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The phrase "in the pocket" is used to describe something or someone playing in such a way that the groove is very solid and with a great feel. When a drummer keeps a good metronomic pulse, often referred to as keeping time, and makes the groove feel really good, and maintains this feel for an extended period of time, never wavering, this is often referred to as a deep pocket.
It's impossible to have a pocket without also having a groove.
For those that understand Logic statements, it would look something like this .....
Let p = pocket
Let q = groove
Given: good metronomic pulse
The Statement:
"if no pocket then no groove."
That is:
"no pocket implies no groove"
Or, symbolically:
?p --> ?q.
By definition of the principle of contraposition or negative inference, then:
p --> q.
That is:
"pocket implies groove".
Therefore, if you have, in fact, achieved a pocket, you must have had a groove in order to have created it in.
Notice that mathematical logic does NOT imply that if you had a groove you have in fact achieved a pocket. That statement would be false and would look like this: p <--q = F |
Historically speaking, the term "pocket" originated in the middle of the last century with the occurrence of the backbeat, and implied that the backbeat, the Snare Drum striking the beats 2 and 4, is slightly delayed creating a "laid back" or "relaxed feel".
If the downbeat is exactly when the Kick Drum is struck, then the Snare Drum was very often played slightly later than the midpoint between two consecutive pulses from the Kick Drum. Musicians (and music listeners) were often times unaware of science behind this, but they had a term for it: "the drummer is playing in the pocket."
Today, the term "in the pocket" has broadened a bit, suggesting that if two musicians (usually the bass player and the drummer) are feeling the downbeats together, feeling and placing beat "one" at the exact same time, they are said to be "in the pocket."
Whether you are playing ahead (front) of the beat, or behind (back) of the beat, or right on top (middle) of the beat, as long as two musicians (ie. bassist and drummer) feel the downbeat at the same time, they'll be in the pocket.
Many people feel that the question is not so much what the pocket is as much as how you know when you've achieved it. To the musician, it feels like the music is playing itself, as though everything has merged together ... all the rhythmic parts being played by one instrument.
Whichever definition you choose to go with or use, having a pocket is always good thing!
 Bart Elliott is a degreed professional musician and founder of the Drummer Cafe. His 30+ years in the music industry, over 100 albums to his credit, as well as his understanding of contemporary and classical music, makes him a complete and skilled master musician. A highly sought after drummer and percussionist, Bart is widely known as a top music educator and gifted teacher, appearing as a guest artist and clinician throughout the USA. He currently offers private / group instruction and video correspondence lessons on drums and percussion at his studio in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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