I saw chad smith talking about this he said "you have to own every note" comit demonstrated with a basic 2 on the toms 2 on the snare fill kinda half assed it first time and it makes an immense difference when he goes back with energy dum dum ka ka crashes and its just a whole world of difference...think this is to beginner and basic its gonna sound like it. if you look at it like less is more and know its just right for were it sits it will be just that
Great point, B Z. I never previously thought of it as anxiety, but now I agree with that angle. I'm working on relaxing and playing with the song in an intuitive way.
Yes. Best comment I’ve seen so far. There’s a great difference. Some people may just not have timing or coordination. I definitely get that. But can “pocket” be learned?… to an extent I’d say yes. I feel it’s one of those things that at some point just… clicks. No pun intended… ok a little intended…. A LOT intended. That bad pun was the sole reasoning for this comment 😂😅 Anyway, I’ve had many moments where I’m relaxed and locked in everywhere, just jamming, having fun and confident. Really getting into it. Then today was a big day. I played for the worship team at church. My first official performance with them. Was fun and awesome! But so highly stressful. I felt like a lot of things went wrong. And it felt bad knowing that most of the feedback I was getting was based on my playing and how it shaped with the click. I love playing with the click. But between that anxiety as far as the feedback and just being in the moment and trying to get my adrenaline and heart rate to slow down… oh it felt like hell on earth. It wasn’t at all terrible. But just not where I want it to be. And I know that stress and anxiety is what caused it all. Aside from that, when I’m just relaxing and playing normally, it feels solid. The more you play and experiment with time and note placement, I really think the better you’re gonna get with the pocket. Cause if you’re in it but there’s stuff you want to lay down that you haven’t tried in timing yet… it’s going to come out questionable and likely going to throw you off.
Here’s one I’d add: overall fitness as well as energy level when your playing. My worst playing has always been when I didn’t pace myself for the day. And you can’t get in the groove if you’re fighting your own body for whatever reason.
Pocket is learnable, I've watched enough Benny Greb clinics to believe so lol Edit: I believe at least 50% of the pocket comes from the face you make. Stank? Pocket
The Pocket is when you are locked into a groove and no matter what happens (like crowd clapping, stage blows up, etc) you keep playing and keep everyone in sync. You are simply in control of the musical environment in that moment, and you know it. That's pocket.
You taught this on DRUMEO, learning about pocket, finding the rhythmic foundation, get into the groove, that teaching on DRUMEO is a must watch, it is the basic fundamental to drumming, act on what Rob Beatdown Brown taught on DRUMEO is a must watch.
Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste, The Meters. There’s pocket. You know he’s in the pocket before even sitting behind the drums. ‘People Say’, a fine example. Pocket is about you going all in latching into a groove and like a nice piece of mountain bike flow single track, it just flows and you flow with it.
I feel like you can learn the technical aspects of “pocket” but it’s something you have to “feel” in order to start grooving. IMO if you’re spirit isn’t in the music your not going to be playing pocket. You have to have an almost emotional type of connection to really be grooving.
I agree it’s playing around the spaces vs. dividing the spaces with the notes. The ultimate is hearing myself play, and reacting to it at the same time, you know, like you’re leaving your body lol.
Being Cuban born and fooling around with percussion I can tell you “feel” (aka pocket) is genetic. I have had drum teachers from Berkeley school of music try to write and play some of my most basic grooves - results - robotic, drum machine, reproductions of what I played. Mind you - I have NEVER been what I considered to be an “accomplished” percussionist by any stretch. But - at any time, regardless of practice I can lay down a simple fat grove. I won’t even have the endurance to play it for long - but when I lock it in - it’s in. The feel never leaves you when you are born with it. GREAT JOB ROB! Love your stuff and bought few shirts to support you! 🙏 Groove responsibly. 💪🏼
I feel like pocket has more to do with the ability to dance. If one can dance one usualy will have a good pocket. This is just a theory of mine ive yet to see disproven.
drzflyest4 I have to agree with that one. Maybe dance has to be define for this purpose. “Dance” meaning the ability to rhythmically move to groove - not necessarily be proficient in any one dance style! If not - we are gonna have to learn to hustle and salsa all over again!! LOL New shirt ROB - “pocket responsibly”
Hey Rob, JJ Judge here.. Been playing 60 years(started at 8) and made a living and didn't make a living.. You said something that rang so true!!! Tension is the enemy of pocket!!!! So simple yet so profound... Love watching.... JJ...
