You just explained really what can’t be explained. It’s one of those things in life that if you got it, you got it. And most don’t know but they should now thanks to you
Being in the pocket with other musicians is like ecstasy - All musicians are playing a different part of a song but it fits perfectly well together and they all know it. It's a beautiful high. The heavenly state of being in harmony with each other as musicians. I suspect that a surfer has a similar experience when she or he knows that they have perfect control of the wave they are riding
This is so eloquently accurate. I am teaching students that haven’t had the opportunity to be exposed to American culture about the pocket. The way you described it with both technical precision and emotion is awesome . I shared this with them and I know they will benefit.
I'm not a drummer but a bassist. I've heard of the pocket but never really bothered to get further (which I intend on fixing) but I go by what James Brown or Bootsy Collins say and I always return to the 1. Fit anything I want in between but ALWAYS must return to that 1. I should add I'm also not a professional and just jam with friends. Thank you for the explanation, I hear so many people toss the word around but never properly explain it to me when I ask.
2 years late but you should look up billy Jean live drummer- his pocket is really good and the first thing that comes to mind when I think pocket. Most of Michael Jackson stuff got good pockets.
You Have done in, i salute you Samuel. I always tell The guys i play with, If we play music And the Audience(kids Playing in the Area) don't dont Dance to our Groove, Than we are messing up...
Hope we can ALL be in the pocket someday as human beings. Pocket is that human element, swinging off of the grid but not so much to feel off beat overall.
Wow.... some people have DISLIKED this video?? Really? Bro this is a fantastic explanation of what people were asking. I think a musical layman would even understand. Extremely well done! Thank you!
I can unmistakably hear when a drummer or groove is inside the pocket, and even know how to creat that feel when making music but when I try to rationalize how it works it escapes me.
you could also address how relaxed playing (never rushing notes slightly ahead of the beat/metronome, and instead instead falling slightly behind if not dead on with the click), makes engineers’ jobs WAY easier if a recording needs to be edited to improve the groove. that in addition to be much groovier than rushing notes, of course. to fixed rushed playing, the engineer has to add time to the track (or group of tracks), which can cause displeasurable audio stretching artifacts, or distracting duplicated “air”, or ugly, artificially extended sustains. but removing time is much simpler for the engineer (ie ableton’s cut time function and pro tools’ shuffle mode), and does not create the hurdles and artifacts of adding time/air
Interesting! I’d agree except I think most folks that rush aren’t attuned enough to micro timing to make those type of adjustments. It is much easier to cut than add time though
The relation definition part helped alot. I’ve been producing music by myself trying to get better, but how am I to know the pocket if I don’t play with anyone else? Video helped on more than one perspective! Thanks.
Bro I would highly recommend playing with other people even if it’s just jamming at the house. You might also be able to get some real feedback that helps your production👍🏾
Well stated! The triangle analogy was GREAT! I had the pleasure of doing a gig with you with Jasmine & Company and I never knew you had this UA-cam channel. Great stuff!
As amateur that's long wondered what "in the pocket" and "push and pull" meant, your triangle analogy makes great sense! And why a computerized static tringle with a dot inside is missing the life that comes with really talented people trying to keep it together. If I ever feel that pocket, I'll know what's going on. Cheers!
Make sure you practise with a metronome. That's one of the biggest differences I've experienced between Pro and amateur musicians. Many years ago I stopped auditioning players if they said they didn't use a click. It saved me a great deal of time, money and energy
Best explanation for non (especially feel) listeners or musicians. His describing that music moment that you strive to lock in for. Perfect imperfection of dirty groove!
E aê cara! Muito boa explicação. Comecei a pesquisar sobre o pocket por recomendação de um outro baterista. Aqui no Brasil 🇧🇷, não se ouve muito sobre!
I’m not a rapper but I don’t think you’re right. If that was the case all flows and cadences would sound the same. What you’re describing is simply rapping on beat
all the things you said apply. however my understanding has always been the bass and drums locking in. however the bass is not pushing the beat…. either the bass or the drums are “laying back”. bass is slightly behind the beat. silly me. the truth is this frustrates the hell out of me. My first bands were blues and I played with some great blues drummers and bass players. Now I have a country band and the drummer and bass come from different genres. and they can swing but the flat tire or similar is not great. however playing on the beat has its advantages too. what I really don’t like is when the beat is being pushed…I can tell when the pocket is not happening, but could not for the life of me I can’t describe to either of those guys how to fix it.
@@oyajiblues thanks for your comment!“Locking in” can still happen with the bass a little behind the beat in my experience, but there is something that feels good when the bass and kick drum are both dead center for live performance. The only time the bass player playing in front of the beat that feels good to me in a straightahead Jazz situation. Thanks for watching!
@@blackpranther I have always known when it was happening and repeating could be elusive. However, I tried to push it on the band playing guitar and that shit is hard! It’s one thing to need your limbs to each have a brain while that is going on there is another level. I guess it’s like singing the hardest stuff is what seems wrong to your ear.
