Сounting before the song

Aged_Clayman · #1 10-29-2007, 01:57 PM

Hello there, TB.

The questiong I got is not that serious or techic-related, but it has been bugging me for quite some time.
I quite often play in bands without drummers (it`s very common here), so it`s my duty to count before the song. Your know like, "one-two-three-rock!' and so on.
The question is should I do it in any tempo I want just to denote the begging of the song, or do people look at it as if I really set the song`s rhythm measure(so "Iron Man" should be counted different then "Smoke on the Water"

)?

Thanks in advance,
Clayman(the aged one).

Brad Johnson · #2 10-29-2007, 02:04 PM

In tempo makes more sense to me. Gives everyone involved a reference.

JimmyM · #3 10-29-2007, 03:05 PM

Of course you count off in tempo! That's the whole purpose of the countoff! OK, it's one of two purposes...the other being to start off at the same time. But absolutely count off in tempo.

mambo4 · #4 10-29-2007, 03:28 PM

+1000 count off in tempo!

why would you NOT do this? It's absolutely necessary for a competent band.

I played with a guy who had a tendency to count off at one tempo and then start playing at another, that was annoying, and made for very sloppy starts.

Also, it's very helpful to know the exact tempo of what your playing, and use a metronome to make sure it's right on. Our drummer had a small digital metronome around his neck w/ an earpiece and he'd make sure count off was exact everytime.

tswd · #5 10-30-2007, 04:28 PM

Absolutely count off in tempo. The last drummer we had counted off in random tempos. We only let him do it once, then never let him do the count off again. We fired him a couple weeks later (a drummer who can't count in tempo is bound to have worse problems, and did).

KayCee · #6 10-30-2007, 05:53 PM

Not only should the countoff be in tempo, but the feel of the song should also be implied in the countoff when possible.

For example, when counting off a swing feel, you might say "1, 2, 3, 4" while snapping your fingers on 2 & 4.

DocBop · #7 10-30-2007, 06:00 PM

If it's not in tempo it's worse than 1-2-3-Go. I perfer two bar count offs. First bar half-time, then second bar at tempo. 1, 2, 1,2,3,4....

Old school we would not say the 4 before the downbeat. It was to leave silence on the tape when recording so you could edit the head of the song.

KayCee · #8 10-30-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

If it's not in tempo it's worse than 1-2-3-Go. I perfer two bar count offs. First bar half-time, then second bar at tempo. 1, 2, 1,2,3,4....

Old school we would not say the 4 before the downbeat. It was to leave silence on the tape when recording so you could edit the head of the song.

+1

It also gives you a chance to take a breath in case you have to start singing on the downbeat.

brendanbass · #9 10-30-2007, 08:10 PM

YES!!!! COUNT IN TEMPO!!! It's annoying as hell when someone counts off at a different speed than they plan on playing, and everyone's tempo gets jacked up. Our guitarist completely ruined one of our songs live one time by doing just that, because we had practiced a song upbeat, and he inadvertently counted off at regular tempo, then proceeded to play upbeat after realizing his mistake, but had at this point completely thrown our drummer off, and confused himself, so now I was the only one left playing regular tempo... complete mess.

Plus, everyone's tempo for a song is not always the same in their head (though it should be if you practice it enough). Sadly the world doesn't work that way, and if you start a song on driving sixteenths or a funky syncopated rhythm, then it sounds sloppy and off if everyone's not on the exact same page for tempo.