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What is "the pocket" ?

#21
Dmanlamius said:
Ah, this term isn't always agreed on.

But this is my favourite explanation of it so far (not mine):

The phrase “in the pocket” is used to describe something or someone playing in such a way that the groove is very solid and with a great feel. When a drummer keeps a good metronomic pulse, often referred to as keeping time, and makes the groove feel really good, and maintains this feel for an extended period of time, never wavering, this is often referred to as a deep pocket…

Today, the term “in the pocket” has broadened a bit, suggesting that if two musicians (usually the bass player and the drummer) are feeling the downbeats together, feeling and placing beat “one” at the exact same time, they are said to be “in the pocket.”

Whether you are playing ahead (front) of the beat, or behind (back) of the beat, or right on top (middle) of the beat, as long as two musicians (ie. bassist and drummer) feel the downbeat at the same time, they’ll be in the pocket.

Many people feel that the question is not so much what the pocket is as much as how you know when you’ve achieved it. To the musician, it feels like the music is playing itself, as though everything has merged together … all the rhythmic parts being played by one instrument.

It goes deeper than that as well. It's the perfect place where everything is locked, and working perfect. It's also about the phrasing and tonality of the notes, but we can go on all day if we get into that!

Hope this is a good start for you...
Click to expand...

Technically...what he said. (I do agree). Musically...it's when the rhythm section is playing in "the zone".
 
#24
Dmanlamius said:
It goes deeper than that as well. It's the perfect place where everything is locked, and working perfect. It's also about the phrasing and tonality of the notes, but we can go on all day if we get into that!

Hope this is a good start for you...
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks. So it's being in what musicians call the groove and sportsmen call the zone. A collective trance state for band and audience, if you like.

OxJohnson said:
The pocket is when nobody notices you, but the booties are wigglin' and the boobies are jigglin'.

Ox.
Click to expand...

Right! Now I know exactly what it is! :D
 
#25
the pocket has less to with the band as a whole..

holeonasec...lemme wax a bit....

has more to do with you, and your ability lock in with your rythm section in such a manner that the both of you become the groove path on which the voice instruments are able to become the scenery of your journey,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
#27
The pocket is when the drummer and the bassist become the Rhythm Section. It's like the best sex ever for musicians. If the rhythm section is in the pocket, the rest of the band fits right over the top like god made it. If the bassist and drummer are in the pocket, the guitarist(s) can be sloppy and all over the place, the singer can forget half the lyrics; but the show will go on. It's righteous and you will know it when it happens! :cool::bassist:

Just keep on bangin' out that groove.

Gus
 
#29
standupright said:
shame this thread didn't get more love
Click to expand...
Word.

I think dmanlius got it right. Most of the posts have been describing how the pocket feels, or how the audience reacts, but not what the pocket is. To me, it's about the bass & drums having the same time feel (ahead / behind beat) and also about space. That is, I'm leaving enough space in my playing for the rest of the band to fill, and vice versa.
 
#30
One of the best examples of pocket playing I have heard recently is D'Angelo's "Voodoo" album. Check out how the rhythm section messes with the feel of the piece by moving the feel around the beat.

For instance, on "One Mo' Gin" the pocket is so far back off the beat it almost feels like they are going out of time, but the song just hangs on by its fingers. The cover of "Feel Like Makin' Love" is more on the beat, but still laid back.

Great playing!
 
#31
gus1894 said:
The pocket is when the drummer and the bassist become the Rhythm Section.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. But I don't think it's just limited to the bassist and drummer. When there is an impeccable sense of rhythm to whole music, when everyone is moving the same way when they listen to it, and actually NEED to move, that's the pocket.

Standing on the one together is not cutting it. There are many works where drummer and bassist plays different time signatures, and together they form a new rhythm.
 
#35
George Porter (The Meters bassist) said on NPR about 5 minutes ago that, "The pocket is when the bass and drums are locked. That is the platform, and what sits on top--that is the lunch box."

So now we know what the pocket is, but what is the lunch box? :D :D :D
 
#37
It's unfortunate I don't get to hear very many bands who make "the pocket" happen. I, personally, have had trouble finding "the pocket" in several bands I've played with. Both the drummer and the bassist have to feel the swing or groove well to create a "pocket". A LOT of guys only think they create a pocket.

I've only been fortunate enough to work with a few drummers who can "lay it down". The rest were too concerned with looking cool, fiddling endlessly with tom placement, playing Neil Peart licks in pop songs, or just shouldn't have become drummers in the first place (Hi Mitch! you NIT. You should take up fishing instead.). :rollno: I know... I'm a jerk. I actually quit playing in bands, for years, out of frustration.

Want to hear a DEEP pocket? Listen to The Meters' Cissy Strut. That's a pocket so deep you could dive in it.
 
#38
A lot of the definitions so far given, besides specific examples, are pretty vague and metaphorical. I'm going to venture into dangerous territory here and mention something that's probably waaay too simple and specific by way of defining 'the pocket':

In my experience, the pocket seems to be the space between beats 2 and 4, generally created by the drummer hitting 2 and 4 on the snare.

When you imagine your metronome to be on beats 2 and 4 (instead of 1234 or 1+3,), you can feel a kind of expansion of rhythmic options as the ticks on 2 and 4 'anchor' the rhythm.

much like the calve is the frame for afro-cuban rhythms, the backbeats of 2 and 4 create a stable frame for the funk/soul r&b feel. And like the clave, the presence is not always played but is always implied.

That said, just playing 'the pocket', or back beat, does not mean that you're playing 'in the pocket' ...for example, compare what the Beatles do with Ringo's flawless back beat (playing with the back beat) versus what the Meters do with the back beat (playing in the pocket.)

So in summary:
Beats 2 and 4 create the pocket
What you do with that will determine if you're in the pocket

Apologies to those who prefer a more mystical /metaphorical/ all embracing explanation...just want to give the OP something concrete to work with.
 
#40
to me...a "pocket groove" is like a heartbeat...it's right on, it's predictable and it makes you feel "warm and fuzzy" or "happy"

a "funky groove" has a bit more syncopation and makes you feel a bit more animated...

but you have to walk before you can run and there's noone out there I know that can throw down a good funky groove without first knowing where the pocket is...
 

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