That’s definitely one interpretation, but the assertiveness, knowing the parts, commitment to a theme etc. all need to be done with a consistent accuracy in relationship to the other players IMO
Love the video dude. I'd recommend anyone who wants a great example of studio 'pocket', listen to Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Everything is played by Stevie except the horns but the pocket is amazing!!
If you play mtg, one way to look at it is like when you get your combo online. Alternatively, I often compare it to the flow state like feeling that is specific to music. If the “stars align” while you are playing you just get in the pocket man. Same way you sometimes enter flow state in an athletic event and sometimes you don’t.
I'd say it's the groove of the space within a groove. Essentially swing, but playing to the already established swing of something else. In my mind, there can be extensive grooves to be found within a groove and to be in the pocket would be to play that silent groove. It is definitely more often felt than described. Something you shouldn't strive for, just wait for it
Example for live instrumentation James Brown and The JB's Case Study : Clyde Stubblfield Example for Drum Programming using Drum Machines. - DJ PREMIER - Pete Rock - Large Professor - Beatminerz - 9th Wonder - Byron The Aquarius - J -.Dilla - Lord Finesse - Young GURU - Timbaland - QTip - Da Bomb Squad (Public Enemy) - Dr. DRE - Swizz Beatz - Organized Noise (ATL) - Just Blaze - Kanye West (Vintage Model : First 3 Albums Catalog Sound)
Great explanation, especially the part about knowing you’re in the pocket when the sisters really start moving. When a rhythm section locks in like that you can feel it. As a drummer, your whole body just grooves and vibrates and the drums almost play themselves. It’s magic. Really hard to do in a programmed MIDI environment. I’ve done it, but it’s a ton of work. When you have a couple live players who are good, it’s a TON easier.
Thank you for explaining this with your examples! The pocket is one of those “I know it when I feel it” things as opposed to “hearing” it. The first chorus to intro-riff in “Man in the box” by AIC is a lesser known one; the beat slows down in such a natural way because it feels like it should.
this is a great explanation. 2:18 🎯🎯🎯 ***the pocket is NOT the grid*** (sometimes it can be, but don’t assume that shifting notes or LFOs onto the grid will get the best groove out of the track)
I did a spit take with my vape when you said you just hit 700 subscribers, I really thought this was from a 2M+ subscriber pro musician account. Great video
Here's an idea: you already work with _Reason._ You already _mentioned_ this DAW being capable of using "grooves". Now how about you *show* what that _looks_ like in the waveform view of the multitrack? It is MUCH easier to understand when you can actually SEE the dragging and rushing in the timeline.
I think you perfectly nailed what playing in the pocket means. From time to time, while playing with some bands, them and i we reached this result...apart from what i can hear, i notice it when i see every other musician smiling and dancing. Hard to achieve but sooo cool!
What’s crazy is.. when you’re so on beat - it’s not pocket.. it sounds mechanical.. but then if it’s slightly off but still in time.. suddenly there is a flavor.. and it’s something i think machine cannot do at all. It feels like the essence of humanity itself haha - true peace on earth. And 100% you end up on repeating.. it’s eh[horia.. I think some people I used play didn’t understand this. Majority were punk rock.. which I don’t think really got what pockets were. And other musicians I played with wanted complex fills every second.but that’s not how you get to that pocket.. when rock gets that pocket, it’s starts to feel like droning and flying…but you can’t get to that feel if you’re just playing solos and crap non-stop. Good explanation :)
Yes, absolutely! Being too busy can get in the way of the pocket settling in. I really feel bad for musicians that have not actually experienced this feeling, often they don't even really understand why it's what they should be aiming for.
I have taken a close look at a lot of music, and one thing I have done with existing pro songs that are out there in the ecosystem is to check how precise the tempo is, using a DAW that can precisely measure this, quarter note to quarter note. What I guess I should not find surprising, is that regardless how tight the group is, regardless how perfect the timing sounds, regardless how consistent it sounds, and regardless that a click track was used, I have yet to find anything that was a flat line on the tempo readout. Virtually everything resulted in a graph with constant changes in tempo, quarter note to quarter note. For a song with an average tempo of 90, it could easily have moments where the tempo dropped to 80 or shot to 100, and even so, upon purely listening, it sounded super tight. I'd think 'that drummer is a effing ma-CHINE!', but the evidence shows every single tune has this sort of variance in it. But even tempo shifts of this magnitude are virtually invisible, which I found surprising. It is only when group members stray from the pocket the group is in, that it might stick out.
Yes!!!!! I agree completely. It's only a problem when one corner of the triangle gets too far too fast for everybody else to respond to. Some of the greatest tunes have a huge variance in tempo metronomically
Very Cool! I checked him out a little. Make sure to check out his likely influences too ... Biggie, The Fugees, Tribe Called Quest too; I saw you already are on KRS 👍🏾
🤣🤣🤣 Thank Corona for that. I live in a row house so unfortunately tracking drums isn’t a possibility even if I were trying to go through that trouble. When I get a better situation to record I’ll definitely keep that in mind tho 👍🏾
Well explained,Samuel.ITs def a feel thing.I was playing so much music at one period that was pocket,and then I did a Musical Theatre tour and I had to learn to play most of the tunes on top of the click (well,half of the band told me that!) and I practised my arse off doing that too.
