• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

"Groove"...can it be taught/learned?

I was playing with a friend's cover/originals band, and traded off on guitar and bass with the friend/BL on a few songs. During a rehearsal I was trying to explain how a certain song needed to swing a little to get the groove right. My friend couldn't get it at all, despite many tries.
He went for a bathroom break and the drummer (who we have both known/played with for many years separately) told me, "He can't swing. I've been trying for years. He just can't."

So I believe some people just don't have it.
 
I was playing with a friend's cover/originals band, and traded off on guitar and bass with the friend/BL on a few songs. During a rehearsal I was trying to explain how a certain song needed to swing a little to get the groove right. My friend couldn't get it at all, despite many tries.
He went for a bathroom break and the drummer (who we have both known/played with for many years separately) told me, "He can't swing. I've been trying for years. He just can't."

So I believe some people just don't have it.
On music software, you can dial in swing from 0 equals straight to 100 equals dotted qtr with a 16th. Aint no magic involved in most cases.
 
Groove, as I interpret it, is the equivalent of "flow" in disciplines like running. I think it comes with practice. Like a zen thing - there's really nothing to learn. Play with others a lot, and sooner or later you'll find yourselves in a space where the music kind of plays itself. Then you'll all be grooving.
 
Last edited:
I had my 2nd lesson last night. We never got around to discussing "groove". He want's me to go back and revisit some fundamentals....back to basic rhythm exercises and learning the fretboard better. On top of that, work on playing the 8 chord triads of a major key, from the front, middle, and back positions.

So, I've got a lot to work on this week.
 
I had my 2nd lesson last night. We never got around to discussing "groove". He want's me to go back and revisit some fundamentals....back to basic rhythm exercises and learning the fretboard better. On top of that, work on playing the 8 chord triads of a major key, from the front, middle, and back positions.

So, I've got a lot to work on this week.

A theory book might help out a lot with understanding chord tones, inversions, and modes...
 
Correct. Note timing is not an absolute. This afternoon I have instructor class #2 on pushing and pulling the beat. The ability to play dead on is a given. The sheet music is only the starting point. We record and analyze the playback.
 
"groove"
can this elusive feeling that seems to be lacking be taught/learned???
yes! and you can learn it by rote and imitation!

but:
- some learn more easily than others (specific application of more generalized experiences).
- a very few will never learn (self-consciousness and resistance to novel stimuli: OCD is not your friend! = relax).
- while you don't need to read music, you need to understand/absorb the component parts of basic rhythm(s).
- some need to learn it in a group, some need individual instruction. try both if you're struggling.
- some grooves are inherently more difficult.
- some grooves are inherently more difficult for folks 'not of that culture'...i.e., different grooves are found all over the world.
- 4/4 grooves are probably the easiest, for most of us, most of the time. start with those!

good luck grooving! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: IamGroot

Latest posts