How do I learn to play "in the pocket"?

[fourstringbliss]

I hear about playing "in the pocket", but I'm not really sure what it is or how to do it. I know it would make me a better bass player. Any ideas?

[Suckbird]

oh, it means play on time.

[Crazykiwi]

Being in the pocket is about playing with the right feel and sharing that feel with the other musicians.

First rule is: relax.
Second rule: make what you're playing mean something - put some feeling in but don't make it sound like a 3 min bass solo.

Your role as a bass player is about supporting the song. Your playing carries a lot of weight and so, unless you're playing a style similar to thrash/speed metal, its important to know when to use the weight of each note to push the song and when to back off to let other musicians have some space. Its important to lock in tightly with the drums/percussion and support whatever accents they're playing. In an ideal world, if you come up with a nifty but subtle idea for a phrase, you'll find the other musicians pick up on it and support it. If its crap, they won't touch it so be sensitive to the reactions of your fellow players.

The best bit is when you're playing in sync with one another and sounding like a rhythm section and not just three players playing in sync. There's a difference between sharing the same notes and sharing the same feel.

[knarleybass]

Show up to the gig on time and make sure your gear works...

[tkozal]

You need others that also know where the pocket is, especially a drummer.

One cannot be "in the Pocket" by ones self (playing the bass, that is)

[cosmicevan]

lock in with the drummer. pay particular attention to the bass drum. when you are in the pocket, you'll know because your body and everyone within an ear shot will all be bopping in the same manner.

[floopy]

There was a really good thread on this recently:

Seeking The Elusive Groove....

The posts to look at in detail are the discussion on practising with a metronome, and the relationship between the drummer's kick/hats/snare and where you place your notes.

[Scourge441]

Originally Posted by Crazykiwi

Being in the pocket is about playing with the right feel and sharing that feel with the other musicians.

First rule is: relax.
Second rule: make what you're playing mean something - put some feeling in but don't make it sound like a 3 min bass solo.

Your role as a bass player is about supporting the song. Your playing carries a lot of weight and so, unless you're playing a style similar to thrash/speed metal, its important to know when to use the weight of each note to push the song and when to back off to let other musicians have some space. Its important to lock in tightly with the drums/percussion and support whatever accents they're playing. In an ideal world, if you come up with a nifty but subtle idea for a phrase, you'll find the other musicians pick up on it and support it. If its crap, they won't touch it so be sensitive to the reactions of your fellow players.

The best bit is when you're playing in sync with one another and sounding like a rhythm section and not just three players playing in sync. There's a difference between sharing the same notes and sharing the same feel.

Everything you said applies to thrash/speed metal as well.

To define a pocket player, one must first define the pocket. Basically, if a bassline locks in with the rythm, and fits the style of music being played, then you're at least close to the pocket.

BTW, when searching for the pocket, don't overlook the melodic portions of your bassline. The notes you use can contribute a lot to the melody, tension, and overall mood of the song, even though most people "can't hear the bass." Trust me, if you do these things, they will notice the bass, and it will have an effect on the song.

[cdef]

Originally Posted by knarleybass

Show up to the gig on time and make sure your gear works...

If you really think that's all it takes, you've never been there.

[Winemule]

Just to re-emphasize: Playing in the pocket is a matter of staying on the beat, and recognizing that the beat is a location: You can play in front of it, right on it, or behind it. Working with a metronome will get you a solid sense of time, but only working with other musicians will help you find the location of the beat on a given tune.

As already pointed out, it really, really helps to have a drummer with solid time. When the drummer's time is good, then it's easy to play in the pocket. When the drummer's time is not good...well, that's when I'd rather have root canal than play a gig...

[Moe Monsarrat]

Playing in the pocket is a seamless, selfless groove held down by the bass & drums & enjoyed by everyone else in the band & the audience. If you listen to recordings of your band, it should be fairly easy to tell if you're there. If you have to ignore things to like it, keep trying.

[00Funk]

Go get a Bootsy Collins, "Player of the Year" CD, Hook it into your Pandora, and go for it.

[markjazzbassist]

listen to a lot of music. learn a lot of basslines and licks from songs. play along with a bunch of songs. jam with a band and or drummer regularly.

do this for a little while and the grooving pocket will come.

[Jazzin']

In time. Not too busy. Playing lines which don't clash with the other instruments.

[Crazykiwi]

Originally Posted by Scourge441

Everything you said applies to thrash/speed metal as well.

I've never played thrash or speed metal in my life and don't intend to, so I have no hesitation in conceding to your greater knowledge and experience.

Study everything you can, but in the end, you're playing bass. It's you who has to judge where you fit into the grand scheme of things. U2, Primus, and Tower of Power all require, meh, marginally different approaches to playing bass.

[PastorofMuppets]

the drummer creates the pocket
you must simply dwell in it

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

How do I learn to play "in the pocket"?

Put on your funky pants!!

[The Dave]

Playing in the pocket goes beyond timing. It's when the song is flowing through your body and your playing just happens. It can be a natural gift, but for most people, it's all about practice. Work on your timing and technique. Know every bit of your fingerboard. Learn scales, riffs, everything you can. When you get to the point where you don't really have to think about the technical fundamentals, you'll be free to play from your heart and "in the pocket". Oh yeah, Funky Pants help too...

Having said all of that, I'm nowhere near achieving it. It just takes time and practice.

[7flat5]

Originally Posted by PastorofMuppets

the drummer creates the pocket
you must simply dwell in it

There is truth in this, but I think there is more. The whole rhythm section lays down the pocket, and everyone has to dwell in it. Listen to an old Meters groove. Every part of the band contributes to the groove. There is a kind of basic rhythmic phrase which repeats every two or four or eight measures. Listen to how the bass is a little ahead on this beat, a little behind that beat. No-one really sounds like a metronome. The phrase has little tensions and releases in the rhythm as well as the melody and harmony. And, no-one plays it exactly the same twice, but it just cooks along with a consistent groove. The tensions and releases in the rhythm groove are almost miraculously consistent every time. That's the pocket. SO hard to do.