What is groove?

philbestmusic.... The groove in music is its underlying rhythmic structure and the main source of musical meaning. It functions just like metre and form in poetry. The meaning of the words in poems are enhanced by musical rhythm. So groove is a kind of musical logic, a natural flow and unfolding that makes music meaningful, accessible, intelligible and also beautiful, dramatic and moving.

[@phadrus]

This was excellent and so rarely taught. Thank you for making a difference.

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure and thank you for saying so! I'm very glad you find it helpful!

[@mburdiyan]

Wow. I really dig your comparison between music and poetry, and how we tend to play more like speech instead of poetry. Thanks a lot!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Glad it was helpful! Regular metre with its feeling of symmetry is a sadly neglected skill these days. A few people do it "naturally" but most of us need to develop it!

[@rodriguez.fernando]

What I can take from this is that our music performance needs to tell a story... this really clicked with me to understand groove. Thank you for such a wonderful explanation!

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure! I'm glad you appreciated it. I think you're quite right - music does need to tell a story. But "story" is an odd word... I use it all the time to describe groove but we often mean "plot" or "narrative" when we say "story". Even my other favourite term "poetry" implies some literal content. Musical groove or metre is like a story or a poem without any literal narrative. A logical unfolding stream of pure consciousness!

[@rodriguez.fernando]

@@PhilBestMusic beautifully explained. Plot and narrative do indeed convey a better meaning...

[@PhilBestMusic]

:-) I love that music needs no narrative or plot or ant literal content to make sense. It just needs a groove!

[@matiasfuentealba898]

Many people forget to feel a groove

[@PhilBestMusic]

The tune is so distracting...

[@TheNetzspannung]

This is the difference between knowledge and information. Magical, made my day

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm glad it made sense!

I am jealous of your playing, improvisation.

[@lycoris7890]

This video although it doesn't tell you how to do it, but what this video really does well is explaining to you the idea behind groovinees, this will allow each one to learn it in his own way and be able to have his own groove on music. Amazing once again, I liked this video a lot as a beginner.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks very much! I do have ways of teaching it but obviously, I only share that with my students. But the concept of musical (poetic) meter is no secret but people often ignore it. It's well worth exploring it to make music make sense and find your true self-expression.

[@ambracaruso1129]

love your groove, to hear you play and improvise. thanks for your intersting video from Italy.

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure! Thank you for listening!

[@DinhTran-w4d]

Thank you so much, Phil! That example you gave regarding atonal and arrhythmic music was really eye opening. You wouldn't happen to have a book or set of video tutorials for purchase somewhere?

[@PhilBestMusic]

You're welcome! I think you've found PlayPianoFluently.com - thanks!

[@funkencool]

Great video! First I feel like you never mention the word "dynamics" but I think that sums up a lot of what you're getting at, and is where so much of that expression comes from. I've always felt the difference in volume dynamics creates a good part of that ebb and flow, and contrast that we enjoy; much like how intervals between pitches create most of the feeling in melodies and harmonies, not so much the notes themselves. In fact I've recently stumbled on a new concept about groove that actually has some research into it (they tested what made people want to dance or move to variable grooves).. that groove shares many commonalities with the harmony, if you think of beats as hz. So there's these natural rhythm patterns that "resonate" and along with that comes rhythmic "overtones", "dissonance", and "resolutions" that we subconsciously feel all the time..

[@PhilBestMusic]

You're so right! The syntax of groove precedes tonal sense. Tonality - harmonic and melodic inflection - enhances or illuminates the rhythm. Dynamics are interesting. It's possible to add dynamics in a way that is not synced with the groove that makes them sound artificial, even awkward. Also it's possible to generate an excellent groove that doesn't rely on much dynamic contrast for it to generate a strong rhythmic unfolding. First and foremost, groove is structure and feeling on the inside. It exists inside us before any external musical material is pinned to it...

[@funkencool]

@@PhilBestMusic I agree wholeheartedly, and I really like "the syntax of groove precedes tonal sense". I think that is too often not regarded enough and all the weight is put on "rhythm section" for groove. I think when a band grooves it's because they all add a piece to the groove pie. Which is why so many duos succeed (or don't), the white stripes comes to mind. Jack white had a way of making Meg's usually straight forward drumming feel extra groovy with his own timings on guitar. In a similar sense, I used to drum on electric drums for a time and I would often practice on them without turning them on. Taking away all the other tones made it very easy to tell if I was grooving or not. I'm sure the same could be said if you made every key on your piano the same sound. The groovy sections you played would still sound groovy and definitely way more interesting.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Yes indeed, that's so very true! The way the movements flow from within, the way the body feels making them and the inner expression... these are what gives music sense and groove, not merely adding external expression. When I teach, I often talk about playing with the sound off or imagining playing. It's the inner sense that matters!

