Tempo zones

[Strat-itis]

I'm organizing tempo into 5 zones for practice because you have to work out your rhythms and time feel differently for each of them.

I'm thinking for the ballpark center of the ranges:

Ballad: 68
Walking ballad: 75
Slow swing: 95
Med: 120
Med up: 160

I take med up to 200 as my speed limit. I'm not messing with up as I'm not gigging where you're required to do some burners and I don't enjoy it.

What are your thoughts of how to define the tempo ranges, and the tempo zone time feel in general?

[pamosmusic]

I'm organizing tempo into 5 zones for practice because you have to work out your rhythms and time feel differently for each of them.

I'm thinking for the ballpark center of the ranges:

Ballad: 68
Walking ballad: 75
Slow swing: 95
Med: 120
Med up: 160

I take med up to 200 as my speed limit. I'm not messing with up as I'm not gigging where you're required to do some burners and I don't enjoy it.

What are your thoughts of how to define the tempo ranges, and the tempo zone time feel in general?

Seems about right?

Would be interesting to maybe have a time feel or two for variation in the slow and medium swing ranges. A shuffle, for example, in that 100 range can feel pretty different than something a little more down the middle.

Out of curiosity, what do you think is the toughest range at the moment?

[Strat-itis]

Would be interesting to maybe have a time feel or two for variation in the slow and medium swing ranges. A shuffle, for example, in that 100 range can feel pretty different than something a little more down the middle.

I agree, there are definitely variations within the broader ranges. I'd have to tackle those individually when I get to them or people can map out what they notice.

Out of curiosity, what do you think is the toughest range at the moment?

Med lol. Med is the toughest range for me at the moment. I'm following the Milt recipe where he always uses the maximum possible subdivision. So it's required to double time in med. He double times by default and then drops back into slower phrasing all the way up to 130 range.

Med up is the easiest for me because 8th notes propel themselves.
Slow med and walking ballad are next because I can run double time without too much trouble.
Ballad is next since keeping everything organized with slow phrasing and faster bursts can be awkward.
Med is the total killer for me lol. But I'm making progress.

[James W]

I'm organizing tempo into 5 zones for practice because you have to work out your rhythms and time feel differently for each of them.

I'm thinking for the ballpark center of the ranges:

Ballad: 68
Walking ballad: 75
Slow swing: 95
Med: 120
Med up: 160

I take med up to 200 as my speed limit. I'm not messing with up as I'm not gigging where you're required to do some burners and I don't enjoy it.

What are your thoughts of how to define the tempo ranges, and the tempo zone time feel in general?

Great topic. Personally, I would add about 20 BPM to each of the tempo ranges you give above.

I also find your comment about your speed limit interesting - because I have always felt that to do a tempo like 120 BPM justice one would have to be able to double time, which would therefore mean that one would also therefore be able to play eighth notes at 240 BPM.

But yeah. I am working on tempos between 170 - 230. I ought to do some work on tempos below 150 and work on using a greater variety of rhythms and subdivisions that the slower tempos sort of demand of you.

[Strat-itis]

Great topic. Personally, I would add about 20 BPM to each of the tempo ranges you give above.

Thx. I listed the middle of the ranges for my playing. I wanted to leave it open for people to define what they think the full ranges are, but I could do that if it's vague.

I also find your comment about your speed limit interesting - because I have always felt that to do a tempo like 120 BPM justice one would have to be able to double time, which would therefore mean that one would also therefore be able to play eighth notes at 240 BPM.

Yes. The difference with double timing is you're not required to carry the stream with 16th notes, you can drop back to slower rhythms. While with 8th notes at faster tempos you are required to more or less animate the flow with 8th notes and can't consistently drop back to slower rhythms.

But yeah. I am working on tempos between 170 - 230. I ought to do some work on tempos below 150 and work on using a greater variety of rhythms and subdivisions that the slower tempos sort of demand of you.

That's good that you're pushing the upper range. Gotta watch out for the slower ones too.

[mr. beaumont]

Of possible interest, from Drumgenius...

Ballad range: 32-70

Slow Swing: 56-100

Med. Slow Swing: 99-116

Medium Swing: 109-146

Medium Up Swing: 169-244

Fast Swing: 258-292


Obviously plenty of overlap and feel matters, but I think at least an interesting reference.

[Strat-itis]

^ That is an interesting reference. It seems to be the maximum possible range for those styles. Except for up which is plain wrong as up goes to 300 and beyond.

[pamosmusic]

Of possible interest, from Drumgenius...

Ballad range: 32-70

Slow Swing: 56-100

Med. Slow Swing: 99-116

Medium Swing: 109-146

Medium Up Swing: 169-244

Fast Swing: 258-292


Obviously plenty of overlap and feel matters, but I think at least an interesting reference.

If you call a ballad at 32 bpm, I’ll show you what it looks like when a sleepy guitarist takes a nap on stage.

[mr. beaumont]

That's because I missed "Very Fast Swing," which is definitely synonymous with "UP"

308-356

Not for children or the elderly.

[Strat-itis]

^ Then I'd say those figures are low key accurate for the maximum possible range for the grooves.

It doesn't define walking ballad which is quite narrow in the 70 and low 80 range.

If you call a ballad at 32 bpm, I’ll show you what it looks like when a sleepy guitarist takes a nap on stage.

Yup

[mr. beaumont]

If you call a ballad at 32 bpm, I’ll show you what it looks like when a sleepy guitarist takes a nap on stage.

32 is insanely slow.

Two of the slowest tunes I can think of, Idle Moments and Flamenco Sketches, are around 60bpm IIRC, for reference...

[mr. beaumont]

This is about 46. Dang.

You go that much slower than your heart rate and it's melt into the chair time.

This would definitely qualify as a master class in what to do with that slow of a tempo.

[Strat-itis]

Zzz.. that's nice.

[Christian Miller]

Is it just me who thinks medium up starts about 180?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[James W]

Is it just me who thinks medium up starts about 180?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, not just you. I said I'd add 20 to each of the OP's tempos.

[Strat-itis]

I agree. My double timing cuts out around 130 range. So then 140-160 would be something else beside med and med up. Or maybe it's still just med and I need to harden up and throw in 16th notes up to 170 like Milt. Or maybe my requirement that med needs 16th notes isn't true.

[pauln]

If you call a ballad at 32 bpm, I’ll show you what it looks like when a sleepy guitarist takes a nap on stage.

<< John Cage has entered the chat >>

4'33" sounds best on vinyl (7 LP boxed set)