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#1
03-20-2013, 12:54 PM
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Keeping time WITHOUT tapping feet.
I have always relied on tapping my foot to keep rhythm, standing or sitting. Without it, I cannot feel the beat and I end up just kinda guessing where the beat is, usually I end up playing before the beat. I've spend many hours with a metronome trying to correct but it hasn't seemed to have helped. I'd like to be able to dance around the stage and be more active while performing but having the stomp my foot keeps me anchored down in one spot, making it harder to put on a good show, ya know? I just seem to have no internal rhythm.
Anyone have a similar problem? Any good tips/exercises that helped you?
__________________
Fingerstyle Guitar ~ Hammered Dulcimer ~ Clawhammer Banjo ~ Diatonic Harmonica ~ Anglo Concertina 
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#3
03-20-2013, 01:25 PM
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Do the Dave Matthews dance in place thing.
Seriously, I 'd much rather hear a player with good time than watch somebody dance around, but maybe I'm in the minority there, I dunno...
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#4
03-20-2013, 01:33 PM
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Maybe I should have left out that bit on dancing around, I was being sarcastic. I'd just like to be able to play without having to tap my feet. Any suggestions?
__________________
Fingerstyle Guitar ~ Hammered Dulcimer ~ Clawhammer Banjo ~ Diatonic Harmonica ~ Anglo Concertina
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#5
03-20-2013, 01:38 PM
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Well, you could try a slight head bob, or just lifting and lowering your toes in your shoe...
I'm not seeing why this is a big deal. It's not amateurish to tap your foot.
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#6
03-20-2013, 02:47 PM
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Buy a kazoo, and count to two!
 Or, depending on what you're playing, you could keep time with your picking thumb, hum to yourself, or concentrate on the down stroke...take up drumming/bass playing... I sometimes do this: When I have my car running, and back out of the garage, I have to get out to close the door. Since I always have music playing in the car, I try to sing the song, even though I can't hear it very well, and see how close I am, when I get back in the car, to where the song has gone... Play hopscotch with the kids... Learn to dance, a cappella! Ok, some of these are silly, and some are not...you decide... Hope I've helped!!! 
__________________
GROK Taylor 414ce Taylor GS5 Taylor 150E Taylor Limited Edition 326ce 8-string baritone Various other instruments
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#8
03-20-2013, 02:54 PM
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Quote:
Agreed...tapping is superior to erratic play.
__________________
Baby #1.1 Baby #1.2 Baby #02 Baby #03 Baby #04 Baby #05 Larry's songs... …Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
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#9
03-20-2013, 04:11 PM
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FWIW, tapping your foot, especially your heel, is a real visual aid for anyone watching you and actually can help them get more into your music and your groove. What's wrong with that? It's a performance trick.
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#10
03-20-2013, 04:15 PM
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Quote:
Device...aid...technique. Not a trick at all. Shucks - conductors stand there and wave their arms all over the place! I don't feel nearly so 'exposed' just tapping my foot.
__________________
Baby #1.1 Baby #1.2 Baby #02 Baby #03 Baby #04 Baby #05 Larry's songs... …Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
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#11
03-20-2013, 04:47 PM
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Quote:
You could start by changing the way you tap. Try tapping at half speed. Try alternating between tapping your toe and tapping your heel. Try keeping time by moving your upper body from side to side. Any body movement that synchronises with the music can help keep you in a groove, but first of all you have to learn it. One more thing to practice.
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#12
03-20-2013, 07:09 PM
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The answer to most forms of the question "how do I do this big/difficult thing" is "gradually". You just find ways to tear off bite size chunks and stay on task. Changing your tapping pattern first is a good idea; also you could spend some of your practice time saying the beat out loud instead of tapping. Then say it to yourself in your mind. Then don't say it to yourself anymore, but still feel it.
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#13
03-20-2013, 07:09 PM
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work it into stamping like Rory Block does as an added percussion element?
__________________
the loved ones: New World Guitars Player 628 2012 and Cordoba Dolce 2011 the neglected ones: GS Mini Spruce 2012 and Art & Lutherie Ami 1999
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#14
03-20-2013, 09:14 PM
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John Lee Hooker used both feet to keep time. Left foot was on the beat and right foot kept track of the 1st and 3rd in 4/4 time but he had variations for differnt time signatures. His method bears study.
Blues
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