[@acherednychenko]

Thank you, sir. A very poetic, interesting, and calming way to deliver the information.

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@alaaalmaatouq1352]

oh Phil sansei this video is epic I wish that you have more subscribers so you get motivated to do more. very good explanation and very good playing love everything you do

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you so much, Alaa! I will do more videos!

[@mnr146]

Thank you so much for such a wonderful explanation of groove! Really very helpful.

[@PhilBestMusic]

You're very welcome!

[@Hellowurri]

hey man, just stumbled upon your channel w this video here - by far the best explanation of groove for music that actually holds the meat of the idea; keep up the good work !

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks a lot! I'm very glad it made some sense!

[@VK-tb5vc]

Thank you Phil! Great way to introduce the groove in your piano playing. Enjoy your work....V

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks for listening!

[@1music_1mic]

Great explanation! You're put in to words what I have been learning on my own.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Nice one!

[@TheMenelay]

Исчерпывающе, спасибо!)

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure!

[@ricardorubio4510]

Damn thats a masterpiece of an explanation, thanks!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you! I appreciate that and am very glad it was clear!

[@ARV0-SS]

Beautifully done

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you!

[@ruilinwu8964]

Great video! One of the best music-related vid ever found on YT! Such a creative articulation

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm very glad you got something from my unusual point of view. Thanks so much for the comment! It encourages me to keep sharing!

[@piotrchec8156]

Hats off; thank you for amazing improvisation.

[@PhilBestMusic]

Very nice of you to say so!

[@pauldandurandboots]

How would you go about using the groove with slight stretching or contracting for the. groove feeling, when playing in a duet or a quartet where everyone must stay in tempo? Is that when you have to go back working with a metronome? Thanks

[@PhilBestMusic]

No! Skilled musicians feel the groove together as one, including the natural stretch. It's like they work as one: it's quite mysterious, really. Listen to any romantic ensemble piece, and you'll hear it. It's an error to think that those musicians need a metronome or a conductor to play together so seamlessly even in the stretchy, surging phrases of Tchaikovsky or Mahler. More to the point, metronomic rhythm is impossible and undesirable even in music with a steady tempo. To get perfect time quantisation, we have to use a sequencer!

[@pauldandurandboots]

@@PhilBestMusic Thanks, Phil! That makes sense.

[@iirisemilia]

This is exactly what i needed when i sreached what's groove. But it leads me to wonder how this could be achieved when working with a daw piano roll only, not a physical instrument.

[@PhilBestMusic]

By delaying or anticipating beats, we can emulate the human, lyrical effect of groove. For example, making the offbeat snare or clap slightly later can cause it to dig in and attack more emphatically or perhaps sound a little lazy and cool. It depends on the timbre of the sounds and the dynamics and articulation too. You may not be surprised that when I produce using a DAW, I prefer to play everything in live from the keys or pads, as it's quicker than having to program in "feel" or a sense of groove.

[@derilingstar3643]

Hats off, this is absolutely beautiful and was very helpful! Thank you for your video and inspiration to find my groove 😊

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks for watching! Glad it's helpful!

[@vinayseth5899]

Another way to look at it: Variations in the intervals of notes, creating a "liquid" rhythm?

[@PhilBestMusic]

I was confused for a moment there... But you mean variations in the intervals of time. An interval in music theory refers to something else. But yes, an elastic, wave-like quality forms when we experience the nonlinear groove structure that flat, metronomic timing lacks.

[@vinayseth5899]

@@PhilBestMusic Yep, that's what I meant. I think Philip Glass was a case where the same note used to be played sometimes, but with a "groove".

[@mayaralua5529]

I expected a definition and received such a beautiful and poetic explanation ❣️

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm so pleased you liked it!

[@BowgFrowg]

Thank you for dispensing your wisdom! I’ll absorb it and try my best!

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure!

[@马特top10]

my english is not good，but thank you sir，you make me understand the meaning of groove that I confused for a long time

[@PhilBestMusic]

That's good to hear! Thanks!

[@drewjeers815]

You're a heck of a piano player

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks!

[@lightfusionproductions4891]

Thank you for this!!!

[@PhilBestMusic]

You're welcome!

[@budaslawek7820]

you are awesome

[@PhilBestMusic]

You are very kind, thank you! I'm very glad you got something from it!

[@Adam-franka]

That’s beautiful

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks!

[@SugarTouch]

Sounds like on-board Roland piano. No pianoteq here ? :)

[@PhilBestMusic]

No it's Pianoteq using Clean Studio reverb.

