"Second line" rhythym?

[EddieRay]

I'm not sure I can find a better forum for this question.

I was at a backyard party/jam the other day. We jammed on a Little Feat style rhythym, kinda like Dixie Chicken. The drummer called it a "second line" rhythym. I've never heard it called that by term. Have you?

[Juggernaut]

Second line usually refers to the festive march in New Orleans usually durring Mardi Gras, so I would guess that he was refering to a beat used commenly in that march.

Thats my guess anyway.

[michigan~]

yes i have, i learned the second line drumming style when i first started

Juggernaut is correct about the name, i think. don't quote me on that.

[EddieRay]

Cool! So I'm NOT too old to learn something new.

Next question: how did the term come about? I mean, what's "second" or "line" about it?

[my2cents]

most drummers can't explain what second line is all about. i've never read a decent description of "second line" in modern drummer (or anywhere else) and i've read almost every issue for going on 20 years.

and yet, george bush thinks he knows enough about it to include it in his katrina relief speach.

[PhilGood]

In Dixieland jazz music, the band marching and playing (or on a cart) was known as the front line. They included the rhythm section and soloists, each just 'jamming' to the rhythm section. The people who gathered to dance in front of, along side and behind the band were known as the "Second line".

The audience.

I heard Dave Weckl explain that Dixie is a feel which can drift from straight 4/4 to a 12/8 feel. Its not straight up and down, but not quite a shuffle. You sort of have to feel it as you go.

[wholelottabonzo]

Hi,

Check this site out if your interested, 'www.drummerworld.com' go onto the 'drum clinic' page and scroll down to a quicktime video called 'New orleans second line' shows you it in slow mo and normal pace and tells you a bit about it i think.

Hope this helps.

[lakeside]

Hello from lakeside:

Around 1942 if a funeral parade passed Blessed Sacrament Elementary School in New Orleans many kids would leave school, knowing they would get it when returning home after 3:00 p.m.. Out of respect for the family, and the deceased, slow church music was played from mid town to Green's Cementary, uptown.

After the funeral services the musicians had to return to mid-town. Why just carry the instruments back home? Music, with a dance beat, was played from the grave yard back to mid-town. The agrived, and us school kids; became second liners, with the band. The rhythms have evolved like the parades and there is a new second line beat used by young musicians today.

There are sever online pages regarding Second Line Bands.

Sincerely,

lakeside

[mikeh]

My understanding of the second line is that the musicians formd the 2nd line in a funeral march (the grieving family being the 1st line). The music in the march reflected the combination of slave rhythems, latin grooves, etc. the New Orleans became famous for.

This music grew into everything from tradional dixieland type music to the "swamp funk" of the Meters, the Nevilles, Dr. John, etc.

These days 2nd line has become a little less defined, but is normally referred to as a funk type of groove which while stemming from the grooves of the march is now more relective of a semi syncopated drum kit groove.

Two of the more recognized pioneers of 2nd line drumming (morphed into drum kit funk styles) are Earl Palmer (who has played on countless recordings) and Zigaboo Modeliste (drummer of the Meters). Those two have probaly influenced more funk drummers than anyone I can imagine.

I grew up on Motown, Stax, etc. and the funk drummers of the 60's and 70's influenced me a lot - many years later (as I spent more time learning the roots and history of music) I found that many of the drummers who influnced me were influenced by Palmer and Modelliste - and they were influnced by the development of 2nd line grooves.

If you are interested in learning how to groove based on 2nd line - check out the names/groups I've mentioned.

[funkydrummer]

this link has a brief explanation of second line drumming with some listening and reading suggestions.