How to Integrate a Steady Pulse into Your Playing

[dfrankjazz]

Join Dave Frank for a class on how to develop a strong, steady pulse in your playing. Designed for beginning/intermediate players, this class will have you pulsating) Free.

Did you have a Jewish grandfather with a good sense of rhythm?

[keypeg]

Join Dave Frank for a class on how to develop a strong, steady pulse in your playing. Designed for beginning/intermediate players, this class will have you pulsating) Free.

Did you have a Jewish grandfather with a good sense of rhythm?

 https://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

Dave, your URL, which has "my videos" as part of the title, brings me to my (my own) videos, literally.  I don't know if it's the same for everyone else.  What I want to see, of course, is your video.                                                                                                                                                                                

[dfrankjazz]

Another Great Moment in Sports! Thanks) This will work, please confirm iof you have a chance, thanks!

[keypeg]

I found it on the other site, where you posted the correct link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DJWB8OfiSU

It does indeed bring insight once in a while when watching a fellow student work through something, especially under guidance.

Dave - when you clap along at your end or sing along - that actually doesn't work that well over Skype or Hangouts (we've switched to the latter) because there's a lag.  So you'll be out of sync at the other end in regards to what the other person hears.  My teacher and I ran into this recently and I clearly heard it in that lesson.
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added: we cross-posted - now we've got the correct URL twice.

[keypeg]

I'm more of a "classical nerd" but trying to expand my world.  My weakness was pulse, while being naturally lyrical (which can destroy pulse) so we've worked on this.

As I was watching this, my first impression was that the LH was the strongest influencer of pulse and what you would feel - is that correct?  The other thought was that a person will get out of rhythm if they're hunting for the notes.  Might there be a preliminary stage where you need to get at the chords so you know where you're going (before doing this part)?   And for the melody - if you can't find a note in time, just fudge it and maybe get the principle ones?

Also - coming from a classical background where the notes are there for you - is there a groundwork to be done first, so that you have "riffs" - patterns of some sort - chord progressions in various keys - and chords - "in your fingertips" so to say?  Like, how do you reach for something in a timely matter if you don't know what to reach for?

[dfrankjazz]

All good questions) The first step is to listen to an external pulse (metronome, ireal pro, etc), then allow that external pulse to integrated into the body through movement (foot tapping, head bobbing, etc.) Then work on one hand at a time alone, first without pulse concentrating on notes. When starting jazz playing it is recommended to set in a place a series of chords that the LH will play and practice them until you feel solid. Then you can add the RH while still focusing internally on feeling that pulse.

Improvisation is a recipe of different musical elements and improv concepts that lead one to naturally hear and play new music without the need for much in the way of riffing. I can suggest you check out Beginning Jazz Improvisation Parts 1-4 on YT..

Blessings and keep swingin

Dave Frank

[keypeg]

Thank you Dave - and will do.