Tapping foot to beat

[ThomasG]

I am getting back into the bass. When I use to play I would tap my foot to the beat to feel the rythms and basically keep time and track of them. Is that necessary, should I not really on that and try to play more with internal time/feel, and just relax and be one with the music. More holistic, rather than counting with the foot as much ? I would love some feedback on how you bad bass players play ! Much respect !

[jordie65]

whatever works for you. only you know what will work best for you, try different methods and see which you are most comfortable with. personally i find it easier to tap my foot in songs with slower tempos but thats just a personal thing because i have a tendency to sit right up on the beat in slower songs..which sorta kills the groove

[JimmyM]

holistic schmolistic! tapping your foot is fine. do whatever it takes to stay in time.

[pacojas]

i do the chicken neck while i stomp my foot. (when i play slow i tap)

[comrade73]

my head boppin around keeps me in time.. that way I can still walk or move around a bit on stage if my feet are free ..but yeah, it's whatever works for you man

[Cabazon]

For some reason, when I tap my foot, I get too conscious about that, and lose focus of what I'm playing. I personally find moving my head to the beat to be much more effective.

[jgroh]

My teacher taught me years ago to tap my foot to keep in time and im so glad he did. I would like to think I have very good timing and I honestly believe learning the way he showed me had a big part in that.

I dont do it alot anymore unless we are playing a song where its only the bass for an extended period of time (like the intro to "Sweet Emotion")

[bassy7]

Sitting down practicing on my own, foot tapping is the thing for me when I am playing without any pre-recorded accompaniment. The foot tapping really helps me to properly read rythmic variations while practicing my elementary level sight reading skills.

When I am playing along with a recording or live fellow musicians- I go for the full on "body throb", which has many visible permutations. Hips moving, head bobbing, torso moving, legs swings, knees bouncing, feet springing......

Whatever works for you.

[JTE]

Tapping your foot is fine. For a more "holistic approach" tap your left foot if you're right-handed. That way both sides of your brain are working on the part of the physical aspect that's primarily the rhythm. Sounded kinda goofy to me when I read Barney Kessel (great jazz guitarist and respected teacher) reccomend this back in 1973, but once I started doing it un-self-concsiously I found it really did help with rhythmic accuracy and articulation.
.
John

[Phalex]

I ususally don't tap my foot more than I do, but if I'm playing acoustic stuff (without a drummer) or the drummer get's into some weird rhythm/solo thing (especially if we both drop out and have to come back in together on the down beat) I tap away! It's hard for me to screw the pooch once I get my foot going.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Having said all that - there is nothing worse than being near somebody who is tapping their foot out of time !!

This came up in Jazz classes where people mentioned how in a small group, playing at acoustic level volumes this can be very annoying to other band members. But in a loud amplified group situation, I can't see how it would be a problem!

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Having said all that - there is nothing worse than being near somebody who is tapping their foot out of time !!

This came up in Jazz classes where people mentioned how in a small group, playing at acoustic level volumes this can be very annoying to other band members. But in a loud amplified group situation, I can't see how it would be a problem!

It can be a problem. When our singer wears his cowboy boots and clacks them loudly on the stage things get a little freaky sometimes.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

holistic schmolistic! tapping your foot is fine. do whatever it takes to stay in time.

i half agree.

with a metronome or drummer, yes. tap away.

however; tapping your foot doesent make you stay in time. it just puts your perception of the beat or pulse out loud, so others can hear it if it changes. classical training stresses to never tap your foot, and internalise your beat. i know a professor / conductor who used to insist that he'd rather you forget your music the night of the concert, than see you tapping your foot.

however i'll assume you're not aspiring to be a classical virtuoso, (especially since this is the electric bass forum..) so tapping your foot is okay, but internalising is better. an internal beat is more likely to stay consistant.

[Yerf Dog]

<angus>Keep time with your head</angus>

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

holistic schmolistic! tapping your foot is fine. do whatever it takes to stay in time.

+1

With my students, I find some have a natural internal clock that keeps them in time pretty well.

Others, not so much. For that group, I recommend tapping the foot.

In most school band programs, you will see a lot of kids tapping their foot, probably instructed by the band teacher to do so from an early age.

If you find yourself having timing issues, give it a try.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Having said all that - there is nothing worse than being near somebody who is tapping their foot out of time !!

This came up in Jazz classes where people mentioned how in a small group, playing at acoustic level volumes this can be very annoying to other band members.

...which means (like my uncle said, who taught me to play the clarinet when I was 9 years old): usethe social way to tap: only move your toes inside your shoe. It works the same once you get it, and it doesn''t disturb others.

[Reaper Man]

I'm in the "slower tempo- tap feet" school. with anything else, I'm moving all over the place

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Phalex

It can be a problem. When our singer wears his cowboy boots and clacks them loudly on the stage things get a little freaky sometimes.

Singers should definitely be banned from tapping their feet or counting the band in!!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by groooooove

classical training stresses to never tap your foot, and internalise your beat. i know a professor / conductor who used to insist that he'd rather you forget your music the night of the concert, than see you tapping your foot.
.

Which is quite ironic, given that the original role of the "conductor" in Baroque times, was to strike a large stick on the floor to provide the beat for the musicians!!

[robgo]

I don't know how anyone can stay in time without some kind of physical manifestation of the rhythym. I often need to point this out to our guitarist when he's trying to play in time while standing still.

I usually shake my ass.