Tapping and Playing!

[yankees1]

Well, I can tap my foot to the beat but while playing the melody I find it very difficult to tap my foot and play at same time! I can chew gum and walk at same time though! I don't seem to have any problem with this on Harvest Home but most other songs, I just can't seem to be successful! My rhythm is fine without tapping though, but I think it would be better if I could tap my foot but I suppose this will come with practice! Anyone else experience this ?

[Pete Summers]

Yeah, I can't tap my foot when first learning a tune, until I get the playing down pretty well. It's hard to concentrate on two things at once, but practice makes good.... I agree that tapping your foot can help your practice by adding a nice accent and helping keep a steady rhythm, but it ain't automatic.

[Don Julin]

If you can't tap your foot while playing a melody, your timing may not be as good as you think it is. I believe that having different parts of your body moving in sync to the music you are playing is a sign that you have internalized the rhythm of the tune. Think of rock drummers keeping time with their foot (bass drum) and their left hand (snare drum) while adding accents or fills with their other limbs. Or better yet think of a drummer singing lead in a song. Now there are some situation were you do not want foot tapping getting in the way of the music, but that is a different question. Keep working at it. It will be worth the extra effort.

[JeffD]

If you can't tap your foot while playing a melody, your timing may not be as good as you think it is. I believe that having different parts of your body moving in sync to the music you are playing is a sign that you have internalized the rhythm of the tune.

Or at least your timing may not be under your control as much as you think. I play sometimes with these folks who have a bad habit of gradually speeding up. Its horrible. To keep things tied down, I do a more exaggerated foot stomp, and it keeps me from following them into oblivion. On the other hand, sometimes I will tap harder faster, to help me pick up my own tempo to match their own.

I hadn't thought this out before but, the best thing that foot tapping has done, over the years, is that it has enabled me to play faster. I mean it. Instead of letting my playing determine the rhythm, I let my body determine the rhythm, and my fingers follow. At a certain point several years ago, I had to stop thinking about the individual notes and think "in phrases" and patterns. This resulted in a gigantic increase in speed in a matter of several months. I don't think this could have happened if I wasn't tapping, and forced to "keep up".

[Marty Henrickson]

I tap my foot without even thinking about it, but of course I tap my foot better than I play my mandolin (or guitar!). I can tap my foot - even while driving (safely, I'll add) - to some of the greats - Bill Monroe, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Doc Watson, Mike Compton, Tony Rice, Clarence White - yep, I can tap with the best of 'em.

[Jack Roberts]

I have developed the habit of tapping in time unless the bass player is behind me, in which case he handles the timing for me--and does an excellent job.

Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is,
When time is broke and no proportion kept!