Re: [Harp-L] re: rhythm playing

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jp Pagán" <jpl_pagan@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 8:02 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] re: rhythm playing


> hey all,
>
>   in another thread BBQ Bob mentioned the need for
> good rhythm. i know this has come up before, but it's
> something i was thinking about just recently. i have a
> metronome (an in ear thing i pretty much hate) and in
> terms of when i'm just playing, by myself or with
> others, i THINK i have good rhythm, but how can i be
> sure? what can i do to better my rhythm? i don't
> really want to lay down the cash for a drum machine
> but i thought that would be a great idea. what do
> y'all think?
>
>       --Jp

Hi,
The metronome will help in getting the TIME together, which eventually helps 
the rhythm, but the one thing metronomes to my kowledge, still CAN'T do is 
teach some one how to play either behind the beat (which is the way most 
blues and black music in general is played) or ahead of the beat (where many 
rock, metal, some country and rockabilly music is played), nor can they 
teach the different delineations of each and drum machines can't do that 
either (at least not yet at this point in time). Working with metronomes 
definitely is a good tool for learning time, and rhythm is the next step 
from there. Many instrument teachers will have you keep tapping your feet to 
help keep an internal clock in your head so that you avoid messing it up, 
but one has to listen with bigger ears to make sure everything is kosher on 
that.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/