Improve

Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash
 What does “groove” mean?
• Groove is both a noun and a verb.
• Concept has been in the vernacular of
improvising musicians for decades but
musicologists and theorists have only more
recently begun to analyze this concept.
• More than a steady beat, this hard-to-define term
was originally borrowed from the groove on in a
vinyl record.
• “Just because a record has a groove don't make it
in the groove.” – Stevie Wonder
 Synonyms
• Feel – Stylistic essence of a rhythmic genre.
• In-the-pocket – Playing a steady and inspiring beat.
• Lock-up – Feeling the groove with others.
• Swing – Era, genre, uneven 8th notes, compliment.
• Cook – Combining all of the musical elements into
an improvised appealing “stew.”
• Playing Hot – Driving the groove by playing on the
front of the beat.
• Playing Cool – Laying back on the beat for a
reserved, relaxed feel.
 How to Get Your Groove On
1. A steady beat trumps “correct” notes.
2. Dance with and without your instrument.
3. Constantly accompany your students.
4. Help your students discover the backbeat.
5. Become friends with all eight 8th notes.
6. Practice with backing tracks.
7. Learn to comp rock, swing, and Latin styles.
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. A steady beat trumps right notes.

Learning the hard way…
A steady beat trumps right notes
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. Steady beat
2. Dance with and without your instrument.
Rhythm is basic to humanity.
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. Steady beat
2. Dance
3. Constantly accompany your students.
Transfer your own sense of time on piano
and with easy percussion instruments.

Keeping time with your hands.

Helps them learn to play in bands.
 Learn how with this free PDF book
included on the webinar resource page.
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. Steady beat
2. Dance
3. Accompany students
4. Help your students discover the backbeat.
Hanon on 2 and 4
 Tobebourine™

The tambourine you play with your foot!

Available at BradleySowash.com
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. Steady beat
2. Dance
3. Accompany students
4. Backbeat (2 and 4)
5. Become friends with all eight 8th notes.
 Use rhythm boxes
on paper…
London Bridge is Falling Down

X X X X

X X X
…or use manipulatives.

Download a free Rhythm Board teacher's guide at

BradleySowash.com under “Teaching Tools.”
 Rhythm boxes are also integral to my
Creative Chords beginning keyboard method.
 Learn to feel all the beats
by clapping displaced qtrs.

q
 Next, displace by 8ths…

e e

e e

e e

e e
…continue through the measure.

e e

e e

e e

e e
 Now, try it on the piano.
1. By Quarters

2. By 8ths
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. Steady beat
2. Dance
3. Accompany students.
4. Backbeat (2 and 4)
5. All eight 8th notes
6. Practice with backing tracks.
Practice with backing tracks
such as Band in a Box
software, iRealPro app, drum
machines built into
keyboards, Garage Band
loops…

Even a metronome is better than

nothing if you can’t find an
automated groove.
 Improve Your Groove
with Bradley Sowash

1. A steady beat trumps “correct” notes.

2. Dance with and without your instrument.
3. Constantly accompany your students.
4. Help your students discover the backbeat.
5. Become friends with all eight 8th notes.
6. Practice with backing tracks.
7. Learn to comp rock, swing, and Latin styles.
 Bradley’s Groove Formula:
Groove = pulse ÷ subdivision.
• Two straight 8ths = Classical, Rock, Folk, Ethnic…

• Three 8th note triplets = March, Blues Shuffle, Gospel…

• Swing 8ths = Jazz and Western swing styles…

• Dotted 8th/16th = Irish Hornpipes, Fiddle tunes…

• Sixteenths = Disco, Funk, Jazz/Rock Fusion…

Rock grooves are specific to the tune
so copy what you hear or read.

From “That’s Jazz” Book 3 by Bradley Sowash

© 2006 Neil A. Kjos Music Co. Used with permission.
How to teach Swing 1
How to teach Swing 2
Now you try it.
Swing comping strategies
• Hands take turns (counterpoint)
• Hands play together
• Hands are independent
 Latin Comping Generator

q q q q

e e e e

Now, start at any point but maintain qtrs/8ths being 4 in a row across repeats.

q q e e

e e q q
Here’s how it looks notated
Here’s how it looks on a Rhythm Board™
 It’s not only up to you.

Pianists esp. need to play music with other people.

Encourage students to get involved with ensembles.
 Review
1. Steady beat
2. Dance
3. Accompany students
4. Backbeat (2 and 4)
5. All eight 8th notes
6. Backing tracks
7. Learn to comp
Until next time, enjoy your
creative music-making
journey!
• BradleySowash.com
Teaching resources, publications, online lessons…
• 88CreativeKeys.com
Workshops and webinars for piano teachers.