Daily Beat #7: Funk on the One
Funk on the One was the Daily Beat for 2 October 2026: a two-bar Funk drum groove at 98 BPM, rebuilt by ear on a kick, snare and hi-hat grid. The grid itself is not shown here, so the puzzle is still worth playing.
What to listen for
Everything comes back to beat 1. In between, the kick won’t sit still, and one snare is barely there. Tight and low. The ghost notes decorate the backbeat rather than compete with it; the one on the a of 3 speaks a little more to lead into beat 4. Find the snare first, then place the kick around it and count the hi-hat last.
Where to hear this feel
Records in this family include James Brown – Sex Machine and The Meters – Cissy Strut (in this family). They are listening suggestions for the feel, not transcriptions.
Practise the full groove
The Funky Syncopation page has the full library version of this feel: how to count it, how to practise it and a play-along at any tempo. Or set the metronome to 98 BPM and play along with the groove.
Play today’s Daily Beat
A new two-bar drum groove arrives at midnight your time. Listen, rebuild it on the kick, snare and hi-hat grid, and check your guess. You have five guesses, and a hint about the feel unlocks after three.