In The Pocket

Grgzilla

Grgzilla

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I know my take on being"in the pocket" is,what's yours :?:
 
I'm interested to see what others think as well. For me, it's all I want to do well. Following the chord changes in a way that best suits the song, not the ego. Also, if it is a repeatitive line, playing it consistantly on every measure which is harder than I realized because my mind tends to drift off to things I want to do with the line. It's almost hypnotic. A good example is that old club song "Hit and Run"!
 
i haven't heard the phrase and at i guess i was thinking it was to do with having money.... :oops:
 
I beleive it also means being locked in tight with the drummer.
 
I've always taken it to be "locked in"

Thinking of being a part of the rhythm section, rather than just being the bass - so you get that amazing synergy where the bass and drums sound far much better than the sum of the parts! For example, a thudding bass note in time with the kick drum is a very obvious example... but then again, you may be pushing the beat, or pulling it... or syncopating... or not even playing a note at all... or with a fretless, sliding up so you reach the note at exactly the same time as the drummer whacks the drum.

Also fitting in with the rhythm giutarist (if you have one)... so you don't play any notes in a run that clash with the chords he/she is playing (if they're playing fancy jazzy chords in particular), and the rhythm of what you're playing fits in with his/her strumming... short choppy power chords, swing 8ths, "galloping" rhythm... and still trying to fit in with the drummer.

Anyone think bass playing is an "easy option"? Obviously none of you lot, as you're discerning enough to have a Warwick bass... :wink:
 
Groove.

In music school, you learn quick that every note is as important as the other, and what seperates a good bassist from a pro is an imaculate attention to detail, particuaryly in note leghth... once you play every note in a simple song exactly the same, than move on!
 
i always think of it as being an amazing musical relationship with the drums and bass.

but then ive heard people talking about it in terms of guitar playing too.
 
Never heard of it before, good to know what it means. I'd have thought it meant a politician that's in someone's pocket, so to speak, meaning they essentially work for someone.
 
Doc said:
Groove.

In music school, you learn quick that every note is as important as the other, and what seperates a good bassist from a pro is an imaculate attention to detail, particuaryly in note leghth... once you play every note in a simple song exactly the same, than move on!
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That's always a difficult thing to do. There's a noticable difference between a fourth and a dotted fourth.
And being in the pocket is, in my opinion, not limited to locking in with the drummer. As cheesy as it sounds, I feel it's more lokcing in to the song. I've heard symphony orchestras play in the pocket and really swing!
 
That is very correct Kris! Its also about matching changes in the bands volume and dynamics! Instead of turning up... turn down, or play real soft and bring the band back down if they end up to loud for example.
 
That's one thing I've had to learn playing in an orchestra: dynamics! There's a huge difference between pianissimo and forte fortissimo. Pat Metheny stresses the use of dynamics in music. Check out "The Roots of Coincidence" from the Imaginary Day album, he tried to base the whole song on being both very powerful and then very soft... It actually won a grammy for best rock instrumental! :D Or check out "The Way Up" album, I've mentioned it tons of times here but it's just that good! It plays like a concerto
 
Doog said:
Never heard of it before, good to know what it means. I'd have thought it meant a politician that's in someone's pocket, so to speak, meaning they essentially work for someone.
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Hehe, me too. Or like "being in someones pocket", meaning someone is bribed or similar.
 
...and being "In the Pocket" will keep your telephone ringing "off of the hook"!
 
That is a great quote!

A while back, Bass Player Magazine had a special edition called "Legends of Funk and R&B".
Naturally, I was heartbroken that my name wasn't even mentioned in that particular magazine!

Seriously, Will Lee was one of the 30 or so bassists interviewed, and he was asked about the essential elements of playing funk bass, and his reply was something like " I can sum it all up in two words...THE POCKET".

Enough said.
 
Oil Can said:
That is a great quote!

A while back, Bass Player Magazine had a special edition called "Legends of Funk and R&B".
Naturally, I was heartbroken that my name wasn't even mentioned in that particular magazine!

Seriously, Will Lee was one of the 30 or so bassists interviewed, and he was asked about the essential elements of playing funk bass, and his reply was something like " I can sum it all up in two words...THE POCKET".

Enough said.
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:lol: Did you happen to see my name in the article? 8)

On a more serious note - Will Lee rocks.
 
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