Groove

The felt sense of rhythmic momentum created by the interaction between the parts of a piece, rather than by any single part.

A groove is not written in the notes: it emerges from where the players place their attacks relative to the beat, how long they hold them, and how the parts interlock. Two performances of the same notation can groove completely differently, which is why musicians talk about feel as something separate from accuracy. For a guitarist, groove usually means leaving space, locking with the bass and drums, and resisting the urge to fill every gap.

Example: A rhythm part that feels compelling even when played alone, because of where the accents fall, has a groove.

Groove

See also