You know, I though about whether I even count then (when trading)... I usually don't. I'm usually running the song in my head and playing against it. The exception would be probably be with an odd pattern working against an even pattern.
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Do you count?
- Thread starter danqi
- Start date
You know, I though about whether I even count then (when trading)... I usually don't. I'm usually running the song in my head and playing against it. The exception would be probably be with an odd pattern working against an even pattern.
I hear you, and I used to do the same. Then, a couple of years ago I got "schooled" by John Riley and Steve Davis - two players who are way over my head and like to obscure the time when trading - twice in the same week. When Steve's in a good mood, he'll try to bring you back in, but both guys fully expect you to know exactly where it is at all times and come in accordingly. After my "lessons" that week, I've been counting through trading ever since.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
i like to think that i count, but that's probably my over-sensitive ego. after all, we're all insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
I count if it's a complicated rhythm, a period where I'm not playing, or if I'm trying to sight read a piece of music. My goal is to eventually get it to the point where I can feel the music and not have to count, although sometimes I will still count out certain parts just to be comfortable.
Although I probably should count more often, I usually don't bother unless my drummer and I are trying to explain a rhythmic concept that our guitarist doesn't seem able to grasp otherwise. 
Of course, the problem then is that we inevitably come up with three different ways to count out exactly the same thing!
Of course, the problem then is that we inevitably come up with three different ways to count out exactly the same thing!
That reminds me of the riff the guitar player in an old band of mine came up with once. He showed it to me, the rhythm was funky but I more or less got the idea. Then a little while later we showed it to the drummer, and his first question was, "what time is it in?". Hmm. So we tried having the guitarist play it while we counted over it. Turned out you could count 6+6+6+8 or 7+7+7+9 (his time was fairly loose so there was leeway) over it. So. . .we just picked one (latter) and went with it.
Nowdays, my first question would be the same as the drummer's was.
Nowdays, my first question would be the same as the drummer's was.
Hategear
Workin' hard at hardly workin'.
If I'm trying to learn a piece of music, I definately count...at least in the beginning. I'll begin learning the piece by using my metronome to count (and starting it slow). As I begin to get all the notes and rhythms down I may no longer need the metronome to help me count it out but I still find myself counting "1 2 3 4", etc. quietly to myself sometimes. If I have learned the piece well the counting usually fades away, developing some kind of internal rhythm with the piece.
When i start counting, i get messed up. all my time and count comes from inside, just a natrual insticnt. i'll count odd time sigs to learn them at first, but counting them screws you, or at least it does me.
I headbang..
But that tends to come naturally now anyway, hehe.
Sometimes I count, when it comes to fast stuff, I count but play it slowly (while talking slowly) then just build it up then start nodd my head or something, tapping my foot..
But that tends to come naturally now anyway, hehe.
Sometimes I count, when it comes to fast stuff, I count but play it slowly (while talking slowly) then just build it up then start nodd my head or something, tapping my foot..
I don't count in my head, but when I'm playing stuff with weird rythms, I'll tap out 16th notes with my foot until I get it.
It depends. Once I know a song I usually don't. But when I'm learning something sometimes I'll have to. Depends on what I'm playing and how well I know it.
I've always counted.. I played a trumpet so I can count practically anything.. (except money).
When it comes to fast songs.. I just count in cut time. So instead of a measure being a very fast 1 2 3 4, it turns into 1 2 just set in a four count measure..
I don't know if that helped you, but i understand it.
Lady Jayde
When it comes to fast songs.. I just count in cut time. So instead of a measure being a very fast 1 2 3 4, it turns into 1 2 just set in a four count measure..
I don't know if that helped you, but i understand it.
Lady Jayde
- May 30, 2000
- 4,707
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- Creator of: iGigBook Sheet Music Manager
If I'm reading music and going through if the first couple of times I'll count the more difficult stuff so I can get the rhythmic pattern in my head. I sometimes count on a gig if the other players time is a little shakey. When trading 4's, 8's, I always count. When I play with singers, I anticipate.
