#90bpm #blues #drumbeat
90 Beats per Minute 12/8
The 12/8 time signature is popular in blues music, creating a flowing rhythm by dividing each measure into twelve eighth notes, giving it a triplet feel. This beat is common in many genres, making drummers more versatile, especially at tempos like 80 bpm and 120 bpm. The 90 bpm tempo is widely used in rock, hip hop, funk, jazz, shuffle, lofi, and pop. It’s perfect for a slow blues drum beat. Practicing with 12/8 and 90 bpm drum loops and backing tracks helps musicians grasp different rhythms and improve their skills. Comparing 12/8 to 6/8 time signatures shows important differences.
In music, "swing" has two main meanings. It can describe the feel of a rhythm that makes people tap their feet or nod their heads. More specifically, "swing feel" is a technique where the first and second notes in a beat are alternately lengthened and shortened, often used in jazz but also in other genres.
Swing is tricky to define. Some say it’s a rhythm that makes listeners respond physically, creating an irresistible groove. Jazz musicians like Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey had different takes on it. Goodman called it "free speech in music," while Dorsey said it’s "sweet and hot at the same time." Maurice Rocco thought it was a matter of personal opinion, and Fats Waller famously said, "If you gotta ask, you’ll never know."
Swing rhythm means the pulse is divided unequally, making some notes longer than others, creating a groove. This is similar to Baroque and Classical music's "notes inégales." In swing, the first note of a pair is often twice as long as the second, but this can vary. Traditional jazz swings eighth notes, while funk and jazz-rock swing sixteenth notes.
Mixing styles like 90 BPM 12/8 drum beats, 6/8 drums, and ternary drum beats helps musicians understand and play swing better.