Compared to funk's predecessor, the soul music of 1960s, funk typically uses more complex rhythms, while song structures are usually simpler. Often, the structure of a funk song consists of just one or two riffs. Sometimes the point at which one riff changes to another becomes the highlight of a song.

The soul dance music of its day, the basic idea of funk was to create as intense a groove as possible.

One of the most distinctive features of funk music is the role played by bass guitar. Before soul music, bass was rarely prominent in popular music. Players like the legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson brought bass to the forefront, and funk built on that foundation, with melodic basslines often being the centerpiece of songs. Notable funk bassists include Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham of Sly & the Family Stone. Graham is often credited with inventing the percussive "slap bass technique," which was further developed by later bassists and became a distictive element of funk.

Bands at Jagz that play Funk;

Aiwa
Anita Kelsey
Barflyz
Cantaloop
Dallas Meteors
Fickle Milk
Five 2 the Floor
Freefall
Funkline
Groove Cartel
Groove Connection
Groove Diggers
Grooveology
Harambe
Jacquoda - Cancelled
Jam Van 5
Jamie Howell Band
Janet Gabriel
JP Collective
Kaldera
Light of the World
MamaYo
Million Dollar Men
Mimosa
N'Tomous
Protect the Beat
Rapid City
Real
Solskala
Supafly
The Bag Ladies
The Blunter Brothers
The Common Moral Cause
The Fever 45's
The Upfront Band
Tonic
Tony Smith