@TheMadman_tobyjenner
Toby, I started this thread because I believe that beat1 is special and I asked for others views to find out if they agree.
So far, it seems that not many do!
That hasn’t changed my mind though. When I listen to music, I hear what I hear. When people who don’t play listen to music they hear what they hear too. They don’t think about bars, they don’t think about chords or notes or licks or 1 2 3 4 or any of that theory stuff - they hear what they hear and dance or sing or tap their feet or hands….they hear the pulse and go with it. The music is in a continuous flow. It moves on from the pulse and returns to it with constant regularity.
As players, we bring in the theory and terminology and the pulse becomes beat1
As a learner, I use theory to help me learn and understand but I’m aware that it’s the sound of what I play that’s important, not the theory of how I get to the sound. I’m also aware that my sound has to revolve around the pulse - beat1
The pick ups you mention are a lead-in to beat1. The start of the phrase usually isn’t accented, the accent will be on beat1.
Moving your licks to start mid-bar can turn the start of it into a lead-in and the accent moves to mid-lick or to the end of it. As you say, that will give it a different feel - and sound! Fascinating!
That sort of thing is a bit beyond me at the moment, I’m just starting to learn licks (2)! and still learning to bend it like Beckham!
Lyrics work in a similar way, lead-ins and then key words falling on beat1 where they are held and/or accented.
So….it all revolves around beat1 All of these things are why I say it’s special.
Okay, so all of that is my take. It doesn’t matter that you and others have a different take.
Different thinking and approaches lead us to developing our own ways and….dare I say it…our own voice!
Thank you for your post Toby.
Responding to it has made me think about it some more and re-enforced my view.
Beat one where would we be without it!
