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If you've heard a musician talking about playing 'in the pocket' and you've wondered what they were talking about, you aren't alone. Playing in the pocket is an elusive term for beginner drummers, and it can actually have more than one meaning.

To play in the pocket, you need to really make a connection to the backbeat of the music you are playing. The backbeat in a song is generally the repeating sound that is constant throughout the music, usually on the counts of 2 & 4. A backbeat is a combination of timing and rhythm, and the goal is to keep it constant throughout the song. It is up to the drummer to set the tempo and the timing of the music for all other musicians involved, and if they can continue to provide this rhythm for the others, the rest of the musicians can contribute and work to keep the tempo flowing.

To master the backbeat of a song, you really need to be able to feel it in the music. Some have a gift for picking up the backbeat instantly; others have to be taught to listen in the correct way. The key to picking up the backbeat is to listen to the loudest snare sounds in a song and try to pick out the consistent rhythm you hear. Once you have mastered the art of playing the backbeat consistently, you will then be ready for the experience of playing in the pocket using all drums in the kit and cymbals.

Playing in the pocket can be described very basically as "keeping the tempo and a solid feel for a period of time," but expert drummers would argue at that explanation. Playing in the pocket can be a spiritual experience, and can take you to a place where you really feel and become one with the music you are playing. Rather than being a musician who is simply playing music on his drums, you become more of a vessel for the music to flow through and out of.

There are two ways to play in the pocket. The first way to experience the thrill of playing in the pocket is on your own. If you are keeping up a good solid beat during the song, keeping the tempo up perfectly, and maintaining the sound for a period of time, then you are individually playing in the pocket. It may last for only a few bars or the entire song, but you will be able to really feel the music when you've reached that place.

Rather than just play individually, a drummer can play in the pocket with fellow musicians. Each musician feeds off the others while keeping time and projecting the music. Concertgoers have often said they can feel 'electricity' when a band is playing in the pocket, to the point where everyone in the audience becomes caught up in a wave of music.

No matter whether you are playing at a gig or simply rehearsing by yourself, playing in the pocket and mastering your backbeats should be a goal of all beginning drummers. Establish a steady sound, keep proper time, and relax while you experience the magic of the backbeat.

Labels: Cymbals Tips, Tips for Drummers