Counting and You?

[WyrmDL]

Hey TB!

Do you count while playing? Why or why not?

I've been playing drums for 10 years, guitar for 2 years, bass for less than a year, used to play piano for 5 years, and used to play cello for one year.

However...I don't count...



-Don Nguyen

[duff beer]

I don't count 98% of the time...I tap my foot and/or move my body to the music and can feel the beat which is usually enough.

I will occasionally count during pauses or tricky parts because (as a novice player) I sometimes don't "feel" it as much.

[BlacksHole]

The songs where I find myself counting are usually the simpler songs. Ones where it repeats a pattern or chord many times and then switches. Especially if it changes according to which verse you are in. Otherwise, I prefer the "feel" method.

[Phalex]

I'm more of a "Feel" kinda guy. My drummer and I do some pretty cool stuff with stops and starts, and we always seem to come in together, so I'm guessing it must work.

[Richland123]

I count everything - measures, riffs, phrases, accents, etc. and direct the band. I started out as a drummer many years ago as a kid and trasnferred the counting when I switched to bass and it has served me and all of my bands very well for 40 years. Plus, it helps with time keeping and in becoming extremely tight and consistent with drummers. I have worked with drummers who use drum music and it sure comes in handy.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Richland123

I have worked with drummers who use drum music and it sure comes in handy.

Just curious, what is "drum music" and how is it used in live performances?

[Richland123]

Here are some examples of drum sheet music.

Anyway You Want It - Journey
http://www.onlinedrummer.com/pdf.php?Id=142

You Shook me All Night Long - AC/DC
http://www.onlinedrummer.com/pdf.php?Id=143

[251]

Originally Posted by WyrmDL

Hey TB!

Do you count while playing? Why or why not?

I've been playing drums for 10 years, guitar for 2 years, bass for less than a year, used to play piano for 5 years, and used to play cello for one year.

However...I don't count...

-Don Nguyen

I don't usually count or tap my foot but, there are times when I am glad I can do either. There are some rhythms that don't flow off the page & out of my fingers. Latin rhythms often need a lot of attention. After some rehearsing, I can usually rely on feel, even if I haven't played the tune in a long time.

OTH, I play with some lead players who don't count at all. I know. They start blowing the head before I've finished my solo. <insert obscenities here>

[iamlowsound]

It depends on the part of the song. If there is singing, I usually just feel it out. I tend to memorize changes as based on lyrics. If it is an instrumental part, I tend to count if it is a constant rhythm, say straight 8th, but if it is say a triplet on the one, rest three and a note on four and &, then I will play it by feel.

lowsound

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm always tapping my foot as a minimum. Counting most of the time but not always. It really depends on how familiar I am with the song. The more familiar the less I count. I usually pull the count into my head if I feel I need to hold the beat down while the rest of the band goes off.

[One Bad Monkey]

I count at rehearsals, but when showtime comes, usually don't. The folks I've played with are good enough that we can lock in a tempo from the onset, so I don't worry too much. When dealing with other musicians that I'm not that familiar with (or aren't as experienced), I will tap my foot.

[Unrepresented]

I count if I'm reading music or learning something tricky. Otherwise I'm playing by feel.