I need some opinions about time, groove, and pocket..

Music_for_life · #1 08-08-2011, 12:12 AM

Do you consider some guys like Jaco who had a strong sense of time with his body and dance through the music, are better than other who are more static or have more robotic movements like Mike Porcaro or Adam clayton???
Or that doesnt matter at all??

JimmyM · #2 08-08-2011, 01:21 AM

Doesn't matter at all. Good is good. I enjoy musicians who put on a show, but it doesn't make you feel music any deeper.

Russell L · #3 08-08-2011, 06:27 AM

I agree that it doesn't matter. Everyone is different. Some of the best playing I've ever seen was by guys who hardly move at all. Just because they are static doesn't mean that they aren't deeply into the music.

makkE · #4 08-08-2011, 08:06 AM

I need a bit of movement to help me get deeper in the groove, but everyone's diffrent.
I also use mental images to help me get a certain groove/feel wich sometimes correspond to the movement as well (e.g. surfing, trodding, fleeing in panic etc... )
I have always found that people that dance a little will groove better. Even if it's just a slight nodding of the head. Depends on the genre, though.

**251** · #5 08-08-2011, 08:17 AM

I have been encouraged to move & dance with the music for the sake of my band mates & the audience. Everyone seems to have more fun if the players are clearly having fun. The feedback loops through & increases the fun factor still more.

Yes, express the groove!

mambo4 · #6 08-08-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 251

I have been encouraged to move & dance with the music for the sake of my band mates & the audience. Everyone seems to have more fun if the players are clearly having fun. The feedback loops through & increases the fun factor still more.

+1 to that.
Makes the music better, in terms of "time, groove & pocket"? No.
Makes the show more fun, and helps you connect to the (non-musician) audience ? yes.

Russell L · #7 08-08-2011, 01:03 PM

Actually, I agree that when a band looks lively it helps get the crowd going. Myself, I move a little, enough to help me with the groove, but I'm not one to be jumping around, so to speak. Even classical players move some to help emphasize certain passages. But, if you don't move at all, you can still play effectively. It's just that, as everyone points out here, you might connect with the audience easier if you do move some. Thing is, don't fake it.

noplayinfool · #8 08-08-2011, 01:12 PM

I move to release unnecessary tension in my body, like in the hips or shoulders or neck. I find the least confusing way to do that is to move in time with the music; and I definitely believe that physical tension kills the groove. So I guess my answer is, sort-of. I also like to type just to see my words on the internet. So YMMV IMO APR-WAC and all that.
BTW, If you watch Marvin Gaye live with James Jamerson sitting on a stool dropping huge beats it points to a possibility that feeling the time is different for everyone. The story goes that he recorded "What's Going On" lying on his back

ffutterman · #9 08-08-2011, 01:26 PM

Jamerson sat, Claypool bounces. I don't think it affects how you play, it's just your style of playing. That said, movement is more entertaining for live shows (as long as it doesn't include scissor kicks).

stratovani · #10 08-08-2011, 04:58 PM

I can't help but to move! Try as I might, I just can't stand there and do nothing but play. Mind you, I'm not exactly Mick Jagger up there, but I do like to move with the music. Helps me to groove better.

JimmyM · #11 08-08-2011, 05:09 PM

I will add that there are some people who should not move at all. Our keyboard player is one of them. He would be way better off if he stood in one place and never moved because his moves are so completely dorky and looks ridiculous and inappropriate. But his moves are such an insanely bad looking thing that he's actually got a large number of fans who spend their time watching him just to see what noodnik-looking thing he will do next, me included. We actually make him dance just so we can watch him attempt it.

Unfortunately, we've also created a monster. Now he wants to come out from the keyboards every time there's 5 seconds of rest for the keyboards. But I guess we created him and we'll just have to live with him

20db pad · #12 08-08-2011, 05:13 PM

Anthony Jackson always plays seated, occasionally bobs his head, makes faces sometimes, and arguably has the best time and groove of anybody working today. Maybe that's the secret!

Billnc · #13 08-08-2011, 08:17 PM

Before I ever got on stage I figured I'd be one of the guys who just stood there, I am fairly self conscious. From day one I've moved around on stage, I move a bit regardless of the instrument I'm playing or even seated. The joy of making music takes over. I never dance (shame, my GF can really move) but playing music I can a bit.

Crazyeelboy · #14 08-08-2011, 10:56 PM

I move around the stage a lot, but it is all for the show and connecting with the audience, not to improve playing.

The1bassist06 · #15 08-09-2011, 12:07 AM

Sometimes when im playing with my band we will do a bass break where its just drums and bass. I usually move towards the front of the stage and in one spot and just give a smirk and bob my head a bit.

It just makes you look like a badass =D

nightwulf · #16 08-09-2011, 12:53 AM

Ever see John Entwhistle play? He stood like his feet were cast in concrete and he was in a full body cast...don't think it hurt his playing...As for guys who look completely dorky moving around, Alex Lifeson of Rush tops that list...when it comes to dancing, the dude is TERMINALLY Caucasian

Schizo Sapiens · #17 08-09-2011, 01:50 AM

I understand you. I just can't stand (or sit) still if i play anything (sometimes it's just head bobbing, but usually my whole body moves, especially if it's some funky thing or some proggy 13/8 thing).

Part of it is joy of making music, as Billnc said. But most important thing for me: it's so much easier to me to play in rhythm when you're all into it.

Players who don't move anything but their hands amaze me. I just can play that way, I'd have to constantly suppress myself.

But as someone pointed out, there are great players who play standing (or sitting) still.

Most of the people in this thread don't seem to to get your point (it has nothing to do with stage presence, it's about relationship of moving and playing), but i do: some of us just have to move to play better. And some of us don't.