I’ve been in bands since I was fifteen. And of course been a music fan even longer.  I’ve often overheard music fans say, “that really grooves,” about a song.

I think a lot of people don’t even know what the term, “groove,” refers to.  I think most think how the rhythm of the song moves them is the groove, which is partially true, but not very specific. 

When we think of groove from a musicians perspective we need to know as a musician how to create groove when someone says something like, ” The song needs more groove.”

You’d be surprised how many musicians use terms like groove in a vague way without actually knowing how to create a groove on command.

What groove really is, is the definition in the beat of a song.  A drummer can define the groove, but so can any other member of a band.  But, usually it’s up to the drummer and the bass player to lock in the groove and the other instruments are either on top of the beat or right on it or even behind it.

The most common groove is heavy emphasis on the back-beat.  For instance if a drummer and bass player were laying down a groove they would emphasize the 2 and the 4 of every 4 beats in a song.

It’s important to note that emphasis on the back-beat does not in anyway change the meter, speed or tempo of the song.  

You could play the same exact 4 beats in the same exact time value for each hit, both without emphasis on the 2 and 4 and with emphasis on the 2 and 4.  The one with emphasis on the 2 and 4 would sound like it had groove and be more danceable.   Where the one without the emphasis would sound sterile and flat, more like a poorly programmed drum machine loop.

If you play in a band and are wondering why some of your original material just doesn’t seem to move people, a lack of groove might be your problem.   It’s a very easy thing to overlook as it is subtle.  But, the next time you listen to your rhythm section, pay attention to the beat, do they play all the notes and or hits with the same feel, that is flat, or do they play with emphasis on the back-beat or at least create a groove?

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