No joke. Try it:
Set the metronome at about 100 BPM.
Play just one note on each beat.
Then speed up just a tiny bit WITHOUT CHANGING THE METRONOME….
Feel that tense, rushing feeling.
Slow back down to the beat… Feel that smoothness.
Now slow down just a tiny bit… Feel that sluggish pull.
Speed up just enough to get synchronized again… Feel that smoothness again.
Playing in time is a matter of constantly feeling for this anxious or dopey energy and then adjusting until you feel that sense of relaxing into the beat.
It’s not a thinking thing. It’s a feel thing.
Playing by feel is the foundation of performing with confidence. Can you play by feel?
Post a comment below or Shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers!
Bryan
This is such a neat way to “feel” the rhythm! Wish I had thought of this!
Awesome, Donnie! Rhythm should be all feel. Counting is mainly for figuring something out or if there’s no other way to know where we are in the music.
You can even play around with this. You can rush something to make it feel manic or play slightly behind the beat to make it feel like you’re falling down the stairs!
more feel-based approaches to come!
Bryan
PS. How long have you been playing guitar?
Interesting exercise and yes – I felt it all just as you said. I love your talk about feeling the playing more. It’s finding a way into my practice.
Great, Barry! I’m glad it’s helping to get you more into the feel of playing!
Feeling the energy from your interaction with the rhythm is a way to simplify playing. It becomes more like balance, like riding a bike instead of trying to match every. single. note.
Frees your mind and your music.
Stay tuned for more feel-based approaches.
Bryan
PS. What styles of music do you like to play?