🎸 The 4 C’s: 4 Funk Tunes That Will LEVEL UP Your Guitar Scale Usage

If you’ve been playing guitar for a while and want to level up your groove, soloing, and improvisation chops the 4 C’s are a must-learn set of tunes.

Funny enough, I didn’t hear the term “4 C’s” until I came to Japan. But I already knew the tunes and chances are, you do too. These funk and fusion classics are essential listening and playing material for any guitarist who wants to jam, groove, and grow.

Let’s dive in.

🎶 What Are the 4 C’s?

They’re four iconic tunes that all start with the letter C:

Cissy Strut – The Meters

Chameleon – Herbie Hancock

Cantaloupe Island – Herbie Hancock

The Chicken – Made famous by Jaco Pastorius

These tunes are simple, groovy, and incredibly fun to play perfect for learning how to solo, comp, and connect with a band.

🧠 Why Learn the 4 C’s?

If you're serious about soloing and improvisation, these tunes will teach you so much:

• How to lock in a groove

• How to build solos around simple funk or modal harmony

• How to interact rhythmically with a band

  
  

They’re not overly complex — which is exactly why they’re so valuable. They give you space to stretch out and focus on feel, not just flash.

🎯 How to Learn the 4 C’s (The Right Way)

Here’s how I recommend tackling these songs:

1. Learn and Memorize the Melody and Chords

A lot of people skip straight to soloing — but trust me, if you don’t know the chords and melody, you’re missing the soul of the tune.

• Start by internalizing the chord progression

• Then memorize the melody — even sing it if you can

  
  

  This gives you a strong foundation to build your solos from

2. Learn the scales to use over these tunes (and when you should use them)

Once you’ve got the chords and melody under your fingers, you’ll probably ask: what scale do I use to solo?

That’s a great question — but here’s the deal:

Knowing the scale is just the beginning. The real magic comes when you use that scale musically, drawing from the melody and internal groove of the tune.

Too often, players memorize a scale and start running it mindlessly. Instead:

• Use the melody as a reference point when soloing

• Create phrases that reflect the song’s vibe, not just the scale

• Experiment with rhythmic ideas and motifs that tie into the groove

When you approach it this way, your solos sound more like music — not just practice.

Going all out with scales

The great thing about these tunes is you can sound super cool just by keeping things simple, however you can sound GODLY by whipping out some more tension filled scales. I recommend working through scales in three levels — from basic to spicy🌶️:

Level 1:

Minor Pentatonic & Major Pentatonic

These are your foundation. You can already make great music with just these two.

Level 2:

Mixolydian & Dorian

These add more color and are perfect for funk and modal tunes like Chameleon and Cantaloupe Island.

Level 3:

Altered, Lydian Dominant, & Diminished

These are your “hot sauce” scales. Great for adding tension and advanced color — especially in tunes like The Chicken.

🎯 My advice? Master Levels 1 and 2 first. Then slowly explore Level 3 within the context of the tunes. Knowing when and how to use each one gives you real musical control.

🔁 Final Thoughts

Mastering the 4 C’s might seem basic — but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make if you're serious about growing as a guitarist.

Whether you’re just starting out or you've been playing for years, these tunes and scales offer endless lessons in groove, feel, and musicality.

👉 Want help learning these tunes?

I offer one-on-one and group guitar lessons here in Tokyo (Takadanobaba), in both English and Japanese. Whether you’re into funk, jazz, anime songs, or anything in between — I’ll help you become the guitarist you want to be.

👉Check my availability here to book a free trial lesson!