Groove (music)

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The term groove refers to the sense of propulsive rhythmic "feel" created by a band's rhythm section (drums, electric bass (or double bass), and guitar, and keyboards).

[edit] Theories

Richard Middleton (1999) describes, "the concept of groove – a term now theorized by analysts but long familiar in musicians' own usage – marks an understanding of rhythmic patterning that underlies its role in producing the characteristic rhythmic 'feel' of a piece." He notes that the "feel created by a repeating framework" is also modified with variations. "Groove", in terms of pattern-sequencing, is also known as "shuffle" - where there is deviation from exact step positions.

Beyond this generality, the "groove" interpretation technique is widely attributed to James Brown's drummers Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks, traditional Jamaican Reggae, African music and Latin music, and consists of an interpretation and a syncopation of a binary rhythm in soul music by the rhythm section, even though it has reached many other genres (such as Groove Metal).

This particular technique is very well explained and documented in a video from Mike Clark (drums) and Paul Jackson (bass). Steve Telehus explains that "even the people who can't dance wanna feel like dancing, that's where groove comes in."