Foot Tapping question?

Bluez Dawg · #1 05-30-2006, 09:47 PM

Hey gang with current actions from some people. and I am learning to tap my foot to creat the beat but I have a question? How do I quit from cramping up? whats the best corse of action?

morf · #2 05-31-2006, 05:32 AM

Don't force it. It has to come naturally, as if tapping your foot was part of your playing the bass.

bbocaner · #3 05-31-2006, 06:19 AM

Contrary to what most people belive, tapping your foot will usually hurt your time rather than improve it. You should learn to internalize the beat.

buddyro57 · #4 05-31-2006, 06:41 AM

Sorry, but that dog wont hunt....... my evidence? Well about 25 years ago i saw the Count Basie Band. The entire sax section tapped - and contrary to what you might expect, they all tapped, lock-step, ON the beat. Now if I have to explain why that is significant- you better go listen to some Basie.

Seriously though- you do have a point, the time should be internal- and tapping I think is, or should be, a natural extension of the physical act of playing the bass. If you have to concentrate on it, then it becomes more of a hinderance than an assett.

Another kind of peripheral observation; David Friesen taught a master class at our school. He said that when the time felt erratic, or if things felt a little too much on-top, he would tap his foot on the beat (vs on 2 & 4). I do that now, and I feel like it helps to stabilize things in certain situations-

My 2 cents-worth

morf · #5 05-31-2006, 06:43 AM

Seigi · #6 05-31-2006, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbocaner

Contrary to what most people belive, tapping your foot will usually hurt your time rather than improve it. You should learn to internalize the beat.

It differs from person to person. I started playing in time a lot better after I started tapping my foot, my friend exactly the opposite.

chaosMK · #7 05-31-2006, 09:48 AM

Tapping your foot might look cool for country, but dont do it if you are playing newer styles of hardcore/metal.

All_¥our_Bass · #8 05-31-2006, 09:59 AM

Sometimes I nod or headbang not to the beats. Not ALL of them, but mainly the stressed ones. Also try counting in your head, which tends to help and is almost nessicary in certain akwardlky timed sequences.

ric1312 · #9 05-31-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaosMK

Tapping your foot might look cool for country, but dont do it if you are playing newer styles of hardcore/metal.

Ya, because looking cool is much more important than playing in time.....lol. I play in a metal band and tap my foot with the drummer, if I feel the need, it helps me.

phillys · #10 05-31-2006, 10:37 AM

Sounds to me that you were trying to tap your foot according to the beat instead of to the time. For e.g., you shouldn't tap like this: dum..dumdum..dum...dumdum. Instead, tap according to time while counting: 1..2..3..4..

**baba** · #11 05-31-2006, 10:41 AM

Keep relaxed and don't tense up. Eventually the beat will flow through your body and your groove will be one with bass and body. Then you will see neon lights that say "Welcome To The Pocket".

Bluez Dawg · #12 05-31-2006, 11:05 AM

Thank you for all your advice. becuase i know i will not allways have a drum machine. or a metronome with me thats why i've asked this question. Would head bobbing ( like swaying back & forth be better? )

McHack · #13 05-31-2006, 11:12 AM

A way to "tap yer foot" w/o looking too horribly goofy, is to tap your heal,, rather than your toe. Or, turn it into a full fleged stomp like Les Claypool...

airrick · #14 05-31-2006, 12:48 PM

or you could just tap you big toe, no one would notice if you were wearing a shoe

Andrew Jones · #15 05-31-2006, 12:58 PM

I once was watching Andy Gonzalas playing when I noticed he tapped his foot in a clave rhythm!

My kung fu is weak , must return to shaulin and train......

Aj

steveb98 · #16 05-31-2006, 01:26 PM

Eat more bananas you need more potassium.

Don't listen to the posts saying don't tap your foot, those are people more into hair flips and posing than playing music. Even heavy Metal needs to be played in time or its slop.

That said different people use different ways of tapping. Some their heel, some foot or heel side to side, others a slight head movement, most find something that works for you. Duck Dunn famed R&B player got his nickname from a duck-like shuffle he used to do that was part of his keeping time.

Also the movement doesn't need to be a big movement. As tempo get fast you might slow your tap down to half notes. I learned when playing in Jazz big bands to tap with two feet and noticed many horn players do it. Right foot is tapping 1 and 3, and left foot 2 and 4.

Last what works for me is when I practice I do tend to do a larger foot movement. I'm very consicious of one, And, two, And, three.... etc Foot down on the beat, foot up on the And's. Helps working on reading. Then when gigging I don't think about it the foot gets going on its own.