Thanks Rob for some of the best content for drummers on the internet! And it's free!! It was really pleasing to hear you say that maybe pocket can't be learned. I've had disagreements with people for years about whether talent is a thing or not. I've been teaching drums for 40 years and I know without a doubt that we each have a certain level of talent, and that can vary from person to person dramatically. Keep up the great work!
Brother Rob....I'm 64 been playing drums since 1960....."Pocket" "Groove" is a Skill that is Improved by Metronome at different speeds in addition to Different time signatures...Keeping in mind turning on a recorder to record the session then letting a third party listen.....and Critique the Fast and Slow sections of the music of your drum playing.... Now leads me to How a person Feels...One day your Dead On Deep in the 'Pocket" can Do No Wrong! The next day Your Struggling...Your Bio-Mechanics in your body aren't quite up to the task...For Me I Have to Mentally Throw Out All My Garbage of Relationship, Work, Etc. and Focus 150% Each time to Find the "Pocket". Part comes Naturally but the other half is the Baggage of Life that gets in the Way...... And thinking Drugs and Booze will help you find it...Think Again!!! 'Pocket' 'Groove' it's there when you play...You'll find it if you Pay attention and Put the Effort in to make it the Best you Can! It'll Never Be 100%! But if you can Consistanly play at a 80 to 95% "Pocket" Be Happy! Thank you Awesome channel! I'm learning many Great tips! D. Killingsworth
Thank you D. I think that you’re right, it’s like being in “the zone”. People always talk about being “in the zone” for many different sports/techniques/etc.
The key to that is stop caring what people say in general and just have fun playing. Let the music flow through you instead of trying to flow with the music.
Favourite Pocket Player is Nate Smith. He's unreal. Hard to say if it's learnable.To a certain degree it is, but to take that last final step to fully get into the pocket you probably you just gotta find that feeling inside of you and I'm not sure if that's learnable. All the tips you give in this video are important, for me personally 'embrace the space' is most crucial. My drumming significantly improved when I started hearing the space in-between the notes. And now i really love being aware of the space in-between. Makes the beat or groove feel more complete when you hear both, notes and silence in-between.
Just got both albums! Great stuff with huge variety of rhythms to learn and practice with. Solo comps VOL 1 - FUNCKY CLAVE - my fav!! Get it and support brother Rob!! On the beat down!! 🙏
Rob Brown you are a superb teacher! Keepin' it loose and relaxed, love your comment: " tension is the enemy of pocket" that is a perfect example of your ryhmatic wisdom
You really appreciate the pocket when you’re the Frontman.Pocket makes a HUGE difference while singing.It’s like daylight and dark when you have one or you don’t. You kinda chase the pocket around vocally.
Can learn. Caveats: some folks are more naturally gifted than others, and some have to work a lot harder, but I yhink with enough of the appropriate effort and honest self appraisal it can be learned and improved over time.
Yes, pocket relies on a series of skills that relate to how you play with the other musicians. Steady time is part of it, but it also relates to how well the whole band feels the time together.
Rob, I agree with you throughout this video. And disagree to one thing. I had to learn to play the "Pocket" but only understood it when I did an Open Mic session and I was told in the same night by a few musicians that they appreciated how i created and held space in the music we were playing. My initial response was WTF! Then one of them took me aside and explained and the lightbulb blew up. This sessions slams it to HEART! Great work and much, much love for what you do!
Good morning! Pocket we're supposed to do the verse like no else did that a little bit such "forefront" but it is the alternative groove that comes 1st. "let us make the society great"
Once again, touching the untouchable. Love your channel Rob. I encourage my students to drop in and listen to what the MAN has to say. Also, I can’t get over how many times I hear myself in your videos. Keep up the good work.
I agree with you Rob, I’m on the fence too. As drummers we all learn the sticking to our rudiments. Through practice we develop the muscle memory to be able to execute the various patterns. ‘Pocket’, that might be something different, not really sure. It seems it’s more than a mechanical thing. As you said, it’s a feel. I think we might be able to develop ‘Pocket’ through our own self expression and passion that goes beyond all the rudiment learning. One things for sure, all the great drummers have it. As far as teaching ‘Pocket’, You know Rob, the passion you convey in your teaching motivates us all to be better drummers. In reality it just might be enough for some of us to achieve as they say, “being in the ‘Pocket.” Myself, I’m still working on delivering the punchlines to my jokes.
