How to approximate a funk guitar strumming pattern with a synth?

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1

Hey guys…
I’m trying to make a cover of a track that has a leading bass that spans both speakers, a repetitive banjo on the left one, and a funky guitar strumming pattern on the right speaker…
But I have no idea how to approximate the funky “strumming” part for the guitar in Sonic Pi… Preferably with a synth rather than a sample… Is it even possible?
Just very general directions would be very helpful!
I hope this question makes sense…
Cheers!

2

Do you happen to have a link to an audio or video example by any chance?

3

No! :laughing: :grin:

All jokes aside, I’d like to keep the title for the track a secret until I post it here, because it’s quite different… Much more “traditional” than what is made with Sonic Pi in the videos I watch.

But as soon a I get home, I’ll try to find a track that has a similar pattern to the one I’m trying to approximate, and I’ll post it here!
It’s what is called “cocottes funk” in french.
Thanks!

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4

Hey Ethan…
This guy does something rather similar to what I’m looking for, at 1’10"…
I imagine this would translate into a particular way of arranging sleeps and releases, but I don’t know how…

5

Using Sonic Pi’s current synths, getting something together that sounds like a real funky guitar could be quite challenging. Anything’s possible I suppose, layering enough basic synths together and messing about with filter cutoffs and volume envelopes etc - but it could get quite fiddly!

Here’s a hastily slapped together and un-optimised script that attempts to copy the strumming from that video, without bothering to try to get the timbre exactly right :wink: - but hopefully it gives you a vague idea. (I’m sure there are much better sounds achievable with a bit more time and experimentation!)

Maybe other folks might have some great suggestions too :crossed_fingers: :slightly_smiling_face:

use_bpm 100

live_loop :met do
  sleep 1
end

use_synth_defaults release: 0.75
use_synth :fm
live_loop :one, sync: :met do
  with_fx :distortion, distort: 0.8, amp: 0.5, mix: 0.4 do
    play note: :d5
    sleep 0.75
    play note: :e5
    sleep 0.75
    play note: :d5
    sleep 0.5
    play note: :e5, sustain: 0.125, release: 0.25
    sleep 2
    play note: :fs5
    sleep 0.75
    play note: :e5
    sleep 0.75
    play note: :d5
    sleep 0.5
    play note: :e5, sustain: 0.125, release: 0.25
    sleep 2
  end
end

live_loop :two, sync: :met do
  with_fx :hpf, cutoff: 80, res: 0.9, amp: 1.5 do
    with_fx :distortion, distort: 0.8, amp: 0.5, mix: 0.4 do
      sleep 0.25
      5.times do
        sleep 0.25
        
        play note: :b5, sustain: 0, release: 0.015625
      end
      sleep 2.5
    end
  end
end
6

Excellent, thank you!
I’ll study it this evening…

7
2 Likes
8

Oh wow! So well done!
And it’s nice to know the names of the tiny phases…
With this and Ethan’s script, I think I can try it on my own now…
Thanks guys! :slight_smile:

1 Like