LIFTOFF! Answers

Home General Search Participate FAQ Newsletter About/Contact	LIFTOFF! ANSWERS Wayne asks: “Why can’t I come up with good rhythm when playing piano or making a beat?” Answer:
	First, make sure you have established basic technique, including using a metronome. It can be difficult to maintain steady rhythm if you do not first make sure you have a grasp of the basics. Just a few of these basics include making sure your hands are relaxed, knowing your fingering for melodies, knowing basic theory such as chord structure, and practicing using a metronome. Further very helpful exercises include practicing scales and arpeggios using a metronome, through the entire cycle of fifths. This helps you get a strong feel for a steady rhythm, along with improving your knowledge of theory. Once you feel you have a good knowledge of basic technique, if you are improvising you may also find it useful to think of the rhythm as your “guiding principle.” In other words, when you are learning to improvise in jazz for example, one of the most important things is just holding the rhythm, or the groove. Do not worry at first about what notes you are playing, what lines or harmonies—instead, just focus on playing something but with a good beat. Once you have mastered maintaining a beat via these exercises, then you can worry about other things like melody and tone, etc. Does this answer your question? Let us know how we are doing at liftoffcm@yahoo.com.