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Music genre

Funk

Funk is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music. Explore its 11 subgenres, key artists and related styles.

Listen: Funk examples

Got Funk (ISRC USUAN1200005)
4:41CC BY 3.0by Kevin MacLeodWikimedia Commons
4:41
Jazz Funk no1 (accompagnement)
1:23CC BY-SA 4.0by Claude ReidWikimedia Commons
1:23
C-Funk (ISRC USUAN1100001)
2:50CC BY 3.0by Kevin MacLeodWikimedia Commons
2:50

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About Funk

Funk is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music.

Well-known performers associated with it include Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Prince, Eddie Murphy and Alla Pugacheva.

Funk has given rise to 11 subgenres on this site, such as G-funk, Jazz-funk, Go-go and Psychedelic funk.

From Wikipedia

Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the mid-20th century. It deemphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bassline played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music. Funk typically consists of a complex percussive groove with rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves that create a "hypnotic" and "danceable" feel. Early funk, specifically James Brown, fused jazz and blues, and added a syncopated drum groove.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Funk.

Key artists

  • Michael Jackson
  • Aretha Franklin
  • Tina Turner
  • Prince
  • Eddie Murphy
  • Alla Pugacheva
  • George Michael
  • James Brown
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Snoop Dogg

Related genres

Questions people ask

Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.

Frequently asked questions

What is Funk?

Funk is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music.

Where and when did Funk originate?

Funk originated in United States in the 1960s.

Who are famous Funk artists?

Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Prince, Eddie Murphy and Alla Pugacheva.

Sources & credits