Re: [Harp-L] re: groove

[Howard Chandler <chandler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have to say that trying to explain something like “groove” leaves me 
feeling really inarticulate, but here goes. My dos centavos and YMMV etc.

Groove is not exclusive to blues but (as Barbeque Bob points out) can be 
found in lots of musical styles. You find it in lots of Latin and 
Caribbean music as well. Styles like Reggae, salsa, cumbia, cha-cha, 
etc. It's more of a "feel" than anything else. I’ve seen some drum 
notation that attempts to explain the basic beat of each of these styles 
but you can only get so close. Part of what makes the groove is that 
there can be several “voices” (drums, bass, guitar, claves etc) that 
make up the beat. Every part has a precise window or pocket that makes 
up the synchronized whole. Kind of like the sound of a Swiss watch (the 
old fashioned kind with gears and cogs). There’s only so much that the 
notation can convey about how it’s supposed to sound. The rest is 
“feel”, and must become part of the sensibility of the players. Just 
like in blues and some other musical forms, microtonal differences can 
make or break the feel, it’s the same with rhythm, and micro-beats can 
make or break a groove. The main thing is that the whole band must feel 
the groove, and play, as they say, in the pocket. Like Bob say’s, if 
you’re playing lead you can’t fight the groove. The groove is your 
friend. Playing the notes on the page without paying homage to the 
groove will always sound like crap.


Howard Chandler,

Mandeville, LA




rainbowjimmy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Here's my new resolution. I'm going to take some of my practice CDs, get a
> metronome and listen. I'm going to see where the drummer and the bassist come
> in on the beat. Then I'm going to listen to where the harp player comes in on
> the drums-not only which beat they start on, but where on the beat-ahead, right
> on, or behind.
>
> Also, I'm going to remind myself daily that the beat is not the metronome
> clicks, it's the space between the metronome clicks.
>
> Present goal: figure out what they're doing.
> Future goal: figure out why they're doing it.
>
> Man, I hate metronomes.
>
> Rainbow Jimmy
> http://www.spaceanimals.com
> http://www.soundclick.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals.htm
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Groove is not exclusive to blues but can be found in lots of musical 
styles. You find in lots of Latin and caribieen music as well. reggae, 
salsa, cumbias, It's more of a "feel" than anything else. I'm sure that 
the more analytical musicians will disagree.