I kinda xheated and listened to what you said after but I think back back to my high school band teacher. He always preached that listening was the key to playing. If you listen closely you feed offf of the music. Even with percussion, you may be the timekeeper but you still have to hear whats going on around you. If you are playing by yourself, its timing. But when you play with a band you have to listen to each other. It's what makes the greats great. Hope I've articulated it properly. You rock Rob.
I'm in the process of learning it. Definitely doable, and it's immediately made me so much aware of the value of what you don't play, and letting the groove breathe, stepping back is as powerful as stomping it down.
I think you can learn pocket and be good at it......I also think you can also be born with rhythm in your bones and be great at it..........Great video......
Love your channel Bruh, Coming from an old man. Pocket class note: Always learn the form. aka Intro,verse, chorus etc. of the Song. Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Funk. Before laying it DOWN my friend. The bass player and you will be "THE Pocket".. Peace...
Rob! That is absolutely the best explanation of pocket I have ever heard. Staying in the lane is the difference between a musician and a drummer. Love the get involved attitude also. Great video. Thanks Rob, good stuff! Nuge
You either have it...or you don't!....sometimes you're "in" the pocket and other times you're not...it's almost a spiritual or Zen thing. I see drummers giving themselves the title of "pocket drummer" or "pocket queen".....the "pocket" ain't no title....it's a state of mind, in harmony, with the body!....Peace!
Your hero and mine Phil Gould was born with 'pocket'...just listen to him and you'll know what 'pocket' is. Check out the song Physical Presence from Level 42....
I feel like Jim Blackley had a very good system for getting people's playing to a place where they had pocket. A combo of technical, mental and listening exercises that produced a lot of drummers who went on to accompany the highest level of musicians. It can be learned but everyone will have their own voice depending largely on the music they have consumed and the intent they put into their practice and performance. Great video as always Mr. B!!
I really like the 5th tip, Mooove! I've been watching your videos for ages and I see the worn out, splintered sticks all the time. I know their expensive but you're really getting you money's worth on them.
Examples? VULFPECK man. Even if it’s a guest drummer. Also, agreed that pocket is a state of mind. I think to say you have it or you don’t is dangerous because I believe some people have it but they haven’t discovered it yet. For me, after a long hiatus from drumming I feel like I’ve lost touch with pocket, but I’m slowly getting reconnected to it, even if in fleeting moments for now. It would be wrong to let myself believe that “I don’t have it” just because I’ve been struggling with it lately
drums were the first instrument i started playing and i got into when i was like 6. after a few years i fell away from it but my feel for groove always stayed with me. now that i’m older and i’m rediscovering my passion for drumming i still have that natural pocket that i gained as a kid. i think it’s one of those things you learn as a kid and if you don’t it’s way harder to later in life. perfect pitch for example is developed at an early age and if you don’t develop it you simply can’t get it later in life. i think pocket or groove is learnable but i believe it’s one of those things you gotta learn as a kid.
Great video, Rob! I’ve been a latent pocket drummer and it’s bursting out of me now. A sincere pleasure to radiate from the pocket. Really appreciated all that you shared with the key tips. Well done. And thank you for the Bernard Purdie suggestion. Wow! Loving his vibe. Steve Gadd, Quest Love, come to mind. Thank you!
Hands down you're one of the best drum instructors on the planet... THE PLANET!! My answer - sorry for being late to the party - is YES AND NO. [before I learned bass and guitar I was taught drums my Darnell Ward] Every person has some innate sense of rhythm (thankfully I am Cuban). But it is something you can also learn along the way. Personally, I found after playing [guitar] in a few bands with drummers that were all over the place groove wise, that years and years of additional guitar practice with a drum machine, clicks and metronome had my sense of timing HONED IN. I have found only a handful of drummers in my area that can play tight pockets with great timing and groove. For some, it was natural, for others they worked very hard at it. And for me, well it defeats the purpose of recording, jamming or playing with a sloppy drummer. :)
To answer your question, I certainly think you can. But only with a combination of physical excersises and listening skill. I have always considered pocket as a skill of both the body and the mind combined.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to emotion. Emotion is what's going to propel you to move at any tempo. Because you can play pocket at 160 bpm as long as you have the emotion. By the same token, you can play a killer sounding groove but if there is no emotion, it will not connect. Emotion is vibration. Music is vibration. You need to be in vibration with the music in order to make connections with the listeners and viewers. You're absolutely right Rob - Tension kills pocket. Tension is a negative vibration which stirs up negative emotion which causes a disconnect with the music and the listeners. Great lesson!!