Great! Wow well explained. Suggestion for next episode: what’s swinging? Maybe from the perspective of jazz of the past 30 or so years. Subscribed and liked!
That is a very interesting idea! I suppose especially in today’s musical climate it might be a good idea to clear up that it’s not just a knob in your DAW 😂
You are very well spoken. Thank you for the education on this. I hadn't heard of the pocket before, but the concept does make sense to me and I see its value as a producer.
Thanks, admittedly some of that is the edit LOL my less well spoken moments will stay forever on my hard drive 😂 I'm glad it makes sense to you, feel free to drop any ideas for future shows in the comments!
What a load of waffle. The pocket is often mystified and overcomplicated but it's a pretty simple concept; it's just where you hit the beat in relation to where it technically 'should' be in a flat count. Say we have a 4/4, .. we're counting a flat 1 2 3 4... now imagine the snare is on the 2... the pocket refers to where you place that snare in relation to the flat 2 beat. Do you push the beat and have it come before the 2, or pull it and have it come after, and if so, how much? This is how you define the pocket and determine the feel or groove of a beat. A band all playing in the pocket has nothing do with the actual pocket, and more to do with their time keeping abilities.
Some people might think my description is simpler than what you just wrote, but that’s why the Internet is great to learn; there are so many great resources so you can find the one that clicks best for you personally. I would strongly disagree that it’s only about where the two and four falls, the upbeats are really where the groove lives in my opinion.
Why is it “Bamma Sh!t”? Are you saying that I should’ve mentioned DC and Go-Go music? Maybe so. I’m from DC; I love Go-Go, but the term pocket isn’t exclusive to it. I should know, I’ve played with Jammin’ Jeff, Sugar Foot, and Sugar Bear...calm down bro, Its all love here✊🏾 I’m always down for constructive criticism but let keep it positive🙏🏾 ua-cam.com/video/diz7mJPPmzs/v-deo.html
@@blackpranther Yep it's a must, that anytime u mention key words like #pocket#Go,plus u saying GO without the other#GO ,Can't be left out at all,iam a #DC #FBA Native,I definitely respect UR Craft,an all ur work /don't get me wrong..Hommage..WE MUST PAY.#DONTMUTEDC,Um sure uk bout that,No DISRESPECT ✌🏿👍🏿
Now try to explain the pocket when a bunch of percussionists are IMPROVISING n jamming where at any moment anyone might take off on a solo. Especially like super advanced djembe players have an extreme sense of timing where they play some seriously crazy timing but somehow still in the end make it work and land it back on beat with the rest. Usually u kind of jus look at each other and give this look like "get ready I'm about to take off!"
I’d liken that more to a discussion where the pocket is the topic. If we all agree on the topic, it’s easy to make a improvised statement or addition to the discussion. I love drum circle stuff too ✊🏾
@@blackpranther but doesn't percussion improv jamming in say like a drummer, a timbales player, couple of djembes also have the element of the pocket. As each person is trying to maintain that nice bounce groove. Especially when the lower tone drums lock in perfectly with the higher toned drums, like when one drummer find that perfect down beat side and the other drummer is completing the opposite n u clickkkk into a perfect groove that feeds off of each other. And u r all holding it right there in the sweet spot. Would that be considered a pocket?
I don’t feel like the back beat is always a requirement to be in the pocket. It’s really just a feeling that you get from the push and pull of players locking in together
Today's a first for listening to your channel, and I MUST say, this is one of the BEST explanations of "the pocket" I've heard described in a video! I was looking for something to share with a bass player at my church. He often seems to drag behind the piano, but drags only a little less when our drummer is present. I'm sharing it with him to help him hear and see what a gospel, spirit- filled, rthym section lives for (pocket). I think pocket starts with an appreciation of the various waves emitting from others helping to form the "pocket." It's a comfortable, musical search for that conjoined sonic wave that you "feel" when you arrive there!!! It's a beautiful ride when you feel everybody pushing it in the same direction. As a jazz vocalist, I count on the pocket to help me groove with it during solos. Many gospel melodies are specifically written to ride on and around the pocket, with emphasis often expressed during various vamps as the song builds.
Great explanation. As someone who’s still new at playing in a group, this was really helpful and verbalized in a way that I could really understand. Thanks. Cant wait to apply some of this next weekend.
David Oh I hadn’t thought about audio examples but I gave a few in my video about playing behind the beat. Programming Behind the Beat ua-cam.com/video/9L-O3lWptUE/v-deo.html
That’s a great question! I have no answer besides a guess. I think it comes from the colloquialism “out of pocket” and “in the pocket” loosely meaning to do or not do something broadly understood to be unacceptable.
