in my work.
Syncopation
I found a detailed article by Harry Levin which explains what syncopation is, why it matters and offers a demonstration of how syncopation is used. Syncopation is a key part of how groove is created in funk and this research can be applied to the composition of this song.
The definition of syncopation would be emphasis on off-beats, or beats that aren’t part of the standard rhythm. An example of this would be as presented in the below video:
This is a simple example of syncopation. Patterns could become much more complex with quaver and semiquaver note values and applying melodies to those notes.
With drums, syncopation is seen very often to drive a beat in a particular way, whether it be emphasis on the ending of the bar or phrase or the start. Some examples of simple syncopation in drums are below:
In relation to time signatures, the standard beats of emphasis would be 1 and 3 in 4/4. If you were to syncopate this beat, you could put emphasis on beat 2 and 4 or on beats in-between each standard beat.
Funk Bass
Bass in metal is vastly different to how bass is heard in funk.
In metal, bass is used to make music feel heavy and layer with guitar to create more texture. Funk is a very heavy bass genre, It’s used repetitively to carry a song’s groove caused by syncopation between bass and drums. Slap and pop are used often to add a percussive element to it.
The cross-over between funk and metal allows bass to be the low end support as well as the main carrier of the groove, using distorted tones, sections of complexity and simplicity when needed. Simplicity could be needed when layering multiple guitar parts that overpower the bass in volume, but in spots where bass can be featured, like being alongside drums and a simple guitar part, funk techniques like slap and pop could be used to make each note impactful in a more complex pattern or melody.
Genre Origin
Funk metal first surfaced in the mid 80s, most notably in the west coast of the US. Stylistically, funk metal has origins in genres like funk rock and thrash metal. The two combine to emphasise groovy, impactful bass, high energy and impact drums and distorted guitar tones.
It’s parent genres, funk and metal, had vastly different origins.
Metal branched off wildly after the 70s.
Classic metal was categorised simply as ‘harder than hard rock’ in the late 60s leading into the early 70s, which was decided to be due to more distorted tones, dark lyrical themes and fast tempo.
Funk has roots in soul and jazz. Early funk was categorised by syncopation, slap bass and synth-y keys. It largely relied on technical skill and complex rhythmic ideas. Later on, funk became more ‘raw’ as it was more about feel and danceability than previously.
Information sourced from:
https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/funk-metal
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FunkMetal
https://musicmap.info/