[@VK-tb5vc]

@@PhilBestMusic Hi Phil. Is Clean Studio reverb hardware or software? Just started using Pianoteq and trying to make it sound as good as possible. Impressive software, anyway. Any other add ons I should be considering? I am using a Mac. Thanks a lot!

[@PhilBestMusic]

It's one of the reverbs in Pianoteq. I normally just add a tiny amount of mastering limiting using Waves L3.

[@retropaganda8442]

Hmm, could definitely tell something was fake here. No matter how much they try, it's never going to be the real thing.

[@unused0011]

So, am I correct in assuming that the rhythm is the pattern but groove is how you play the pattern?

[@PhilBestMusic]

Yes... The patterns of rhythm and tonality are what we actually hear - the musical surface. The groove is the deep structure that underpins the music, generating musical syntax at the most fundamental level.

[@unused0011]

@@PhilBestMusic my appreciation is huge, screenshotting this and adding it to my personal music theory folder. Thankyou 🙏🏻

[@PhilBestMusic]

My absolute pleasure!

[@rogerioabaurre]

A masterclass!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you!

[@michael.laryea]

Hi Phil, I hope you are doing well. Do you offer piano lessons to beginner students?

[@PhilBestMusic]

Hi Michael, Yes I do teach students online via Skype or Zoom. My approach is highly unconventional as I teach musical fluency using my own simple model of how music works. You can find out more about it from my website PlayPianoFluently.com

[@michael.laryea]

@@PhilBestMusic Thank you!

[@quantum_ocean]

interesting I felt the first version (Mozart) you played was more musical. The second one sounded more flat and mechanical to me. The first one seems to have more dynamics. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@PhilBestMusic]

Clearly, we're from different planets!

[@bhaskarbaruah5075]

I feel you

[@PhilBestMusic]

:-)

[@hinrichhoffmann6885]

At the end he was just flexin on us

[@maurobevacqua2458]

Wow

[@PhilBestMusic]

:-)

[@vinayseth5899]

So, the musical equivalent of grace/flow.

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'd say groove is the foundation of musical grace or flow.

[@AICTAHA]

So didn’t understand what groove is. Thank you😂

[@PhilBestMusic]

My pleasure!

[@muhammadazhar308]

Here after psl6 anthem?

[@nugzar.paitchadzepaitchadze]

seemingly Yoy're kind of Roland person, just like I'm :)

[@PhilBestMusic]

Yes, I'm a Roland fan. I love my Fantom 8!

[@fea4851]

[@mayurcharipro]

Constant Minimal music pattern under the vocal

[@PhilBestMusic]

Yes, the word could have your narrow definition (among many others) but obviously I'm using it to mean something broader and more radical.

[@retropaganda8442]

Nice 100k€ studio.

[@georgios.K]

Please allow me to tell that despite the fact that you make a good try in describing a good point in terms of expression, calling it groove is big generalisation. This classic style music has a different rhythmic structure and intensifying the expression is a thing of importance but it is not groove, as we know it from rhythmic music, as jazz, funk, reggae, fusion, and such beat styles in general... And this because after years of asking this question, I resulted in defining groove in rhythmic- time terms... I will not define it here, as it takes a lot of detail to make it clear... Anyway if you want you can use the term groove for what you described but it would be better to use another term as groove derives its origin from the African rythmic phenomenal phenomena...

[@PhilBestMusic]

You're wrong to suggest that I'm talking about expression, I'm talking about rhythmic structure that generates musical sense or syntax and form. Groove, as I mean it, is the ground of rhythm and indeed all music. It can be regular or irregular, stable tempo-wise or flexible. Perhaps I am using the term "groove" with a broader definition than usual. But of course, I'm doing this on purpose. And I strongly disagree that the word is owned by cenrtain genres of music. In those genres, of course, there exists the more conventional and narrower definition of groove that we're all familiar with, but this is actually a subset of mine.

[@RIKI77777]

j'ai rien compris

[@RIKI77777]

i dont get it but i felt it but how do i get into the technicality

[@PhilBestMusic]

It's a simple structure to focus on using your mind and your natural inner sene of rhythm. It's practice that's needed and nothing very technical. The problem is that the conditioned mind often blocks rhythm. C'est une structure simple et non linéaire à remarquer à chaque instant. Nous devons pratiquer. La réflexion technique ne sert à rien. Le problème est que l’esprit conditionné bloque souvent notre sens naturel du rythme.

[@linguaphile9415]

I didn't notice the difference. 😭

[@PhilBestMusic]

🥱

[@daytona-x7b]

Horrible way to explain anything.

[@PhilBestMusic]

So making nasty little remarks is how you try to feel good about yourself.

[@LabiaLicker]

How long is a piece of string? You did a really good job of explaining this tbh

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks!