Keep the Groove First and Foremost

I. Background

During a recent vacation in North Carolina, I had the opportunity to sit in with my friend’s band. It was a groove-jazz type of gig, and the band members were all playing in a relaxed, laid-back style. As a native New Yorker, my natural tendency is to inject a bit more energy into the music, often bordering on being ‘hyper.’ Even though the audience was clearly enjoying the performance, nodding along and applauding after each solo, I felt the music could have used a bit more excitement.

I asked my wife to take a video of the performance for an Instagram post, hoping to capture a memorable moment. However, upon reviewing the video, I noticed something that disappointed me deeply: I was rushing during my solo and even lost the groove at one point. Despite my decades of experience in teaching and playing, I had succumbed to one of the most fundamental errors a guitarist can make—failing to prioritize the groove.

It’s a common issue among guitarists, particularly those with less developed timing skills. I asked an AI, “Is it true that most guitarists whose time is poor tend to rush rather than drag?” The response was affirmative: “Yes, it is generally observed that guitarists with poor timing tend to rush rather than drag. This tendency is often due to a lack of control over their sense of timing or the nervousness and excitement during performances. Rushing can disrupt the rhythm and feel of the music, making it crucial for guitarists to practice with a metronome and focus on maintaining a steady tempo. This helps develop a solid internal sense of timing, reducing the tendency to rush.”

Guitarist Guthrie Govan has addressed this tendency, emphasizing the importance of accuracy over speed: “Speed is a by-product of accuracy.” Similarly, in his book The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music, bassist Victor Wooten stresses the importance of maintaining the groove over technical perfection. He famously said, “Never lose the groove in order to find a note,” highlighting that the feel and rhythm of the music are paramount and should not be compromised for technical details.

II. Critique

Here’s the video of my solo on Blue Bossa.  Blue Bossa is a simple tune, which should have made it easy to maintain the groove. However, eager to inject some excitement, I found myself pushing the beat right from the start. Around 1:18, I attempted an extended triplet motif but failed to keep my body anchored in the original pulse, leading to a mental disconnect. By 1:58, I was clearly ahead of the beat and had to take a moment around 2:07 to find it again. Although I managed to stay in the groove for a while, by 2:40, I was once again pushing too far ahead until the end of the solo.

The video also revealed physical tension, especially around the 3:00 mark, where my body, neck, and face were visibly tight. This tension mirrored my internal struggle to make the performance exciting, but it ultimately detracted from the music’s impact. The early ending of the solo, which was intended to be dramatic, fell flat because it wasn’t “in the pocket.”

III. Feel the Groove

Maintaining the groove is essential for any musician. Here are some practical tips for developing and maintaining a strong sense of groove:

1. Play Along with a Drum or Backing Track: This helps simulate playing with a band and reinforces steady timing.

2. Slow Practice: For difficult passages or techniques that might throw off your rhythm, start at a slower tempo to focus on precision and gradually increase speed.

3. Play with Other Musicians: Collaborating with others enhances your timing and rhythm, as you must stay in sync with the group.

4. Use a Looper Pedal: Recording loops and playing along can reveal timing discrepancies. This tool is especially useful for practicing coordination, as starting and stopping loops on beat can be challenging.

5. Internalize the Pulse: Develop your internal clock by feeling the beat, even when not playing. Engage physically with the rhythm by tapping your foot or bobbing your head.

6. Record Yourself: Regularly recording and reviewing practice sessions helps identify timing issues. Listen with a critical ear and note when and how you drift off the beat.

7. Practice with Different Tempos: Experimenting with various tempos helps improve flexibility and accuracy across a range of speeds.

8. Subdivision Awareness: Focus on smaller subdivisions within the beat, such as eighth notes or triplets, to maintain rhythmic precision.

9. Practice with Click Accents: Use a metronome with accents on different beats to challenge and improve your sense of timing.

10. Sing or Clap Rhythms: Practicing complex rhythms away from your instrument helps internalize timing.

11. Delayed Note Exercises: Practicing playing slightly behind the beat develops control over timing and can add a unique emotional quality to your solos.

IV. Keep Physically and Mentally Relaxed

Staying relaxed is crucial for maintaining the groove.

Physically:

• Stretching: Gentle stretches can loosen muscles and reduce tension.
• Warm-Up Exercises: Simple exercises prepare you physically and mentally for playing.
• Deep Breathing: Helps calm nerves and reduce anxiety.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense and release muscle groups to promote relaxation.
• Controlled Movements: Minimize unnecessary movements to conserve energy and reduce tension.
• Posture Awareness: Maintain good posture to avoid physical strain and improve breath control.
• Grounding Techniques: Feel the connection between your feet and the ground for stability and calmness.
• Quiet Time: Spend a few moments alone before performing to gather your thoughts.
• Smile:  Yes you heard right. The simple act of smiling, as I have written in my article “Smile, Soft, Simple, Swingin’, Space, Shape,” can help relieve tension throughout your body.

Mentally:

• Visualization: Mentally rehearse playing in time, focusing on rhythm and feel.
• Positive Affirmations: Use calming and supportive self-talk, like “I’m prepared and capable.”
• Focus on the Process: Concentrate on the music rather than the outcome.
• Mindfulness Techniques: Stay present and aware of the moment.
• Mindful Acceptance: Accept anxiety as a natural part of performing and use it to focus.
• Accept Mistakes: Understand that mistakes are part of live performance.
• Detach from Judgment: Focus on enjoying the music rather than self-criticism.
• Internal Dialogue Control: Replace negative thoughts with neutral observations.
• Set Intentions: Remember the purpose of your performance, whether it’s sharing music or expressing yourself.

V.  Additional Ways to Practice Keeping the Groove

In addition to these, I recommend the following ways to practice:

• Practice Realistically: When you practice, try to simulate a performance situation by standing, pretending there’s an audience, playing amplified with your normal setup.Improvisation Practice: If you lose the groove while improvising, practice by playing very simple lines with good time, and build slowly, staying in the groove as you build more and more complicated lines.

 

By incorporating these techniques and staying relaxed, you can prioritize the groove and deliver compelling performances. Remember, the groove is the foundation of the music, and keeping it steady and strong will enhance your playing and make your performances memorable.

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