Funk
Funk is a branch of rock and blues that is primarily concerned with rhythm, particularly unexpected accents or other rhythms that break from simple norms but still find a discernible groove. The genre itself is primarily pop/dance-oriented; however, its elements spill over into almost every type of rock, which is why it is important to understand it. It has a very prominent role in Djent.
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Rhythmic Focus
Funk has a rhythmic focus over harmony. Even melody is subordinate to rhythm. Many instruments are played in a percussive manner, even if they are primarily used for harmony. For example, guitar tends to have lots of muted strums vs. actual chords in funk. Piano will repeatedly play the same chord, with different numbers of notes and accents to express the rhythm. Bass often plays slap style for the percussive sound.
Vamping Chords
Rather than use chord progressions, funk typically vamps on a single chord. This means giving it rhythmic flair to keep it interesting, while unchanging in harmony. The primary tools used are muted strums, stacatto strums (muting the strings right after sounding the chord), rests (mutes), and half-step slides.
Alternating Even and Odd Time Feels
A common rhythmic device in funk is to contrast even and odd-time feels, usually between two different measures. This shift accents from on-beat to off-beat, creating contrast, but without chaos. See the example below.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 E X X / X / / X / X
Multi-Instrument Syncopation
Another common rhythmic device in funk is for instruments to groove in different feels, accenting different beats. This creates a rhythmic contrast between instruments, just as alternating even and odd-time feels creates a rhythmic contrast between the same instrument. Here's a very basic example.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 E X X / X / / X / X o x o x o x o x o = bass drum, x = snare
We have the same even/odd rhythm above on guitar, but a straight even beat on the drums, where some hits line up while others fall in between each other.