I don't think it can be learned in the same sense as technique. But I think one can learn to feel the groove better through more active listening and counting both while playing and as spectator.
Also - I see that new 10" Dark Energy Splash out on the field. I just got one as well last week. I love the combo of complexity and dry, quick decay. Fantastic cymbal
May be mentioned below but I think knowing the song structure can aid in pocket. By song structure I don't mean a chart of all the notes. I mean knowing how many bars are in say the Intro, how many in the first Verse, first Chorus on to the Outro. All songs are different. Leaving this knowledge to repetition can work but I find counting out the bars for each section and writing them down helps.
another nice job, Rob. You make some excellent points. I say you cannot teach pocket, for the most part. Kinda like trying to teach someone to groove like Jeff Porcaro or Gadd
I'm late af, and I'm not a too too experienced drummer (I'm decent, but not Steve Jordan). But I wanna answer. HELL YES pocket can be learned! If you have a book full of grooves, a metronome, and a willingness to incorporate dynamics into your technique, you can learn pocket for sure! Admittedly, there are instances where you dont wanna be straight robitic with the way you play, and you wanna play more laid back, but I'd argue that the vast majority of the time you wanna be on the beat (i used to play at church; that was my experience).
Some people are born with the ability to play a clean pocket but overall you can learn how to play pocket. Just like there different types of genres your pocket has to felt the style you are playing. No pocket is created the same.
Ok. I did what you said. I stopped, I came here to put my answer, I didn’t even read any other comments. I think one can absolutely learn pocket. I spend most of my practice time working on heavy slow grooves with subdivisions under the microscope. I practice with and without click and with and without music. I think one of the best things one can do is to record oneself and listen back. Be very honest listening for all subdivisions and rushing or dragging. Pocket will come this way.... right. Back to the video.
Hell yeah. Pocket comes with confidence. You can play just a boom bap, but if you're tentative itll sound floppy, if your strong on your notes ppl will be dancing. Needs intent and foreknowledge too
I think you can learn it, for me, it came when I started to use my left heel on their hat pedal to keep time, and when I started to add ghost notes. Was much easier to sit in a space because the rhythm wasn’t just coming from my hands and feet. It was, the entire body moving as one. Probably the best way I can explain it. my pocket also improved much more when I started to learn reggae beats because you really need to be on top of where the one is at the same time as trying to sit back.
I believe you have to be aware of the rhythmic foundation of a piece of music in order to "find" a pocket that others would "get." That's what would connect with others. Secondly, without being "captured" within that foundation, you can just feel out intuitively fills. Whenever I find myself anticipating a fill, it is better off not adding it in. Whenever it just happens because it's "what's next," it totally works and everyone else is cool with it. There is definitely an intuitive element to being captured by the rhythm as opposed to attempting to "re- create" it. Great video which really appealed to me.
I think pocket really comes with experience, but that being said, once you feel the pocket, then , you kinda understand more what the term really means, and you get to feel it better......I think.....when you are locked into the groove, with the other band members, and you look around and go, "yeahhhh" , thats the pocket..... Cheers Rob, love the vid's mate... Yobbo .....Australia....
Great video Rob! It’s like you read my mind somehow, I was just thinking about the concept of pocket this week! I’ve always thought that pocket is often achieved when you sit in and feel the music, sort of like a mental state where you ‘can feel at home’ and improvise within the margins of what’s appropriate for the song/genre.
I think everyone can learn pocket. Everyone is unique and has their own ways of feeling the beat. Just because we cant groove like Purdie doesn't mean we can't explore and learn our own interpretation of feel & groove. I think it takes time to fully loosen up and get in touch with your inner rhythm/soul... i havent achieved solid pockets yet. but thats my outlook - thank you
