Re: [Harp-L] Working on groove

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Music Cal wrote:
<Anybody got tips for really developing ones awareness and mastery of groove
<during improvisation?

Iceman and Jon Kip wrote good replies to this. I'll add this: a groove is the interplay between instruments and rhythms.  So "awareness of groove" means in large part "awareness of the rhythmic roles played by the instruments involved".  

In practical terms, it's a good idea to listen carefully to the rhythm section and pull out the rhythmic roles of the various instruments.  What is the bass playing--straight quarter notes, a heavily syncopated 16th note pattern, or what?  What's the drummer doing, especially with the kick and snare?  What's the rhythm guitarist or keyboardist doing--what beats are they hitting hard, which are they laying off?

Listening to a groove in this way exposes where a harp part might fit in, and what rhythms will strengthen the groove as opposed to wrecking it.  It will also tell you a lot about the basic sounds of a rhythm section in various styles.  For example, in 1950s Chicago blues, the bass had very little sustain and a lot of thump; its role was much more rhythmic than harmonic. In more modern styles, the bass tends to be deeper and more sustained, so it contributes more to the harmonic structure.  Different sounds, different grooves, different ways for harp to contribute.

Regards, Richard Hunter




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