Chic-Era Disco Funk drum pattern
A two-bar late-70s disco-funk groove: four-on-the-floor kick, 16th hats that open on every and and close with the foot on each beat, a crisp backbeat and a ghost pickup into the top. Press Play to hear it with a sampled drum kit at 116 BPM, change the tempo or swing, and follow every hit on the grid.
How to count the Chic-Era Disco Funk
Count it as: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a · two bars. The pattern is a 2-bar phrase in 4/4 (two-bar straight 16th-note disco-funk pocket).
The Chic-Era Disco Funk pattern, hit by hit
Each character is one step of the grid and each group is one beat. X is an accented hit, x a normal hit, o a quiet or ghost note and - a rest.
| Voice | Bar 1 | Bar 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Kick | X--- X--- X--- X--- | X--- X--- X--- X--- |
| Snare | ---- X--- ---- X--- | ---- X--- ---- X--- |
| Ghost snare | ---- ---- ---- ---- | ---- ---- ---- ---o |
| Closed hat | xo-o xo-o xo-o xo-o | xo-o xo-o xo-o xo-o |
| Open hat | --x- --x- --x- --x- | --x- --x- --x- --x- |
| Pedal hat | o--- o--- o--- o--- | o--- o--- o--- o--- |
Tempo and feel
Sleek and driving. The kick is even, the open hats breathe on the ands, and the foot snaps each one shut exactly on the beat. The default tempo is 116 BPM. Slow it down until every hit is controlled, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time.
How to practise the Chic-Era Disco Funk
Play four even kicks and the hi-hat foot together on every beat. Add the 16th hats and open only the ands. Bring in the backbeat without letting the kick get louder on 2 and 4.
Variations to try next
Keep all the hats closed for a tighter verse. Drop the kick on beat 1 of bar two for a breakdown. Open the hat on the a of each beat instead of the and.
Where to hear this feel
Records in this family include Chic - Le Freak, Sister Sledge - We Are Family and Chic - Everybody Dance. This is a style study written for practice, not a transcription of any one recording.