I hear pocket as the imperfect usage of triple time in a linear 4/4 tempo. A lot of the swing comes from using triple time quadrants in a linear 4/4 tempo.The cool thing about this is that even if you’re late on one note, you can come back on beat and it gives you that little extra head snap or that body groove. I love doing this with hi hats by making them slightly off-beat but an on beat kick drum/snare. Gives you so extra swing while staying in that linear tempo.
I agree but even when things are pin straight there's usually still a tension between in front side and backside of the beat. I'd also question what you mean by "no swing" because there is almost always SOME even if it's not enough to sound register as being swing. ua-cam.com/video/JXyIA3Jx8fg/v-deo.html
I was taught pocket means the beat is not 4 pin points per measure... it's for hollow dots. The bass may be a little ahead of center and guitar behind, but we are all landing in the circle each beat.
I think that’s a cool way to represent it. The placement of the upbeats is important to be a little smaller circle though, those really define the groove
![He told me how to Find the Pocket with ANY Band [ft. Tim Pierce]](/img/n.gif)
You just explained really what can’t be explained. It’s one of those things in life that if you got it, you got it. And most don’t know but they should now thanks to you
You nailed it 👍
100% it's something anyone can learn!
You'll know when you're in the pocket when you start makin stank face or sayin "Ooo damn"
Most definitely 😂
Being in the pocket with other musicians is like ecstasy - All musicians are playing a different part of a song but it fits perfectly well together and they all know it. It's a beautiful high. The heavenly state of being in harmony with each other as musicians. I suspect that a surfer has a similar experience when she or he knows that they have perfect control of the wave they are riding
EVERYTHING you just said!!!
@@blackpranther Thanks! - All the best.
Felt like ecstasy reading this description of what the pocket is,beautiful explanation 👌
I appreciate your attempt to describe such an abstract idea with a concrete description! It’s not an easy task, but you did it well.
Thank you! I didn’t realize how hard it was to describe until I had to explain it lol
It's really not all that abstract.
@@atthecore4560 mmmmmkj
For real, it's a very simple concept@@atthecore4560
This is so eloquently accurate. I am teaching students that haven’t had the opportunity to be exposed to American culture about the pocket. The way you described it with both technical precision and emotion is awesome . I shared this with them and I know they will benefit.
Awesome! Let me know if there’s any topic I haven’t covered that your students might benefit from 🙏🏾
Love the triangle analogy. It’s spot on!
I'm not a drummer but a bassist. I've heard of the pocket but never really bothered to get further (which I intend on fixing) but I go by what James Brown or Bootsy Collins say and I always return to the 1. Fit anything I want in between but ALWAYS must return to that 1. I should add I'm also not a professional and just jam with friends. Thank you for the explanation, I hear so many people toss the word around but never properly explain it to me when I ask.
Roderic Bass That’s definitely a way I’ve heard it described too. Keep laying it down 🎶✊🏾
2 years late but you should look up billy Jean live drummer- his pocket is really good and the first thing that comes to mind when I think pocket. Most of Michael Jackson stuff got good pockets.
Body grooving / head nodding is a great visual way to explain. Any robotic music does not gain that result. Thank you
Absolutely. People respond to those human nuances big time
It's the push and pull. That's a great way to explain it too. I like to that sir.
I like the triangle explanation 🧐
Solid ✊🏾 I try to find different ways to approach explaining things
You Have done in, i salute you Samuel. I always tell The guys i play with, If we play music And the Audience(kids Playing in the Area) don't dont Dance to our Groove, Than we are messing up...
The pocket is your ability to transition from lyric to lyric and be in sync with the beat simultaneously.
The Pocket to me means a locked in groove. Usually between a drummer and a bassist. The whole thing moves as one.
….When the bassist thinks like a drummer
@@Tuliomurillo 100%. People would be surprised to know a lot of people can’t get to a pocket because they don’t listen to the drummer
Hope we can ALL be in the pocket someday as human beings. Pocket is that human element, swinging off of the grid but not so much to feel off beat overall.
Well said!
Wow.... some people have DISLIKED this video?? Really?
Bro this is a fantastic explanation of what people were asking. I think a musical layman would even understand. Extremely well done! Thank you!
I know right?! You can’t please everybody but I’m glad you liked it ✊🏾 Please don’t hesitate to drop any topics you want me to cover in the comments
Relax, they're just Australian viewers, everything is upside down
They don't like it because its not a scientific answer
Yosua Mokalu 😂👍🏾
People who can’t get pockets haha
This was perfectly explained! Love it! ❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I can unmistakably hear when a drummer or groove is inside the pocket, and even know how to creat that feel when making music but when I try to rationalize how it works it escapes me.
That's explanation I've been looking for. Thanks
Lol people confuse playing pocket with playing simple 😂 thank you for this
Yeah, if it was so simple, anybody could do it 😎
This is awesome. I couldn’t have explained the pocket better. You nailed everything 🤙🏽
Thank you bro!
