Re: [Harp-L] Re: using a metronome

[Elizabeth Hess <TinLizzie2009@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 3, 2010, at 6:38 PM, Ken Deifik wrote:

> By the way, I mentioned Al Jackson, the Stax drummer, in the previous 
> post.  Stax music was typically behind-the-beat music, but if everyone 
> played behind the beat all the time, the music would've slowed down 
> noticeably in the 2:30 of a record.  Jackson solved this problem by 
> playing the ONE of every eighth bar dead on on top of the beat.  This 
> kept the beat kosher all the way through.  Clever, no?

Okay, here is my point of confusion:  If everyone played behind the 
beat all the time, wouldn't the "behind-beats" (if you will)  *become*  
the beat, such that the piece would have ended one 
behind-the-beat's-worth of time later, but not an accumulated piece's 
worth of behind-the-beats later?

How is playing ahead of the beat or behind the beat to be distinguished 
from sloppy rhythm playing?  I mean, it's obvious from the discussion 
that it's something way better and cooler than sloppy playing 
(I/he/she/they MEANT to do that!), but how does that work?

I feel like my brain is missing a beat.

Elizabeth