When playing in a band, group, or combo situation, there’s a term you’ll often hear known as “in the pocket.”
And no…”in your pocket” doesn’t refer to a place to put your hands while you’re at a concert! In simple terms, when a band is playing “in the pocket”, they are playing musically “in sync” with each other.
First of all, it’s important to realize that a band can be playing a song together on stage, the same song at the same time, but not actually be playing “in sync” with each other.
It can be compared to the old analogy of an 8-cylinder car engine. If the engine only runs on 6 or 7 cylinders, it will still get the car down the road and eventually end up at its destination. But along the way, the car can cough, sputter, and wobble, making for a bumpy ride.
In contrast, when the engine is running on all 8 cylinders, driving will be smooth and easy, almost effortless.
When a band plays “in the pocket”, it works smoothly on all 8 cylinders.
The “pocket” of a song is its “rhythmic core”. The base on which all other instruments, voices and melodies are layered.
Very often the term “in the pocket” is used to describe the drummer’s and bassist’s ability to “lock in” on that rhythmic core of the song. As a result, many times a drummer or bassist will be favorably described as a “pocket player”.
But we, as guitarists, also have the ability to add to the “pocket” of a song.
Here are some things a guitarist can focus on to play “in the pocket” with the band.
1. “Listen to me” vs. “Listen to us”
It’s natural, as guitarists, to be focused on what we’re doing individually. We are often absorbed in dazzling the audience with our solos and leads.
But playing “in the pocket” requires a bit of a mindset shift from an individual player to one of a “team” player.
2. Pay more attention
Instead of focusing on what we are doing individually, to become better “pocket players” we should spend more time “really listening” to what is happening around us.
Try to focus more on actually “hearing” each individual part that the other musicians (drums, bass player, keyboard player, trumpets, etc.) are contributing to the piece.
3. Make a contribution
Once you become adept at truly listening to the other parts of the players around you, now try to focus on what your contribution to the “pocket” is.
Really hear how what you’re playing on the guitar contributes to the overall sound of the band as a “whole.”
4. Simple is better… Less is more
Very often, for a guitar player, the best contributions to the pocket are the simplest things, like a “chink chink chink” chord pattern that matches the snare drum, or just a strummed chord that plays with the bass.
Always keep in mind that a guitarist’s rhythms should complement the bottom end, not be in contrast to it, and that can often be achieved most successfully by using simple techniques and allowing the song to “breathe” with lots of gaps.
5. Feel it!
All technical considerations aside, the ability to play “in the pocket” really comes from learning to play from the perspective of “feeling” the music.
Avoid the natural tendency to “overthink” what you’re doing and just get lost in the “feel” of the song, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll find yourself “in the pocket.”
In conclusion
Keep in mind that it’s not just the drummer’s and bassist’s responsibility to find the “pocket.” We, as guitarists, have an obligation to make our contribution as well.
Always remember that there is a subtle difference between bands that play “in the pocket” and those that don’t. But very often, it’s that fine line that separates the good bands from the great ones.