Thought I`d try something different for a change.

Terry, cute tune and I hope you don't mind constructive criticism. Quite frankly, you're doing what we used to call 'jumping the beat'---in other words, playing ahead of the beat, which gives the illusion that you're playing faster than the accompaniment (although you're really not; you're just playing the notes a couple of milliseconds faster than they should be played. Here's an experiment for you; first, slow it down @ 8-12 bpm and then just hum the tune (don't play) while clapping on the 2 and 4. Just sort of 'relax' into it. First though, listen to this current version until you hear what I observed above. Unless you hear it, you won't be able to correct it.

Try it. Sometimes 'rushing the beat' is nothing more than nerves (ever notice how you play more relaxed when you're NOT recording - that's because you aren't tensed up about the possibility of making a mistake).

I'm only mentioning this because if you're playing for dancers, they WILL notice. Good luck with it and keep experimenting -- that's where the fun is .

chas

Terry, nice. I love the das and dos, it sounds like you were having a good time. Keep going, most more songs.

Thanks, John C.

Nice and yes to what Chas said. Relax a bit and get in the pocket. Like the voices too roland by any chance.

Always loved that song, Terry - however, I have to agree with Chas, which I rarely do. Just relax and let your self go with the flow and you're hear a big difference.

Keep em coming, old friend,

Gary

Terry I liked your version. For me, there is nothing worse than a perfectly timed recording. "Insert note here" is not the way to go, improvising, and adding your own "touch" make for a much more interesting song. Your recording was perhaps slightly rushed, but in no way displeasing. It was not the same old
"It had to be You" recording. I liked it.

I do agree, that when the 'record' button is on, it seems to trigger a tenseness that is not there otherwise. Many times I'll play a song, and wished I recorded it, and then proceed to record, and not having the same results. The pressure is on. When that happens, I'll walk away, have a drink, and try again later.

BTW, great analysis from Chas. It's good to see him back with his constructive criticism.

I think a lot of people have trouble sitting ‘in the pocket’ simply because they have the backing, especially the drums, turned down too much. Maybe you’ve never sat next to a real drummer before, but the truth is, no matter how quietly he’s trying to play, you are going to hear him clear as a bell!

Try turning the drums up. Try turning the entire backing up. You honestly should have to struggle a bit to hear yourself ‘within the mix’ if the mix is correct. That’s why bands have monitors (that the audience can’t really hear) to get what THEY play up to the level they can easily hear themselves above all, but the audience hears them less…

Once you hear the drummer front and center, it’s much more obvious to you while playing that you are rushing or dragging, and a lot easier to stop yourself doing it. Eventually, once you have reined in your tendency to rush, you can turn the drums back down a hair now you have that muscle memory, and record yourself again. But in general, I honestly think 90% of home player demos could be vastly improved by simply bringing the backing up a bit to the point where what YOU are playing sits ‘within the mix’ not ‘on top’ of it. And that mostly comes from repeatedly recording yourself, listening critically to the balance, turning down the lead sounds and recording again until it sounds ‘pro’, then getting used to where that puts you in the mix on ALL your songs…

It is quite possibly the hardest thing to do as an arranger player, learning how to play well, rhythmically and harmonically, all while not really hearing yourself front and center. But once done, it pays off in a killer mix when listening back later, or to your audience if playing live.

Turn up them drums! 🎹😎🥁

Just as a footnote, dragging the melody a bit in the right place is usually way cool, but rushing almost never is. 😂

But you’ll have a hard time catching back up to the beat if you can’t hear it that well!

Give the drummer some love! 🥁🤪

"Chas KNOWS!

Good observation, but also a good initial effort.


Russ

P.S. Chas made the same observation about one of my early posts...the TU*D!

Dammit, he was right.

Be well, all. REALLY GOOD to see a post from Chas.

Hi Terry, I finally got a moment to listen. I liked the melodic embellish you did a lot on the vibes. I agree with laying back or getting more swing into your playing .
Listen the Basie band- those guys could swing their backsides off. In fact I think Count Basie is related to Chas, so maybe he knows what he’s talking about

Also listen lots of vibe players like Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, and Terry Gibbs. Most important, have fun and enjoy the process of learning and expanding. It’s part of the artistic journey, and every good musician is always trying improve their skills and knowledge.

Thanks for posting a very good performance.

Thanks guys for your favourable comments and Chas for your
in depth observations,constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcome,
and gives me something to try to improve on and hopefully post
the result at some point.Yes Bill,the voices were the Roland
JzVoiceDat.

Gee, I relate to all the comments made.
I am my most harsh critic, and coming from a piano background, I always yearn for slightly heavier keys than those on arrangers (mine included), which, with the lighter touch, tend to keep me in front of the beat at times.
I am forever striving to keep with/behind the beat, nothing worse tha being ahead of it.
Nice job Terry, and take note of the constructive comments which will only improve the end result, (from one,seeking that same result).
Ray

Hi Ray,by coincidence of you mentioning the arranger keys,I have
always had my Roland E80 key velocity set at low.As a result from
the comments to my post I have set them to high and find that I can hear the tempo of the style a lot better.The metronome was set to 1 bar count in so I changed that to off which seems a lot better.Still working on it.

Playing rhythmically accurately extremely lightly is one of the hardest things to do, particularly at the wrist angle that piano playing forces on you… Accordions have the wrist in a far more natural angle and very rapid runs and arpeggios seem a lot easier (plus the much smaller width of the keys is a big help) plus your finger strength has little to do with volume and tone.

But a velocity sensitive keyboard needs a fair range of force from you to deliver good dynamics and rhythmic accuracy. Sure, setting the curve to light allows you to appear you are playing harder, but also makes playing quieter much harder, as there is so little range between loud and soft now. I tend to find medium curves work best for general sounds, but piano and Rhodes work better for me on hard curves.

The trick is to not set your keyboard’s overall velocity to one thing or the other, but program the curve on a registration by registration basis if your keyboard allows it.