You hear all the time about “playing in time,” and “keeping good time,” or “playing in the pocket…”

But what does that really mean?

In this video we’ll talk about it and I’ll give you a way you can practice it a bit with the basic blues scale.

Download this video – MP4 | WMV


    42 replies to "What Does It Mean To Play In Time?"

    • G.Ford

      Great lesson. Like others, more insight into what the drummer is doing would be helpful. I think a lesson or even a course of jam tracks or just drum tracks where you counted or signaled the I-IV-V changes would be awesome. I know the drummer doesn’t play chords but I have heard some that appear to give very clear indication when the turn-around is coming such as a double down beat on the bass at the V chord or at bar 11.. is that a real thing or am I lost?

    • tony

      Yes its a gray area for Me and its not that I can not count but its the duration of a notes time that i need to work on thanks Griff .

      • PAUL

        DOING STUDIO WORK, I HAD OT SPEND CLOSE TO AN HOUR, GETTING THE TIMING RIGHT. IT IS COMPOUNDED, INTO YOUR TIMING WITH THE BEATS. I ALWAYS HAD THE PRODUCER USE TO WOOD DOWLS TO TAP THE BEAT, THEN I DID NOT HAVE TO COUNT. NOW I CAN COUNT. THANKS GRIFF.

    • Javier

      Hi Griff,
      I’ve been facing with time counting for years and unfortunately I’m still unable to do it right 🙁
      I’m aware of the it’s importance but It’s hard to me.
      I think that what I need is to be teached with one of your courseson a similar way you did on other subjects.
      I guess this is the only way 🙂
      Thank you for everything, Javier

    • Terry

      One thing is nice to know that I’m not alone in having good time. Work at it with my teacher every week. Its going to pay off Big time as I get better. The music just sounds better even playing simple things. Scary tho to get the email when it’s just the Thang you need to work on. Is he watching us. Lol. Thks Griff.

    • jean dominique

      Excellent video. Very helpful. Thank you.

    • Jim

      Great lesson! It’s ALL about the Timing! I had the privilege of joining you on your Roadtrip this year and noticed you doing something that I thought would complement this lesson. While the bands were playing, you would “help” the group stay on track by holding up your fingers to indicate which chord of the progression the song was on. I was thinking that it would be a good rhythm players exercise – no guitar needed! You could even do it while counting!

    • Gaston Collin

      hope you have great hollidays you and family great lessons thank you Griff!

    • Alex Mowatt

      Great lesson Griff. Maths can get away from some fairly often it seems.
      This example helps to bring it all together. I sincerely hope you and your family are all together over the festivities and have a good time; with you getting a restful time too.

    • DaveyJoe

      Great video Griff! We all need to know this stuff.

    • Gary Cooke

      Griff you said 5string5th fret wouldnt sound good to hang out on but what if u do pull off from 5th string 5th fret to 5topull off to 4 thfret will it work

    • Mark847

      Thanks Griff this is definitely helpful for me . I will be practicing this till I get it! Happy New Year to you and yours.

    • mike z.

      Griff , again , another very helpful lesson . I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year . Mike Z.

    • Jackflash

      Does bluesguitarunleashed have an app for my new phone…I want to study while on the bus..

    • PatB

      I appreciated the reference to the drummer. I try to listen, have tried playing with a drum machine, and usually have no idea what the drummer is doing. It often sounds like they have left the band and gone off on a solo. I listen to the bass and organ. Any help with the drummer appreciated. .
      Thanks,
      Pat

    • Johnny

      Yo Griff,
      I would love to get this jam track with the high hat triplets. I have gone through all my courses and jam track files with no luck.
      Thanks for all you do.
      Johnny

      • Griff

        It’s the Solo 4 Jam Track from Blues Guitar Unleashed.

    • Bill Casale

      Griff,

      I was particularly struck by your reference to the snare drum and symbol in demonstrating the time lesson. I have always been interested in what the drummer was doing during a session. Could you explain what is going on during a guitarist solo and what the drummer is doing to help the soloist with cord changes or when the guitarist knows when the next soloist will take the lead? What is the length of a solo and is this at the discretion of the soloist? I know listening to the drummer is usually very helpful if for any reason you loose the groove. Do you need to stay with the formal 12 bar formula every time during a solo? How can you get more creative with the 12 Bar formula? Thank you.

