developing rhythmic proficiency
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- KVRAF
- 1585 posts since 13 Nov, 2005 from St. Paul
Is anyone aware of books or programs of exercises for developing higher-level rhythmic proficiency on the keyboard? I play comping patterns alongside a drum machine and that helps, but I'd like to find a systematic way to take my timing and rhythmic acuity to the next level.
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- KVRAF
- 2217 posts since 15 Jul, 2003
johann
on my drumKat for beat steadiness what I do is play along to a recorded music at a certain volume such that if I play just a little louder I can't hear the piece I'm playing to, then I pull back and see if I've drifted.
There's a tendency to always play faster when playing louder.
There's also a tendency to lose it altogether when pushing very fast (ala early Jimmy Page)
I don't go for exotic time signatures, but have soem odd accented grooves to work with -- like some Joe Henry pieces -- to stretch my comfort zone.
I don't know if that would be a helpful practice for you or not.
I have a very hard time playing along to a click track or metronome. I do much better on keyboard playing along to a real drumtrack with a solid downbeat.
My sense is that keyboard comping allows for considerable push and pull as long as it meets up on at least one beat per measure.
on my drumKat for beat steadiness what I do is play along to a recorded music at a certain volume such that if I play just a little louder I can't hear the piece I'm playing to, then I pull back and see if I've drifted.
There's a tendency to always play faster when playing louder.
There's also a tendency to lose it altogether when pushing very fast (ala early Jimmy Page)
I don't go for exotic time signatures, but have soem odd accented grooves to work with -- like some Joe Henry pieces -- to stretch my comfort zone.
I don't know if that would be a helpful practice for you or not.
I have a very hard time playing along to a click track or metronome. I do much better on keyboard playing along to a real drumtrack with a solid downbeat.
My sense is that keyboard comping allows for considerable push and pull as long as it meets up on at least one beat per measure.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1585 posts since 13 Nov, 2005 from St. Paul
I do have a metronome, been using it for years. Definitely agree that this is a good tool for staying in time. I'm looking to take my rhythm skills to the next level, like improving skill in syncopation.
Is it just a matter of getting pieces to practice that have complex (e.g., syncopated or odd metered) rhythms? Is there a "playing complex syncopations" exercise book?
Is it just a matter of getting pieces to practice that have complex (e.g., syncopated or odd metered) rhythms? Is there a "playing complex syncopations" exercise book?
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- KVRist
- 467 posts since 6 Feb, 2005 from Portugal
I'm sure you'll find a lot of books or exercises if you google it. I'm sorry but I can't help you because I've never used any of these.
What I'm used to do is to take a music example, one that I can't play easily, and practice it until I can play it perfectly. Sometimes I create my own examples / exercises, which is good to put your creativity in use.
What I'm used to do is to take a music example, one that I can't play easily, and practice it until I can play it perfectly. Sometimes I create my own examples / exercises, which is good to put your creativity in use.
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- KVRAF
- 2217 posts since 15 Jul, 2003
syncopation
I'd run back to the beboppers
as it was one of their innovations to put the accents where they hadn't been before
most of the time those syncopated phrases take several bars to resolve
I mean it's not just a swing or groove sort of thing -- it's a rolling up/down peak/valley thing that builds and resolves
maybe a case where singing/humming a phrase while comping would work ?
I'd run back to the beboppers
as it was one of their innovations to put the accents where they hadn't been before
most of the time those syncopated phrases take several bars to resolve
I mean it's not just a swing or groove sort of thing -- it's a rolling up/down peak/valley thing that builds and resolves
maybe a case where singing/humming a phrase while comping would work ?
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- Banned
- 4072 posts since 7 Nov, 2007
sycopation is just playing with the accent off beat..... can we not complicate, what is not complicated. plz, thanks...............
+ 1 for metro-gnome.... Been there done that? Play in a band with folks who are tighter than you. Go to tons of trance parties
the last one is exactly like a metro-gnome, but with better drugs.....
+ 1 for metro-gnome.... Been there done that? Play in a band with folks who are tighter than you. Go to tons of trance parties
the last one is exactly like a metro-gnome, but with better drugs.....
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- KVRist
- 105 posts since 13 Oct, 2002
Not directly keyboard-centric, but take a look at Konnakol for a development of rhythmic ideas which can be applied to any musical instrument. Part 1 of Henrik Andersen's introduction here :-
Basjoe
Basjoe
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- Banned
- 4072 posts since 7 Nov, 2007
Basjoe wrote:Not directly keyboard-centric, but take a look at Konnakol for a development of rhythmic ideas which can be applied to any musical instrument. Part 1 of Henrik Andersen's introduction here :-
Basjoe
excellent link. wicked
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- KVRian
- 755 posts since 25 Aug, 2009
yes. And yes.jmeier wrote:Is it just a matter of getting pieces to practice that have complex (e.g., syncopated or odd metered) rhythms? Is there a "playing complex syncopations" exercise book?
Meh.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1585 posts since 13 Nov, 2005 from St. Paul
am i right in thinking that most of these are for drummers? i have considered just looking at books of transcriptions of jazz pianists, which have a fair amount of very complex syncopation. it's slow going though, and i think some pure rhythm exercises would help me move along a little faster.KrisM wrote:yes. And yes.jmeier wrote:Is it just a matter of getting pieces to practice that have complex (e.g., syncopated or odd metered) rhythms? Is there a "playing complex syncopations" exercise book?
to clarify my question, i already know how to play on off-beats well, i'm thinking of the more expansive definition of syncopation which covers a wide variety of differences in rhythmic displacement. wrench is on the right track here, i'm thinking more of jazz syncopation like wayne shorter or joe henderson, for examples.
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- KVRAF
- 2217 posts since 15 Jul, 2003
I was thinking more Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker, but it would have to be selective they didn't do this all the time -- a lot of the time they were content with just running
it's kind of a paradox when you get into the music analysts who decided that bebop scales and the way they structured their runs was all about putting the chord tones on the strong beats and then have to understand that they're also fooling with the accents
it would take a prohibitive amount of time to work through any sort of rhythmically complex workbook that didn't come with DVD/CD
probably a little easier with a melody attached since the melody would offer clues, but pure drum part w/o sound would be crazy making
have you checked the library at www.jazzbooks.com?
that path sounds pretty dry
even though it's not a groove thing, it is a moving, rolling, lively thing
I'm think what you really need is one of those Dead 20 minute drum jams from the late 70's where Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann take a beat turn it inside out and eventually bring it back to 'Know Your Rider' -- again you'd have to be selective or risk get lost in a lot of bad noodling
it's kind of a paradox when you get into the music analysts who decided that bebop scales and the way they structured their runs was all about putting the chord tones on the strong beats and then have to understand that they're also fooling with the accents
it would take a prohibitive amount of time to work through any sort of rhythmically complex workbook that didn't come with DVD/CD
probably a little easier with a melody attached since the melody would offer clues, but pure drum part w/o sound would be crazy making
have you checked the library at www.jazzbooks.com?
that path sounds pretty dry
even though it's not a groove thing, it is a moving, rolling, lively thing
I'm think what you really need is one of those Dead 20 minute drum jams from the late 70's where Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann take a beat turn it inside out and eventually bring it back to 'Know Your Rider' -- again you'd have to be selective or risk get lost in a lot of bad noodling
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- KVRist
- 63 posts since 25 Jan, 2010 from Moscow, ID
Why books or programs?jmeier wrote:Is anyone aware of books or programs...
Listen to and imitate/copy the music you want to play like.
Need more details?