The most successful group of studio musicians!
Motown’s house band didn’t have an official name. Most of the time, they weren’t even credited to the albums.
When they performed with their bandleader, they went under the name Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers. Apparently, Berry Gordy didn’t like the name Funk.
Made up of a core of fifteen studio musicians, they played on more #1 hits than The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys, put together!
The Funk Brothers were active between 1959 and 1972 when Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles.
Perhaps the greatest musician in the Funk Brothers was their bass player James Jamerson. His intricate bass lines are incredible melodies, often more elaborate than the vocal melody.
A great example of Jamerson’s genius can be found in his Ain’t No Mountain High Enough bass line.
I’ve recorded six of their songs, making them the most covered band on Spytunes!
The 2002 documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown was the first time they got any real recognition. It’s a great insight into the brutal life of being a musician in the ’60s.
For example, their farewell gift in 1972 came in the form of a note on the door simply stating “No work today”.
The Funk Brothers Tunes | Related Pages
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
You can learn how to play (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher by Jackie Wilson using chords, lyrics, and the original recording.
| D | G/D | Em/D | D |
Your love, lifting me higher, than I’ve ever been lifted before…
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
You can learn how to play Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye using chords, chord analysis, lyrics, and the original recording.
| Bm7/A | G#m7b5 | Gmaj7 | Em9 |
Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough, baby…
Baby Love
You can learn how to play Baby Love by The Supremes using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| C | C7/Bb | A7 | Dm |
Baby love, my baby love, I need you, oh how I need you…
Band Of Gold
You can learn how to play Band Of Gold by Freda Payne using chords, chord analysis, lyrics, and the original recording.
| G | G | D/F# |
Now that you’re gone, all that’s left is a band of gold…
Can I Get A Witness
You can learn how to play Can I Get A Witness by Marvin Gaye using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Eb Ab | Db Ab | Eb Ab | Db Ab |
Ah listen, everybody, especially you girls…
Dancing In The Street
You can learn how to play Dancing In The Street by Martha and the Vandellas using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| E7 | E7 (D/E) | E7 | E7 (D/E) |
Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat…
Get Ready
You can learn how to play Get Ready by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F5 | Bb | G5 | C |
And I’m bringing you a love that’s true so get ready, so get ready…
Heat Wave
You can learn how to play Heat Wave by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| Eb N.C (Bb C Bb G) | Fm (Gbm) | Gm (Bm) | Cm (Bm) | Cm |
Whenever I’m with him, (oh, oh, oh, oh) something inside (inside)…
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Learn how to play How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by Marvin Gaye (and James Taylor) using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recordings.
| F | Dm7 G7 | C C6 | C (C7) |
How sweet it is to be loved by you, yes baby, oh, oh, oh, oh…
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
You can learn how to play I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) by The Four Tops using chords, lyrics, and the original recording.
| C | C | G | G |
Oh, sugar pie, honey bunch, you know that I love you…
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Learn how to play I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and video guitar lessons.
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab6 Ab |
I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew, ’bout your plans to make me blue…
Jimmy Mack
You can learn how to play Jimmy Mack by Martha and The Vandellas using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Ebm | Gbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Gb |
Jimmy Mack, Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy Mack, when are you comin’ back…
My Girl
You can learn how to play My Girl by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| C | F | C | F |
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…
My Guy
You can learn how to play My Guy by Mary Wells using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 |
Nothing you could say could tear me away from my guy…
Reach Out I’ll Be There
You can learn how to play Reach Out I’ll Be There by the Four Tops using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db | Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db |
Now if you feel that you can’t go on, because all of your hope is gone…
You Can’t Hurry Love
You can learn how to play You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Bb | Bb | Eb Bb | Bb |
I need love, love, to ease my mind…
You’re All I Need To Get By
You can learn how to play You’re All I Need To Get By by Marvin Gaye (and Tammi Terrell) using chords, lyrics, and the original recording.
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Like sweet morning dew, I took one look at you…
The Funk Brothers on the web
Artists & Bands
Behind every single tune you learn, there’s an artist or band with an entire catalogue of music, waiting to be discovered.
Find out more about these great Artists & Bands, and let their tunes guide you to success.
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was an article about The Funk Brothers’ tunes, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
