Clyde Stubblefield RIP

frogman,

I realized this and had trouble writing my last post for this very reason.

Now that all is good.. hopefully all of his great work will be immortalized in a thread that will exemplify the artist that he was!

Thank you for your post!

@frogman   

machine drummers do not sound as good as a great drummer because they are precise and have no feel or groove. 

Moving the beats around and away from the precise metronomic time is what gives the rhythm a unique pocket feel. Of course a groove once laid down must be repeated or looped so the imperfections in time from a metronome must be consistent from bar to bar (without consistency it just sounds sloppy)

I can provide more examples but regrettably I don't think a non-musician has much chance of grasping it. I encounter it all the time when playing a cover and trying to mimic a particular groove created by a drummer. The subtle adjustments in time that give a groove a particular pocket feel are one of the hardest aspects of drumming. Some tracks are done to a metronome (a lot of music theses days) and producing a machine metronomic sound can be a challenge too but it never sounds "in the pocket" as there is no feeling. Suprisingly, dynamics also play a role in pocket feel as the dynamics of each beat in a bar and where emphasis is placed will also define the feel of the groove. In the pocket drumming requires a consistent repeated dynamic variation through the bar as well. Just a simple change such as dropping the 1 or emphasizing the 3 over 2 and 4 creates a half time or reggae feel.

Would be glad to discuss this further through some other means, but I think Slaw’s wishes should be rightfully respected. I believe you have it wrong.

Thanks frogman.

With respect, it shouldn't be so much because of my wishes, it is out of respect for the artist.

His drumming style, or any disagreements as it relates to how one perceives it, is better served and would be enlightening in a separate thread.

Happy listening

Slaw, I never met Mr. Stubblefield, but I suspect he would be happy that his life caused a discussion about being "in the pocket".  I imagine he would listen, say both sides are right and then sit down behind his kit and play a groove.  Everybody would then break into a smile.

He was described as a very giving person.