On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:54:53 -0800 (PST), Greg Loux <GLoux@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
>> S/he picked the tempo with potatoes,
>> after all, and their next tune starts snappy again. It is inevitably
because
>> the backup (guitar/banjo/bass) allows the tempo to drag.
>
>I hate when that happens. The goal is the same groove all around.
I'm going to be the single dissenter it seems. I think it's the rhythm
players job to hold tempo and if the fiddle is out front, then they
are ahead of the beat.
Having said that I think there can be a place for being on one edge or
the other of the beat in different styles. Swing to me would be lazy
back of the beat feel. Front edge for bluegrass or some driving type
of tune.
I have a recording studio and have recorded lots of players of varying
ability. On the computer I can literally see the beats and all there
divisions as well as the players waveforms and where they start a
note. What I've noted is that given either a click track, drums or a
guitar to follow many lead players on fiddle, mandolin, banjo and
guitar tend to get ahead of the beat especially if a bit nervous. The
short long notes and speed through scale wise passages. Some are very
consistently 1/64 ahead some speed up and fall back as they either
become aware they're ahead or as they hit a hard spot.
Contrary to an earlier post I find pros do not get bored by repeating
the take, but listen to what they've done and get excited about what
they can do to make it work even better. They also can get "in the
pocket" with the beat and not sound mechanical.
|