      Bill

    • Charles Snyder

      What a excellent exercise for those of us (myself) who struggle with good timing. Thanks again Griff!

    • Lynn M Roberts

      I’m sorry, you said 12 eighth notes to a measure and you said it was divided by 3. If that’s true there should be 4 notes for every third beat? Or am I not looking at it right. Could you clarify that for me Thanks I really enjoy your teaching. Good info

      • Chris Roper

        Hi,
        I think what was said was that the top number (12) was divisible by three…..so divide it!
        It gives you four beats with each beat consisting of three eighth notes. As THE MAN said,
        123, 223, 323, 423. Hope that helps…..it has helped me by having to think it out to write this!
        Happy counting in the New Year.

    • Jackoz

      Good video I want to now how to gallop is it down up down up down up and so one

    • Brenda

      Great lesson Griff. I will practice this along with the other lessons that you sent us, and I know practice makes perfect. You are a great teacher Griff.

    • Ravi

      If the pulse of a piece of music is not felt as single beats but as groups of three beats, it is said to be in compound time.

    • Lehman

      Hi Griff I’ve wanted to ask you for sometime now what gauge strings do you use.
      Lehman

      • Griff

        10s. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky

      • Louis Ogden

        For us guys that are older than dirt, Ernie Ball Super Slinky’s are nice as they are easier to bend; esp., if you have some arthritis in your wrist. It might require a readjustment on the pickups (raising the pick-up) to get the right distance between top of pick-up and bottom of string. Too close and you will get a buzz or rattle.

    • Judson Farray

      Griff, do you have any advice on how to work on our ‘ears’?

      • Griff

        The main thing is to try all the time. Don’t worry about being right or wrong just keep trying and it’ll get better.

    • Colin Campbell

      Hi Griff you have just now mentioned slow blues solos like ‘Red House’ by Jimmi Hendrix. In which of your many excellent courses where might we find the style of ‘Red House’?

      • Griff

        This track is from Solo 4 in Blues Guitar Unleashed, but I believe I’ve got at least 1 slow blues example in darn near every course I’ve ever done! The only one that doesn’t is Blues Solo Construction Kit: Shuffle Feel, because it’s the shuffle feel one and there is also a slow blues one.

    • Sloppy John Weaver

      You have and I’m duly impressed. Time is something I struggle with ’cause I’m a lazy counter. Trying to improve.

    • Gene

      Griff…I am slowly working thru lesson 11 with some fingering issues.I think your e-mails are fantastic, I hope some day to be able to play a real Blues song and be proud of it. I try not to get too discouraged,your e-mails sometimes help.I hope toget there sometime next year or two.Gene

    • John

      I purchased the how to improvise (4steps to mastery) best investment I’ve made. shows you step by step how to count,I finally understand how and why it’s so important. I have five other of Griff’s course s but this one turned the lights on for me.I can now count the beats out loud, tap my foot and play at the same time.For an old dog this is amazing….. Thanks to the master of teaching,Griff😎

    • Paul v

      Griff, thanks very this definitely an area I’m struggling with. I’ll give this a try.

    • Dave

      Hi Griff, I’ve been working on the “4 Steps to Mastery” recently which emphasizes counting out loud. Today’s video gives great insights as well. I suspect there is a limit to counting as it becomes internalized and then just, kind of subconscious or just a “feel”. Can you talk about that sometime from your experience as a professional musician? Thanks

    • Ron U

      Basics basics basics it is so good to hear basics and I think this lesson today is basics it should help me out I hope it helps others thanks Griff.

    • Judson Farray

      Arise, Sir Griff!! You are hereby awarded the AFM. It is the Absolutely F… Marvellous award. (You can fill in any F word you like).

    • Mark Wales uk

      Cheers Griff for the lesson I shall practice this along
      with your excellent backing tracks 🎶

    • TerryH

      Thanks Griff. Improving my time is the thing I am struggling with the most at the moment. This is another little gem of a lesson. I also think it is the key to playing fast, which is the other difficulty I am having.

    • Willem v. Dijk

      Good afternoon Griff,

      Nice lesson for play the richt timing, it helps me out!

      Thanks, Willem
      The Netherlands

      • Jim

        Thank you for waking up my guitar interest 82 years and auritise put it down you are a great teacher and have a fantastic website. Your crew are great also have a greate Christmas jim

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