Song Rig
Move On Up
Curtis Mayfield · Curtis · 1970
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Mayfield's most celebratory guitar performance — the uplifting counterpart to the darker Superfly material. In Eb tuning with a clean, unprocessed tone, his chord work drives the most joyful arrangement in his catalog. The trumpet-and-guitar interplay creates the optimistic, gospel-influenced energy of the track.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (open Eb tuning, brighter pickup position)
- 2Small clean Fender amp
Amp Settings
Brighter and more open than the Superfly material — Move On Up's celebratory character calls for a cleaner, more treble-forward Mayfield tone without the dark wah filtering of Pusherman.
Technique
How to Play It
Chordal gospel strumming in Eb — the rhythm pattern of Move On Up uses a bright, open strumming style that lifts the chord shapes into the horn-section register. Mayfield's upstroke-emphasis gives the funk groove an uplifting, soaring quality.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster in Eb tuning → clean bright amp → no wah → practice Mayfield's upstroke-emphasis strumming: the chord hits lean forward, leading with the upstroke rather than the downstroke, giving the groove an energetic, forward-rushing feel.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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