Great explanation! Thanks!
Thank you!
Listen to AC/DCs Gone Shootin'. Perfect example of a band in the pocket!
Spot on! Yes exactly. Or some of Stones older live shows, Charlie Watts killing it in "Live with me", "Mixed emotions" . So much pocket there
Couldn't agree more, the whole Powerage album is tight as hell !
Thanks! I love the explanation but also the background music: what's the name of the song?
Thanks! The background song is a track from my record with the solos muted lol music.apple.com/us/album/miss-timbo-pt-i/1457146974?i=1457147141
you could also address how relaxed playing (never rushing notes slightly ahead of the beat/metronome, and instead instead falling slightly behind if not dead on with the click), makes engineers’ jobs WAY easier if a recording needs to be edited to improve the groove. that in addition to be much groovier than rushing notes, of course.
to fixed rushed playing, the engineer has to add time to the track (or group of tracks), which can cause displeasurable audio stretching artifacts, or distracting duplicated “air”, or ugly, artificially extended sustains.
but removing time is much simpler for the engineer (ie ableton’s cut time function and pro tools’ shuffle mode), and does not create the hurdles and artifacts of adding time/air
Interesting! I’d agree except I think most folks that rush aren’t attuned enough to micro timing to make those type of adjustments. It is much easier to cut than add time though
The relation definition part helped alot. I’ve been producing music by myself trying to get better, but how am I to know the pocket if I don’t play with anyone else? Video helped on more than one perspective! Thanks.
Bro I would highly recommend playing with other people even if it’s just jamming at the house. You might also be able to get some real feedback that helps your production👍🏾
Well stated! The triangle analogy was GREAT! I had the pleasure of doing a gig with you with Jasmine & Company and I never knew you had this UA-cam channel. Great stuff!
What's up man!!!? Thank you man. You were killin on that gig!
That triangle metaphor/visual is awesome. Going to be keeping that one in mind - cheers!
This is the actual best description I've ever heard of the pocket. Amazing work man!
Karlheins Sohl Thank you!
As amateur that's long wondered what "in the pocket" and "push and pull" meant, your triangle analogy makes great sense! And why a computerized static tringle with a dot inside is missing the life that comes with really talented people trying to keep it together. If I ever feel that pocket, I'll know what's going on. Cheers!
Make sure you practise with a metronome.
That's one of the biggest differences I've experienced between Pro and amateur musicians.
Many years ago I stopped auditioning players if they said they didn't use a click.
It saved me a great deal of time, money and energy
Bro you give to much away
We still don’t learn👏🏾😡👏🏾💯
Best explanation for non (especially feel) listeners or musicians. His describing that music moment that you strive to lock in for. Perfect imperfection of dirty groove!
Great explanation!
Thanks! Glad you dig it!
Pocket seems to take on a life of it’s on when you reach it. It’s just as good as getting paid for the gig.
Loved the explanation 🎉
E aê cara!
Muito boa explicação. Comecei a pesquisar sobre o pocket por recomendação de um outro baterista. Aqui no Brasil 🇧🇷, não se ouve muito sobre!
Nice explanation. Thanks!
That was an excellent explanation!
George Mason Thanks! Let me know if there are any topics you’d like me to cover in the future✊🏾
Totally agree that you can't explain pocket, but you know it when you feel it. I've always thought of pocket as the space between the drums
It’s a feel good feeling
3:42 This isn't an opinion, this is the truth!
Thank you! 🙌🙏
The pocket happens in a rap verse when the rhyme words and stressed syllables all coincide with the beat
I’m not a rapper but I don’t think you’re right. If that was the case all flows and cadences would sound the same. What you’re describing is simply rapping on beat
all the things you said apply. however my understanding has always been the bass and drums locking in. however the bass is not pushing the beat…. either the bass or the drums are “laying back”. bass is slightly behind the beat. silly me. the truth is this frustrates the hell out of me. My first bands were blues and I played with some great blues drummers and bass players. Now I have a country band and the drummer and bass come from different genres. and they can swing but the flat tire or similar is not great. however playing on the beat has its advantages too. what I really don’t like is when the beat is being pushed…I can tell when the pocket is not happening, but could not for the life of me I can’t describe to either of those guys how to fix it.
@@oyajiblues thanks for your comment!“Locking in” can still happen with the bass a little behind the beat in my experience, but there is something that feels good when the bass and kick drum are both dead center for live performance. The only time the bass player playing in front of the beat that feels good to me in a straightahead Jazz situation. Thanks for watching!
@@blackpranther I have always known when it was happening and repeating could be elusive. However, I tried to push it on the band playing guitar and that shit is hard! It’s one thing to need your limbs to each have a brain while that is going on there is another level. I guess it’s like singing the hardest stuff is what seems wrong to your ear.
I thought the pocket was being really into whatever theme one is playing. Like knowing all the parts inside out and play with assertiveness.
That’s definitely one interpretation, but the assertiveness, knowing the parts, commitment to a theme etc. all need to be done with a consistent accuracy in relationship to the other players IMO
Yeah, you got it????!
