Do you have groove/swing ?

[proz9c]

Yo, im trying to understand how to get a good groove.

Beforehand i used Ableton, which had a MPC Groove template for the MPC60, which was working okay - even though sometimes it ended up a mess and i had to start over with a new beat - not knowing anything about groove except for feeling it, when playing my favorite hip hop tracks. My experience and knowledge told me, that quantizing everything srtaight 1/16 and then applying for instance 58% MPC60 1/16th swing was what you did, with everything to get a groove going. Well, im not so sure about that more..

Now, i've moved over to working with an iMac and Logic, these new templates for groove were suddently called A, B, C, D etc. - had no clue what to do, so i just tried them all, but none seemed to give my drums a good groove using the same approach as in ableton. So started quantizing everything 1/16th on 85% and that worked for a while, but still not the results i wanted. So i started experimenting with quantizing 85% 1/32 - that seemed better, sometimes... I was/am confused so started looking up on several sides about getting a groove etc. but the info is pretty limited i think ? all i could make out, was that there 3 types of holdning a beat. Before the beat, on the beat, and behind the beat. But is this for the whole song, or just some elements does this, some does that ? - a few people wrote the snare would often be a little before the beat, and kick a little behind. Others said the snare would always be behind the beat and the kick on the beat ? Im confused...

Where do 'normally' in hip hop put your kick drum ? snare ? hihat ? rest of the percussions - bass ? and finally the rest of the instruments to get what ive seen called "The Pocket"

Please enlighten me or point me in direction of enlightment !! Peace.

P The Tech

[Lyons238]

in logic you can create or download grooves. just search logic mpc groove template.

[proz9c]

Thanks for your reply, but i've actually tried the templates, without big succes. Maybe i am doing it wrong, dunno..

[Interested Persona]

I am no expert but practice playing instead of putting.
Sorry for short post I'm learning to groove as well.

[Pumpthrust]

Learn how to count rhythm and practice drumming (like tapping on a desk or your lap) and counting. This will help you to understand rhythmic value at a much more intricate level. I also recommend counting the beats of the music you listen to. This will teach you to recognize rhythm. And when you do this, don't just listen to the drums, listen to how the vocalist comes in and on which beat they come in on, listen for any sort of pattern (is the bass playing 1/4 notes? 1/8th notes?) And learn to drum to other music besides hip hop. The only real way to develop groove/swing is know and understand fundamental rhythm, as this will give you the control you need to truly manipulate your drum grooves.

[bedroomdreamers]

i have learned that groove is overrated , what really matters is the illusion of groove

[mwandishi]

Velocity is underrated when it comes to the groove/swing.

[Taboosun]

Interesting thread. I do not give any of my tracks any quantized grooves, because I'm yet to understand it and how to get a good groove exactly. The most that i know is that it gives the drums, melody, etc a more natural human feel as If a real player is behind the scenes.
Have you seen this site : Hip Hop Beat Construction Made Easy

It may help you. He talks about groove and explains the "whys" behind it. On like page three i think.

[bandcoach]

The pocket is a wonderful myth, just as with any other catch-phrase.

However, hip-hop groove can be found by looking at using 16th-triplets and placing the emphasis on the 1st and 3rd of each group of 3 16th-triplets, sothat you get the following typical hi-hat pattern:

X.XX.XX.XX.XX.XX.XX.XX.X

Sit the kick on the 1st, 12th, 13th and 24th 16th-triplets

Snare can be placed on the 7th and 19th 16th triplets as a starting point - add and subtract other snare hits as needed, ditto for kicks. Add some open hats to the hi-hat pattern to add your own signature to the sound.

If you're working with 32nds you need too look at other tricks as well

X..XX..XX..XX..XX..XX..XX..XX..X in the hi-hats or even

X.XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX.XX

Kicks might be like this

X..............XX..............X or

X.............XXX.............XX or

X......X..X...XXX......X..X...XX

above all else, experiment

[zex]

steinberg "groove agent" can help you out...
or try watch some video drum lessions on yt
or just listen Toto - rossana
that is something i call groove