# Artists with sloppy technique but great artistry **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 8, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779 "2025-10-08T12:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/41 "2025-10-10T18:34:45Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > Moon demonstrated absolutely perfect timing despite his reputation for being sloppy. I found that to be remarkable. A lot of people mistake polyrhythm for chaos. Moon knew exactly what he was doing. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/42 "2025-10-10T18:38:26Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Vladimir Horowitz, at least in his later years. I’ve read that Beethoven himself was a “sloppy” pianist. And yes, _of course_ they meant before he started losing his hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/43 "2025-10-10T18:40:57Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > A lot of people mistake polyrhythm for chaos. That’s true of “Frownland” by Captain Beefheart. It doesn’t seem to cohere until you analyze it closely. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/44 "2025-10-11T04:14:02Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > A lot of people mistake polyrhythm for chaos. Moon knew exactly what he was doing. I’m very familiar with polyrhythms and know the difference between them and playing sloppy. Moon could be sloppy as hell, but could also play in time when it counted, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2025, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/45 "2025-10-11T06:36:07Z")
Keith Moon immediately came to mind because “sloppy” is the adjective Pete Townsend affectionately uses every time he talks about him. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/46 "2025-10-11T17:34:34Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > I’m very familiar with polyrhythms and know the difference between them and playing sloppy. Moon could be sloppy as hell, but could also play in time when it counted, apparently. I said “a lot of people” and you obviously are not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779/47 "2025-10-11T18:33:33Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I said “a lot of people” and you obviously are not one of them. My point wasn’t what I know or don’t know. I was just trying to express that Keith, as great as he was, especially for that particular band, never gave me the impression he knew anything about polyrhythms. But he certainly knew about chaos. 🙂 Apologies for expressing myself poorly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-sloppy-technique-but-great-artistry/1023779.md?page=2)