Playing ahead of the beat

[weapon]

This is going to sound weird but I actually have to play standing up and use my whole body to keep beat, I can't actually play on beat if I sit and play, it's just a mental block with me but it's how I work. I guess what I am trying to say is, beat and timing are different for everybody, I know people that can just literally count and stay on time, I know others that have to tap. I was actually reading once that it had to do with which part of your brain hemisphere you use more, so you have to determine if you are more left brained or right brain, then it should be pretty easy to figure your own technique out.

[allends]

Nov 13, 2008, 11:07am, weapon wrote:This is going to sound weird but I actually have to play standing up.That's easy for you to say because you wear rock star shoes!<inside joke>-Allen

[elser]

Hi Trent, it's actually a very simple and essential question. Get a metronome and play with it all the time. Mine runs in the background constantly. I set it so that I'm hearing it on 2 and 4 rather than straight quarter notes. You'll get to where you can play behind or in front of the beat or right in the pocket. You'll become more soulful and you'll be able to mix with other musicians more easily. It doesn't come easily but it's well worth the effort in my opinion.Hope that helps.Elser

[mojobone]

Here's another exercise I used to use: while reheating anything in the microwave, (I use coffee for this, YMMV) practice counting two beats per second while looking away from the digital readout using "one and, two and, etc. 'til you get to the two syllable numbers; say yer hot pocket's in there for a minute, you should hear a "ding" about the time you reach 120.

[elser]

Nov 13, 2008, 3:40pm, mojobone wrote:Here's another exercise I used to use: while reheating anything in the microwave, (I use coffee for this, YMMV) practice counting two beats per second while looking away from the digital readout using "one and, two and, etc. 'til you get to the two syllable numbers; say yer hot pocket's in there for a minute, you should hear a "ding" about the time you reach 120.That's funny! I'm gonna try it.

[weapon]

Nov 13, 2008, 11:33am, allends wrote:Nov 13, 2008, 11:07am, weapon wrote:This is going to sound weird but I actually have to play standing up.That's easy for you to say because you wear rock star shoes!<inside joke>-AllenIt's all about the shoes...

[trentoliphant]

Nov 13, 2008, 3:40pm, mojobone wrote:Here's another exercise I used to use: while reheating anything in the microwave, (I use coffee for this, YMMV) practice counting two beats per second while looking away from the digital readout using "one and, two and, etc. 'til you get to the two syllable numbers; say yer hot pocket's in there for a minute, you should hear a "ding" about the time you reach 120.I'm going to have to try this.Elser - great idea on the metronome I will have to do that.My wife suggested I play some of those video games like guitar hero that are rhythm based (there are also a few on the internet that my kids play all the time). Anyone have any thoughts one the effectiveness of those.Thanks all for your great ideas.Trent

[trentoliphant]

I've got to see these shoes

[mewman]

After reading this thread, I can't help but remember a game I used to play on the bus in Seattle when I was in music school. There were two separate motors for the windshield wipers and the blades would run at different speeds. I would keep the time of one motor tapping my thigh with my left hand, and keep time with the other motor on my other thigh with my right hand.Mewman

[weapon]

Is that anything like trying to rub your belly and pat your head at the same time?