On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:03:54 -0800 (PST), Kellie Allen
<kaallen@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>Who are the "they" in that sentence? The rhythm players or the
>fiddlers?
>
I meant the guitar. The fiddle is considered a melody instrument.
Obviously one needs to play the fiddle rhythmically and you can saw
away at chords or play offbeat chops ala bluegrass, but essentially
fiddle is the lead melody. The guitar can play melody or include it
in the voicing of the chords while fingerpicking, but it's role in
oldtimey is basically rhythm.
>> 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.
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>On Feb 10, 3:29?pm, p...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:54:53 -0800 (PST), Greg Loux <GL...@[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.
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