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Post by Phil on Jan 19, 2021 21:58:16 GMT -6
I'm putting this here because I don't think the other guys would have any interest in this. I don't want to clutter up the Blues forum with Jazz specific stuff. One of the practice methods recommended by many is to put the metronome on 2 and 4 to develop a swing feel. I have never been able to do it on single note lines. I always end up with the metronome drifting to 1 and 3. I can do it with chord progressions if I keep a simple 4-to-the-bar rhythm but not with single notes. It's driving me nuts but I have a feeling that if I keep trying I will eventually get it. Have any of you guys getting into Jazz tried this? (I guess at the moment that means Tony or Marc.)
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Post by Marc on Jan 21, 2021 22:20:05 GMT -6
I think it's pretty normal when you are trying to play something foreign that you're playing drifts. I have known when I first started trying to get some jazz rhythm down, I was working out of the 1-2-3 jazz course off true fire, I had to keep pulling up the rhythm lesson and playing along with frank. It's frustrating that I just could not get it. Eventually i got it. I think it's just a reminder that this music thing is a marathon and not a sprint. Just keep chipping away and it will eventually click.
I have one of those pendulum metronomes so there is not a way to set it to '2 and 4' it just clicks. Even when I use my DAW a set it to make the same tone on each click. The added benefit is I have to think about it as I'm playing and counting. I think or maybe hope that it translates to a more natural rhythm.
Another idea I got from Jon Flynn's course on Rock and Funk rhythm (another true fire course) was playing an with 8th beat and putting an emphasis on a different beat. It is hard, and when I do this i found my self shifting off especially if I spaced off at all. I think that was the key is that you had to really concentrate on what you were doing, or you shifted.
Not sure it helps at all but that my thought on it.
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Post by Phil on Jan 22, 2021 9:30:47 GMT -6
I think it's pretty normal when you are trying to play something foreign that you're playing drifts. I have known when I first started trying to get some jazz rhythm down, I was working out of the 1-2-3 jazz course off true fire, I had to keep pulling up the rhythm lesson and playing along with frank. It's frustrating that I just could not get it. Eventually i got it. I think it's just a reminder that this music thing is a marathon and not a sprint. Just keep chipping away and it will eventually click. I have one of those pendulum metronomes so there is not a way to set it to '2 and 4' it just clicks. Even when I use my DAW a set it to make the same tone on each click. The added benefit is I have to think about it as I'm playing and counting. I think or maybe hope that it translates to a more natural rhythm. Another idea I got from Jon Flynn's course on Rock and Funk rhythm (another true fire course) was playing an with 8th beat and putting an emphasis on a different beat. It is hard, and when I do this i found my self shifting off especially if I spaced off at all. I think that was the key is that you had to really concentrate on what you were doing, or you shifted. Not sure it helps at all but that my thought on it. Marc, here's what I'm talking about when I say put the metronome on 2 and 4. Let's say what you're playing is 140 BPM. You set the metronome to half that tempo (70 BPM) and feel those clicks as falling on beats 2 and 4. This mimics the snare drum hitting on beats 2 and 4. Try it and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Tony, I've heard many good players say that practicing with the metronome on 2 and 4 helps develop a swing feel. The most recent one was Sheryl Bailey in her Rhythm Changes Truefire course. Her rationale for saying this is if you're hearing 4 even beats it's harder to swing. With the beats coming just on 2 and 4 there is a space between beats that allows you a little more freedom. Anyway, I'm going to keep trying. It's not something I'm obsessed about. I'd just like to get comfortable doing it someday.
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