Timing question.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Bluez Dawg

More of a blues beat then any thign were talking about. and were talking about timing

Very simply put (and this is only a simplistic description):

In common time (C or 4/4) the downbeat = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, | ONE, 2, 3, 4.... |

In 3/4 the downbeat = | ONE, 2, 3, | ONE, 2, 3... |

In 6/8 the downbeat (POUND on ONE, accent on 4) = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... |

In an odd time signature like 5/4, the down beat is still ONE = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5... | to give the beat another 'grabbable handle' you can offer another accent on 4, like so... | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5... |

But with ALL of these - regardless of time signature, the DOWN BEAT is ONE.

Originally Posted by wiki

In music performance and music theory, the "downbeat" is also the first beat of a measure in music. It is named for the downward stroke of the director or conductor's baton at the start of each measure. This differentiates it from the back beat on the even beats.

In modern music, using common time (4/4), emphasis is rarely put on the downbeat first beat, though a notable exception is in funk. More often, emphasis is placed on the third beat, or on the back beats.

So, Bluez Dawg - focus your attention on knowing where ONE occurs in whatever time signature or style you are playing. It is your job as a part of the rhythm section to be well-acquainted with ONE. If your drummer is playing with the backbeats or providing an interesting stylistic interpretation of the beat, it is still your job to know where ONE is, period.

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by tZer

Very simply put (and this is only a simplistic description):

In common time (C or 4/4) the downbeat = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, | ONE, 2, 3, 4.... |

In 3/4 the downbeat = | ONE, 2, 3, | ONE, 2, 3... |

In 6/8 the downbeat (POUND on ONE, accent on 4) = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... |

In an odd time signature like 5/4, the down beat is still ONE = | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5... | to give the beat another 'grabbable handle' you can offer another accent on 4, like so... | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, | ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5... |

But with ALL of these - regardless of time signature, the DOWN BEAT is ONE.



So, Bluez Dawg - focus your attention on knowing where ONE occurs in whatever time signature or style you are playing. It is your job as a part of the rhythm section to be well-acquainted with ONE. If your drummer is playing with the backbeats or providing an interesting stylistic interpretation of the beat, it is still your job to know where ONE is, period.

Very good advice. Thank you again Tz. because people said I suck, and my teacher said I am good. but maybe the suck part is because I tend to get nervous while recording. anyways Thank you everyone for your advice. and I do have a better grasp on timing now.

[Bluez Dawg]

Btw this is what I thought was good timing I am using the Mixlyindain mode in a 12 bar blues progression and each root note is on the kick drum

http://webpages.charter.net/derrek/12barsofblues.mp3

[steveb98]

Drummers are going to be doing all sorts of things with the time especailly the better they are. In general for rock the hihat is a steady beat. The snare is on 2 and 4. Bass drum is 1 and 3. But that is real bassic and most do more. A good drummer the hihat is ON the beat, the snare is Behind the beat, and bass drum on top of the beat. That makes the BEAT real big.

As a bass player your basic job is to give tone to the bass drum, the way a rhythm guitar give tone to the snare. You need to listen to the bass drum because you need to work with it.

Now I am looking for the time I will listen to the snare drum accents. They will probably be on 2 and 4.

If you lose track of the time listen to everything going on in the band you should hear a beat played by someone to help.
In many rock and especially funk situations every 16th note of the measure is covers by someone in the band.

A lot of play in time is feel. That is why you practice with a metronome or drum machine so much, to get a feel for even time. To get a feel for 4/4 time and where 1 is then 2 and 4. I have students play blues in the beginning for lots of reasons, but one is it is good for teaching time. Simple drums mainly with accents on 2 and 4. Then Blues chord change help develop a feel for hearing phrases and 4 bar cycles. Then get the Mile Davis "Kind of Blue" CD is you don't have it already. It is most peoples first Jazz CD. Most the tunes are modal on meaning a few changes in a single key.
It is good for learning to Feel longer phrases.

Get out and play some blues.

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by steveb98

Drummers are going to be doing all sorts of things with the time especailly the better they are. In general for rock the hihat is a steady beat. The snare is on 2 and 4. Bass drum is 1 and 3. But that is real bassic and most do more. A good drummer the hihat is ON the beat, the snare is Behind the beat, and bass drum on top of the beat. That makes the BEAT real big.

As a bass player your basic job is to give tone to the bass drum, the way a rhythm guitar give tone to the snare. You need to listen to the bass drum because you need to work with it.

Now I am looking for the time I will listen to the snare drum accents. They will probably be on 2 and 4.

If you lose track of the time listen to everything going on in the band you should hear a beat played by someone to help.
In many rock and especially funk situations every 16th note of the measure is covers by someone in the band.

A lot of play in time is feel. That is why you practice with a metronome or drum machine so much, to get a feel for even time. To get a feel for 4/4 time and where 1 is then 2 and 4. I have students play blues in the beginning for lots of reasons, but one is it is good for teaching time. Simple drums mainly with accents on 2 and 4. Then Blues chord change help develop a feel for hearing phrases and 4 bar cycles. Then get the Mile Davis "Kind of Blue" CD is you don't have it already. It is most peoples first Jazz CD. Most the tunes are modal on meaning a few changes in a single key.
It is good for learning to Feel longer phrases.

Get out and play some blues.

Thank you for the advice I have his cd lol.

[Sonorous]

Originally Posted by Bluez Dawg

That is some of the most horible advice I have seen anyone give to another person. Of corse you want to be dead on with the drummer. or it will throw off the whole group.

I think you misinterpreted what I was telling you. I'm not saying play notes whenever you feel like it... I'm saying you don't have to play every single one of your notes on a kick or snare hit.

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by Sonorous

I think you misinterpreted what I was telling you. I'm not saying play notes whenever you feel like it... I'm saying you don't have to play every single one of your notes on a kick or snare hit.

Ok thank you for setting me straight in a nice. way now if I was at the un-named site, I would get flamed for that remark. so I appreciate it.

[beyondhairy]

ok i have a question on counting down beats..

lets say i have an odd time sig like 5/8 how would i count 2 measurs of 5/8?


its 5 eight notes so it would be


1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
d u d u d d u d u d

if i was counting quarter notes then 5 and 1 would be an eigth note away instead of a quarter note, yes?