5 Incredible Funk Piano Runs
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Ready to add some serious funk flavor to your playing? 😎
In today’s lesson, we’re diving into five of my all-time favorite funk runs—the kind that instantly make your playing sound hip, soulful, and full of personality.
The best part? These runs work for just about any level. Whether you’re a beginner getting comfortable with licks or a seasoned player looking for fresh ideas, there’s something here you can start using right away.
Here’s a quick taste of what you’ll learn in this lesson:
- Run 1: A super versatile line using the C blues scale—great over the classic Cm7 → F7 funk progression.
- Run 2: A jazzy, bebop-style run with a cool twirly turn and chromatic flavor.
- Run 3: A funky lick with slides, rolls, and bluesy harmony that really pops.
- Run 4: A fast, energetic pattern using the C Dorian scale built in repeating fourths (awesome for building speed).
- Run 5: A super fun run built around harmonized turns and that signature gospel connector sound.
So grab your keyboard, hit play, and let’s add some funk to your toolkit. 🎶
Have fun with it—and don’t be afraid to experiment and make these runs your own!
Writer
Jonny May
Jonathan May is a pianist from Southern California who specializes in many styles of piano. At age eighteen, Jonny became the youngest pianist to perform at Disneyland. Each week he entertained thousands of guests with his arrangements of American classics and Disney songs. Jonny has also performed with the Youtube...
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