I can't get the intro to This Charming Man by The Smiths right...

[Fassa Albrecht]

Seriously, the timing of this one is screwing my head up. I just can't get it sounding right.

Anyone care to listen to this song and help me?

[TimoMetzemakers]

The way I see it, there's a bar in 3/4 time at the end of the intro.

Count 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3, come in on the 1, and you should be okay.

[PostBop]

The verse flip flops the down beat every measure. Count 1&2&3&4& quickly and play B on the downbeats 1-2-3, then space on 4, continue to second measure by playing on & of 4 in 1st measure. I'll show it like this, the first line is the beat, the second line is where you play on the beat

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & / 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
B---B---B----B---B---BB---C#---D--D---D----D---D---DD--C#

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
A--A---A----A---A---AA------

[mambo4]

I hear what PostBop hears:



3 notes on the beat, 3 notes on the "and", 2 notes on the beat.
with some variations. No weird extra bars of 3/4.

[TimoMetzemakers]

Yes, of course, but you guys are talking about the verse.

I thought the OP asked about the guitar intro, before the bass even starts, and I'm quite positive that there's a single bar in 3/4 at the end of it, so I assumed that's what's throwing her off.

OP, care to confirm?

Edit: Here's how I'm hearing the first few bars of the song:

[mambo4]

guitar intro, yes a bar of 3/4 at the end.
The snare on the last beat before the bass comes in is also a good cue

LOL just saw Fasa's sig "full fo proggy goodness"
Maybe think of it as 1 bar of 15/8

[Fassa Albrecht]

^ I spat coke on my screen laughing at that.

[K'Ching]

Originally Posted by TimoMetzemakers

Yes, of course, but you guys are talking about the verse.

I thought the OP asked about the guitar intro, before the bass even starts, and I'm quite positive that there's a single bar in 3/4 at the end of it, so I assumed that's what's throwing her off.

OP, care to confirm?

Edit: Here's how I'm hearing the first few bars of the song:

I think it's because the guitar part starts on the 2 of the first bar.

Listen to this version
YouTube - THE SMITHS-CHARMING MAN (Peel Session)

[TimoMetzemakers]

You're right. The way it is accented, I still think that it's easier to count with that bar of 3/4 (personal preference), but the version you posted clearly shows that it starts on the 2. Thanks for clearing that up.