Love the video dude. I'd recommend anyone who wants a great example of studio 'pocket', listen to Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Everything is played by Stevie except the horns but the pocket is amazing!!
Rickerby Music You’re right bro! I love that record
If you play mtg, one way to look at it is like when you get your combo online. Alternatively, I often compare it to the flow state like feeling that is specific to music. If the “stars align” while you are playing you just get in the pocket man. Same way you sometimes enter flow state in an athletic event and sometimes you don’t.
Yeah, I know it can be hit and miss, but these days I definitely aim to spend as much time in the pocket as I can :)
@@blackpranther definitely. Pocket is the best feeling lol.
I'd say it's the groove of the space within a groove. Essentially swing, but playing to the already established swing of something else. In my mind, there can be extensive grooves to be found within a groove and to be in the pocket would be to play that silent groove. It is definitely more often felt than described. Something you shouldn't strive for, just wait for it
thank you
Example for live instrumentation
James Brown and The JB's
Case Study : Clyde Stubblfield
Example for Drum Programming using Drum Machines.
- DJ PREMIER - Pete Rock
- Large Professor - Beatminerz
- 9th Wonder - Byron The Aquarius
- J -.Dilla - Lord Finesse
- Young GURU - Timbaland
- QTip
- Da Bomb Squad
(Public Enemy)
- Dr. DRE - Swizz Beatz
- Organized Noise (ATL)
- Just Blaze
- Kanye West (Vintage Model : First 3 Albums Catalog Sound)
Brandon Banks I love it bro. ABSOLUTELY
These are who i pull my influence from. These guys understood & applied James Brown's philosophy of "On The One"
Great explanation, especially the part about knowing you’re in the pocket when the sisters really start moving. When a rhythm section locks in like that you can feel it. As a drummer, your whole body just grooves and vibrates and the drums almost play themselves. It’s magic.
Really hard to do in a programmed MIDI environment. I’ve done it, but it’s a ton of work. When you have a couple live players who are good, it’s a TON easier.
💯
Ah, thanks for distinguishing metronomic time. I feel like I finally understand pocket
Thank you for explaining this with your examples! The pocket is one of those “I know it when I feel it” things as opposed to “hearing” it. The first chorus to intro-riff in “Man in the box” by AIC is a lesser known one; the beat slows down in such a natural way because it feels like it should.
I’m not hip to AIC but you’re right, it’s all about feel. Thanks for watching
@@blackpranther it’s like.. don’t think- feel it really is hard to explain but you know when you’re in it
Spot on summary! For musicians wanting to actually train this skill, the Swing Click metronome app is the one!
Your explanation is 'excellent'!! :)
Thank you🙏🏾
Can you explain the pocket for a rapper
Yes! Man... Thank you for this. My understanding was essentially the same, but I never could figure out how to articulate it.
Thanks, brother!
this is a great explanation. 2:18 🎯🎯🎯 ***the pocket is NOT the grid***
(sometimes it can be, but don’t assume that shifting notes or LFOs onto the grid will get the best groove out of the track)
This was super-helpful! I'm trying to explain "in the pocket" to a bunch of tech nerds, and gave me a bunch of ideas to use. Thanks.
Based on this I'd say you have a gift for describing the ineffable. Nice!
I did a spit take with my vape when you said you just hit 700 subscribers, I really thought this was from a 2M+ subscriber pro musician account. Great video
Kaden Moss 🤣🤣🤣🙏🏾
Never get why a Drummer a Pocket, He Never has anything to put in there !
Here's an idea: you already work with _Reason._ You already _mentioned_ this DAW being capable of using "grooves".
Now how about you *show* what that _looks_ like in the waveform view of the multitrack? It is MUCH easier to understand when you can actually SEE the dragging and rushing in the timeline.
Whoa!!! Great idea…
I think you perfectly nailed what playing in the pocket means. From time to time, while playing with some bands, them and i we reached this result...apart from what i can hear, i notice it when i see every other musician smiling and dancing. Hard to achieve but sooo cool!
It's me
Do you know Yoyoka? I always wonder why ppl comment "she's in the pocket" in her videos. I have to rewatch this..I still couldnt understand ..
astigmatik I’m not familiar with Yoyoka, but I can check them out. Please rewatch and let me know if it still doesn’t make sense 👍🏾
That definition 🔥🔥🔥 among the best I've heard. It's almost like temporal summetry/silence between beats.
Well explained!
Thank you!
This was beautifully explained!
What’s crazy is.. when you’re so on beat - it’s not pocket.. it sounds mechanical.. but then if it’s slightly off but still in time.. suddenly there is a flavor.. and it’s something i think machine cannot do at all. It feels like the essence of humanity itself haha - true peace on earth.
And 100% you end up on repeating.. it’s eh[horia.. I think some people I used play didn’t understand this. Majority were punk rock.. which I don’t think really got what pockets were.
