You Better Slow Down

There are times when a song doesn't seem quite right. Everything may appear to be correct, but things just seem out of sorts. Perhaps the tempo was counted off too fast or too slow. But what if the tempo is correct and it still seems at odds with the feel or mood of the tune? The tune may seem a bit rushed no matter what? Maybe it lacks the energy that a faster tempo would provide. There are tricks you can use to help align the mood with the tune regardless of tempo.

OK, It Really Is Too Fast
It happens: somebody counted the tune off too fast (or too slow) and now you’re stuck with it. Correcting a tempo on the fly is technically easy but philosophically tricky. You can't arbitrarily change the tempo mid-song to 'fix' things. I sometimes try to adjust an ailing tempo without anyone noticing, which sometimes works. BTW, The worst thing you can do is stop and try again; better to just live with for now.

Play More Notes, or Fewer
The number of notes you play can have a big effect on mood. Creating space by playing fewer notes can make a tune seem more stable. For example, playing quarters on the hi-hat instead of eighths can help make a tune feel more relaxed, less frenetic. Or you can increase the energy level by filling up some of the space ... busy implies energy. Playing a 16th-note ride pattern rather than 8ths can help create a sense of movement. You can also increase or decrease the snare or bass drum work to bolster or lighten the feel.

How Does It Feel?
An easy way to change the mood is to play half as fast, or twice as fast. Actually, a double-time or half-time feel is what you're looking for. Try playing a double time swing ride to perk up slower rock tune. Or you can allude to a half time feel -- bass drum on 1, snare on 3 -- to simulate a more relaxed pace. 

Half Time? Double Time? How about both?
The ‘Bonham shuffle’ is a wonderful example of mixing and matching half and double time: the bass and snare play straight time and the hi-hat plays a double time feel (or vice versa). In this case, neither the half time nor the double time pattern would have worked. This trick can be found on a number of recordings.

Be Up Front About It ... Or Behind
Playing on top of or behind the beat can be tricky, but it can help increase or decrease the energy level. A technique I like to use is to work with just the snare and not be concerned about the other bits. I can place the back beat a little ahead or a little behind. That way I can micro-manage the energy with just the snare.

Conclusion
Fixing a nervous or lifeless tune is not always possible. Some tunes simply won't settle down or “get off the ground” no matter what you do.  Well, that's music for you!