Pocket

[joshuag]

i have been playing for a while and i have a crazy question. how do you teach yourself to play in the pocket? i listen to the bassline sometimes to go off of that but it does not work sometimes............... help me please thank you

[jtoomer]

Well I had start building a bad reputation for being a "lick" drummer.  What I decided to do was practice playing the exact same groove for five mintues at a time, just as if I were reading music.  This way I develop discipline in playing whatever groove the song calls for.  I can start to see improvements during praise and worship.  Also practice to a metronome and to loops or I like to practice with my I Pod.

God Bless

[JFunky]

i have been playing for a while and i have a crazy question. how do you teach yourself to play in the pocket? i listen to the bassline sometimes to go off of that but it does not work sometimes............... help me please thank you

...my opinion is to listen to the whole band and not just the bass player. Although the drums 'n bass are the foundation, the ultimate goal is to feed off of everyone.  I was always taught by mentors to practice to records but not just that; I was taught to do a lot of listening to what everyone was doing and not just the drummer.  One advantage that "church drummers" have versus all of the other drummers is "feel".  So, try to support the groove and add your part to the overall groove and listen to the whole band.

...Example:  If you're playing in a rock band, you would listen to the lead guitar more than the bass.  In a latin band, you have to have "super big ears" because you have to listen to the keys, horns, bass and other percussionists.  Get my point?  Listening is very important to playing "in the pocket".

...one other thing....playing in the pocket does not mean "don't do fills".  It means that you have to provide that cushion or that pillow for the singer and band.  You have to make it comfortable for everyone and keep it groovy.  Distraction fills are not allowed but supportive fills are.  my 2 cents. 
           

[buzz95]

...my opinion is to listen to the whole band and not just the bass player.         

Amen to that! 

[juSe]

i have been playing for a while and i have a crazy question. how do you teach yourself to play in the pocket? i listen to the bassline sometimes to go off of that but it does not work sometimes............... help me please thank you

...You have to want to play for the song.  You have to enjoy doing that.  Then you'll start seeing the musical value and fulfillment in that.  You'll sense it, feel it, and know it.  You'll sense the synergy in it.  You won't even think, "Man, I could have done this really cool lick there."  That defeatist and non musical thinking.

-Vinnie Colaiuta

To play the pocket, one must first have an understanding of what it is.  Playing the pocket is honoring your role in the music.  Everyone has space to fill in every song.  If everyone takes full responsibility for what they have to play in the music, then and only then can one truly play the pocket.  Playing pocket is not necessasarily playing the absolute simplest parts.  Extreme awareness in the music allows you to do this. 

I honestly don't think that pocket playing is something that can be taught.  It is an awareness that comes with experience and listening.  As Vinnie stated, you have to want to serve the music.  When one becomes aware of what to play and what not to play, then and only then can one truly play the pocket.

Hope this helps.

*

Meshell Ndegeocello has some pretty interesting things to say about groove and pocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srCZE_jIYdk

[JFunky]

...okay, benediction please.....

[Hotsticks1]

I wouldn't say it's something you can really teach yourself. Playing in the pockett is something that you have to find, and after you find it, then you run with it. Personaly I wasn't even aware of what pockett was until a couple years ago. But then I found myself one day in church playing a song and I was so comfortable just grooving to the song, rather than showing myself off. The craziest thing is that everyone else was playing in their pockett as well and it was like we simply ran away with the groove, it was one of the best sessions I had ever had and didn't nobody even do nothing special. Also check out cortet music, it's the ultimate pockett, no tricks, just beat and groove...

[thescientist]

...You have to want to play for the song.  You have to enjoy doing that.  Then you'll start seeing the musical value and fulfillment in that.  You'll sense it, feel it, and know it.  You'll sense the synergy in it.  You won't even think, "Man, I could have done this really cool lick there."  That defeatist and non musical thinking.

-Vinnie Colaiuta

To play the pocket, one must first have an understanding of what it is.  Playing the pocket is honoring your role in the music.  Everyone has space to fill in every song.  If everyone takes full responsibility for what they have to play in the music, then and only then can one truly play the pocket.  Playing pocket is not necessasarily playing the absolute simplest parts.  Extreme awareness in the music allows you to do this. 

I honestly don't think that pocket playing is something that can be taught.  It is an awareness that comes with experience and listening.  As Vinnie stated, you have to want to serve the music.  When one becomes aware of what to play and what not to play, then and only then can one truly play the pocket.

Hope this helps.

*

Meshell Ndegeocello has some pretty interesting things to say about groove and pocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srCZE_jIYdk

well spoken...

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

For me, you've just gotta feel the music.  My rep is for pocket.  That's what I built my style on.  I just feel and vibe on the music. 

Here's a perfect example.  I played on this song for a friend of mine.  I had never heard this song until that evening when I got to the studio.  We did it straight time, no click.  We just sat down and started vibing.  I'm not tooting my own horn, just want you to see if you can feel the vibe of the song.  He allowed me to just play.  He said do anything you want, and the music just called for a pocket groove, not too much else.  Whenever I have recorded, they gave me a click, but I turned it down when no one was looking.


www.myspace.com/melvinbrownjr

[zberk]

There's a bunch of great answers above. I'll put my two cents to this..

Put the music before your ego and groove it, flow it, be it.  There are so many people who can do chops, but chops isn't the pocket.  It isn't grooving.  Chops isn't necessarily gonna get you the gig either, but a nice deep pocket will -- just about every time.  Listen to others and play with them, compliment them. and support them.  Make it feel good to everyone.  That's the #1 priority.

Practice some chops too.  you'll get a chance to let them shine, but you don't have to let 'em out all the time.  Like they say, "less is more".  It's true and it works to your benefit. 

[EricT]

one thing someone taught me was to be able to move with the music..body motions while playing the song also enhances your pocket cause it gets you to feel what you are playing...I would often move, if I'm playing in 4/4, i would move to the right whenever I kicked the base drum and to the left when I hit the snare I would also move my head as well...it sounds crazy but it has helped me develop my pocket tremendously......It's also important to hear everything as someone said earlier when you get comfortable with hearing the entire band, you'll feel alot better..stay encouraged

Oh yea and everything that everyone else said as well

[B_XALTED]

i have been playing for a while and i have a crazy question. how do you teach yourself to play in the pocket? i listen to the bassline sometimes to go off of that but it does not work sometimes............... help me please thank you

I got threatened. Simple... My MOM said "you do one more lick, and I will kick you in the throat".... Every since then... its all pocket.

I agree with the guys on this, discipline and listening. Thats excellent advice. I am learning from this as well.

[running4dalord]

i agree with all of them, regarding learning how to play the pocket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[D2288]

one thing someone taught me was to be able to move with the music..body motions while playing the song also enhances your pocket cause it gets you to feel what you are playing...I would often move, if I'm playing in 4/4, i would move to the right whenever I kicked the base drum and to the left when I hit the snare I would also move my head as well...it sounds crazy but it has helped me develop my pocket tremendously......It's also important to hear everything as someone said earlier when you get comfortable with hearing the entire band, you'll feel alot better..stay encouraged

Oh yea and everything that everyone else said as well

i agree. i also do the same it also helps if you close your eyes