And other musicians I played with wanted complex fills every second.but that’s not how you get to that pocket.. when rock gets that pocket, it’s starts to feel like droning and flying…but you can’t get to that feel if you’re just playing solos and crap non-stop.
Good explanation :)
Yes, absolutely! Being too busy can get in the way of the pocket settling in. I really feel bad for musicians that have not actually experienced this feeling, often they don't even really understand why it's what they should be aiming for.
I am a street amateur drummer, for me pocket is when I can stop people on the street, let them float away for a moment using just my drum(s) :)
I have taken a close look at a lot of music, and one thing I have done with existing pro songs that are out there in the ecosystem is to check how precise the tempo is, using a DAW that can precisely measure this, quarter note to quarter note.
What I guess I should not find surprising, is that regardless how tight the group is, regardless how perfect the timing sounds, regardless how consistent it sounds, and regardless that a click track was used, I have yet to find anything that was a flat line on the tempo readout. Virtually everything resulted in a graph with constant changes in tempo, quarter note to quarter note. For a song with an average tempo of 90, it could easily have moments where the tempo dropped to 80 or shot to 100, and even so, upon purely listening, it sounded super tight.
I'd think 'that drummer is a effing ma-CHINE!', but the evidence shows every single tune has this sort of variance in it. But even tempo shifts of this magnitude are virtually invisible, which I found surprising. It is only when group members stray from the pocket the group is in, that it might stick out.
Yes!!!!! I agree completely. It's only a problem when one corner of the triangle gets too far too fast for everybody else to respond to. Some of the greatest tunes have a huge variance in tempo metronomically
I am studying all this stuff because of a crazy rapper called Harry Mack, also a jazz drummer.... Everybody needs to check him up
Very Cool! I checked him out a little. Make sure to check out his likely influences too ... Biggie, The Fugees, Tribe Called Quest too; I saw you already are on KRS 👍🏾
I watched this and my pocket put me in a pocket 😅
this guys is certainly talented, but like every youtube drummer, he does more talking than playing...
🤣🤣🤣 Thank Corona for that. I live in a row house so unfortunately tracking drums isn’t a possibility even if I were trying to go through that trouble. When I get a better situation to record I’ll definitely keep that in mind tho 👍🏾
I was just thinking about he looks just like Lawrence Fishburne and less than a minute in he does a Morpheus impression
😂😂😂
Well explained,Samuel.ITs def a feel thing.I was playing so much music at one period that was pocket,and then I did a Musical Theatre tour and I had to learn to play most of the tunes on top of the click (well,half of the band told me that!) and I practised my arse off doing that too.
Thanks! Yup, feel is a huge part of it. Managing those micro adjustments in timing and and tempo are key 👍🏾
This was a great explanation, man. Have tried to explain it to people before especially when pushing back against over-quantizing.
Yeah tracks don't have any energy without that push and pull of the human touch
Thank you I needed this
Great! Wow well explained. Suggestion for next episode: what’s swinging? Maybe from the perspective of jazz of the past 30 or so years. Subscribed and liked!
That is a very interesting idea! I suppose especially in today’s musical climate it might be a good idea to clear up that it’s not just a knob in your DAW 😂
+1 I'd like to see and hear your no nonsense approach on swing also.
Turn up that Swing knob to 11! 😉
Pockets to me are just grooves n where u accentuate the kicks or down/upbeats of melodies
from the 46 Yup! To me it’s really about being locked in✊🏾
@@blackpranther facts
You are very well spoken. Thank you for the education on this. I hadn't heard of the pocket before, but the concept does make sense to me and I see its value as a producer.
Thanks, admittedly some of that is the edit LOL my less well spoken moments will stay forever on my hard drive 😂 I'm glad it makes sense to you, feel free to drop any ideas for future shows in the comments!
What a load of waffle. The pocket is often mystified and overcomplicated but it's a pretty simple concept; it's just where you hit the beat in relation to where it technically 'should' be in a flat count. Say we have a 4/4, .. we're counting a flat 1 2 3 4... now imagine the snare is on the 2... the pocket refers to where you place that snare in relation to the flat 2 beat. Do you push the beat and have it come before the 2, or pull it and have it come after, and if so, how much? This is how you define the pocket and determine the feel or groove of a beat. A band all playing in the pocket has nothing do with the actual pocket, and more to do with their time keeping abilities.
