One pattern that's emerging this tour is the new clap-along arrangement.

P and Shelby etc are trying to get us to clap on the off-beat.

What's the off-beat? If you don't know, first count "1, 2, 3, 4" in time with the song.

Then count the same, but adding "and" inbetween the beats, so you're counting:

"1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and..." (or in shorter-hand, "1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +")

The off-beats are the "ands". That's where you clap. Do a bit of practice at home You might need to practice dancing at the same time! Not necessarily easy.

It actually started to work in Delirious at the aftershow last night. Sounded good, although the people clapping ON the beat (not on the off-beats) turned it into eighth-notes. But more seemed to be getting it right than getting it wrong.

It's ambitious. Lots of people seem to have trouble just clapping on 2 and 4. Instead they can't help but clap on 1 and 3... commonly known as the "white-folks clap".

We're building up quite a clapping repertoire... 2 and 4, soul-clap, the "waltz clap" (1 clap clap, 2 clap clap, 3 clap clap, 4.... as in "Satisfied" last night), now the off-beat...

Thank God it's not 7/8 timing Know what you mean about "white man's clap" though Tee hee.

Made me smile...guy next to me had no timing whatsoever...but at least he was into it and trying! Think he may have been a seal in a previous life!

Nothing worse than people standing stock still at an aftershow

popelife said:

I have been loving all the clapping variations that Prince has been leading us in... escepacially at the aftershows where at times it's really become part of the show and the rhythm.

Though I admit that sometime it's hard to keep up with him when he changes the clap-pattern mid-song!

Add to that the various call and response chants, it has been such a fun summer.. i don't want it to end.

Beats 1+2+3+4 +++ errr….yes, no, maybe???!! LOL!
I just do what feels natural and follow what's being done on stage!

popelife said:

My head hurts. I'm SO white!!!

popelife said:

very funny!

I'm not a bad dancer at all but was dancing next to a couple of black guys last night and they were incredible.

I felt very very very white.

westv said:

People think they're following Shelby, but the crowd is usually on the beat, when she's on the off-beats.

I'm trying to think of a track where it's really obvious what to do. Delirious is most of the way there, but a little too slow on 1999. But try clapping to that and you get the idea. It's like "1 clap 2 clap 3 clap 4 clap..."

The way he plays delirious now suits the offbeat clap better. (try the Syracuse Purple Rain show for a faster version)

I'll be holding a tutorial on odd time signatures like 7 and 13 in the foyer before the show on the 21st (I'm kidding)

popelife said:

I use my eyes.

Let the people just clap when they want, enjoy themselves and have a great time.

popelife said:

How wrong you are re "Delirious". With how it segued into what preceded it last night, it was in double time so the off clap becomes the 2nd and 4th beat of the bar.

Clapping on the off-beat has been a new one for me this summer. Luckily, at Prince's last 2 aftershows I've attended with a friend who's a pro drummer. And he's been teaching me at the aftershows - counting "one AND two AND three" etc and tapping ON the beat with my foot to help.

So if you've noticed some crazy looking guy at the aftershows trying to clap on the off-beat to the DJ's music BEFORE Prince starts playing (with somebody next to him giving instructions) - that's me trying to get it right in advance

Only 2 more aftershows to go and I'm nearly there, godamnit!

P.S. My friend tried moving me on to some more advanced stuff last night but I have to tell him - babysteps, babysteps!

leecaldon said:

To be honest, that's what I do and I have always done it at concerts without really knowing what I've been doing. Usually my wife telly me I'm clapping or moving out of time.....Now the joke's on her. Drum lessons here I come.

Mong said:

It all depends how you count it. At 1999 speeds it's only a fast four, so yes, the clap would be on the backbeat (2 + 4). At the kinds of tempos he's playing it these days, it's more natural to count half time, in which case the snare is on the off-beat.

Ya wanna get technical about it? (yes, in case you can't tell, another session drummer here.)
[Edited 9/17/07 9:19am]

I had the clap last night. got it sorted.

popelife said:

I'm with you here! The offbeat sounds so much funkier, I think Prince loves it! I.e., "the party is over here!"-comment to people last night who were down with what you call the waltz clap. (I love your various names, too!) What is the eighth-note?

Also, guys, I think it would be great if we ALL stopped (to dance/clap etc) "on the one", not just the band! "On the one", that's the cue!

popelife said:

How do you know when beat 1 starts then? I just follow the beat and don't worry if it's beat 1.2.3 or 4.

Edit: Ignore. It was a late night.
[Edited 9/17/07 11:11am]

Theres also the problem when you clap to the music from the upper tier or back of the lower tier (i.e. further away from the stage) and you tend to want to clap with Shelby/Prince/Twins/Whoever but you sound out to the music since light (i.e. your view of the stage) travels faster than sound (your ears hearing the music).

This is a great thread. Am listening to Sly's 'Soul Clapping' - funky tune, for a nice tutorial. I think this is really more relevant to 3121 nights, where it makes such a big difference, in a small venue, the claps become part of the song, the audience is part of the band....it would be great to get it right!

I particularly like it when Prince decides my hands aren't sore enough and gets me doing 'Le Grind' clap. Oh yeah.

The problem with the waltz clap is that people wanna b 2 fast with it!

Remember what Prince says on Joy In Repetition... "A lil bit BEHIND the beat... I mean just enough 2 turn u on".

An overly eager, "rushing 2 the finish line" kind of clap is not gonna turn anybody on. Lay back n let the claps flow.