Some people might think my description is simpler than what you just wrote, but that’s why the Internet is great to learn; there are so many great resources so you can find the one that clicks best for you personally. I would strongly disagree that it’s only about where the two and four falls, the upbeats are really where the groove lives in my opinion.
popNemo @@blackpranther
My man always
MAN THIS SOME BAMMA SHIT.GO?WTF!?GO-GO,A JOE MANN THIS BAMMA BEEN SENT BY.... (STAY WOKE)#DON'TMUTEDC
Why is it “Bamma Sh!t”? Are you saying that I should’ve mentioned DC and Go-Go music? Maybe so. I’m from DC; I love Go-Go, but the term pocket isn’t exclusive to it. I should know, I’ve played with Jammin’ Jeff, Sugar Foot, and Sugar Bear...calm down bro, Its all love here✊🏾 I’m always down for constructive criticism but let keep it positive🙏🏾
ua-cam.com/video/diz7mJPPmzs/v-deo.html
@@blackpranther Yep it's a must, that anytime u mention key words like #pocket#Go,plus u saying GO without the other#GO ,Can't be left out at all,iam a #DC #FBA Native,I definitely respect UR Craft,an all ur work /don't get me wrong..Hommage..WE MUST PAY.#DONTMUTEDC,Um sure uk bout that,No DISRESPECT ✌🏿👍🏿
Now try to explain the pocket when a bunch of percussionists are IMPROVISING n jamming where at any moment anyone might take off on a solo. Especially like super advanced djembe players have an extreme sense of timing where they play some seriously crazy timing but somehow still in the end make it work and land it back on beat with the rest. Usually u kind of jus look at each other and give this look like "get ready I'm about to take off!"
I’d liken that more to a discussion where the pocket is the topic. If we all agree on the topic, it’s easy to make a improvised statement or addition to the discussion. I love drum circle stuff too ✊🏾
@@blackpranther but doesn't percussion improv jamming in say like a drummer, a timbales player, couple of djembes also have the element of the pocket. As each person is trying to maintain that nice bounce groove. Especially when the lower tone drums lock in perfectly with the higher toned drums, like when one drummer find that perfect down beat side and the other drummer is completing the opposite n u clickkkk into a perfect groove that feeds off of each other. And u r all holding it right there in the sweet spot. Would that be considered a pocket?
@@thebicycleman8062 Absolutely. The drum set is just an attempt to make one person mimic the sound of multiple players
I always thought the pocket was playing on the “back beat” or just accenting the groove
I don’t feel like the back beat is always a requirement to be in the pocket. It’s really just a feeling that you get from the push and pull of players locking in together
@@blackpranther I get that now thanks man, I guess that’s what everyone’s trying to do is “stay in the pocket”
basically early 70's james brown's music
Yessahhhh LOL
Today's a first for listening to your channel, and I MUST say, this is one of the BEST explanations of "the pocket" I've heard described in a video!
I was looking for something to share with a bass player at my church. He often seems to drag behind the piano, but drags only a little less when our drummer is present. I'm sharing it with him to help him hear and see what a gospel, spirit- filled, rthym section lives for (pocket).
I think pocket starts with an appreciation of the various waves emitting from others helping to form the "pocket."
It's a comfortable, musical search for that conjoined sonic wave that you "feel" when you arrive there!!!
It's a beautiful ride when you feel everybody pushing it in the same direction.
As a jazz vocalist, I count on the pocket to help me groove with it during solos.
Many gospel melodies are specifically written to ride on and around the pocket, with emphasis often expressed during various vamps as the song builds.
Great explanation. As someone who’s still new at playing in a group, this was really helpful and verbalized in a way that I could really understand. Thanks. Cant wait to apply some of this next weekend.
Spot on. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks Nick!
If you see sisters dancing to what you're doing - that's all you had to say! (But all the rest really helped, too.)
Bruce Elliott 🤣👍🏾
Really great stuff, thanks.
Thanks Russ!
Easily one of the most informative music vids I've seen in the past year! thanks!
I like how you explained it but can you add examples
David Oh I hadn’t thought about audio examples but I gave a few in my video about playing behind the beat. Programming Behind the Beat
ua-cam.com/video/9L-O3lWptUE/v-deo.html
Why is it called so ?
That’s a great question! I have no answer besides a guess. I think it comes from the colloquialism “out of pocket” and “in the pocket” loosely meaning to do or not do something broadly understood to be unacceptable.
Am I the only one who noticed he resembled Lawrence Fishburne minus the glasses when he did that Morpheus impression?
Mapalo Shikapwasha 🤣
I hear pocket as the imperfect usage of triple time in a linear 4/4 tempo. A lot of the swing comes from using triple time quadrants in a linear 4/4 tempo.The cool thing about this is that even if you’re late on one note, you can come back on beat and it gives you that little extra head snap or that body groove. I love doing this with hi hats by making them slightly off-beat but an on beat kick drum/snare. Gives you so extra swing while staying in that linear tempo.
I hear you, but I think the pocket can have a much wider definition. It's possible to be deep in the pocket with no swing anywhere
I agree but even when things are pin straight there's usually still a tension between in front side and backside of the beat. I'd also question what you mean by "no swing" because there is almost always SOME even if it's not enough to sound register as being swing. ua-cam.com/video/JXyIA3Jx8fg/v-deo.html
I was taught pocket means the beat is not 4 pin points per measure... it's for hollow dots. The bass may be a little ahead of center and guitar behind, but we are all landing in the circle each beat.
I think that’s a cool way to represent it. The placement of the upbeats is important to be a little smaller circle though, those really define the groove
This description is absolutely brilliant.