Half time feel

[VSUBass]

How do I count "Moderately fast with half time feel" Quarter note = 126?

Is it the same, with a quarter note getting a "1 count"? It seems to fast to me. I'm just not understanding it.

 

[FretlessMainly]

Another way to express this is playing "in 2." If you would normally play a 4/4 tune with a walking bass and one note per beat, playing "in 2," or "half-time feel," means you play two half notes per measure instead of four quarter notes. The result is that your line feels/sounds as if it's at half the tempo of the piece, but the meter of the piece itself has not changed.

 

[VSUBass]

So you're saying I'd count it exactly the same as if it's in 4/4 (which the tune is in)?

Sorry if that's a stupid question just trying to understand.

 

[Bainbridge]

Well, the tempo is marked quarter = 126. If the person writing it wanted something different, they'd write something different.

 

[Groove Master]

How do I count "Moderately fast with half time feel" Quarter note = 126?

Is it the same, with a quarter note getting a "1 count"? It seems to fast to me. I'm just not understanding it.

Nope it is the same as playing in 2 at 63. The backbeat (snare) will be on the 3rd beat of the measure at 126.

 

[mambo4]

I've always wondered why they bother with the term "half time" or "cut time" when the meter and tempo doesn't actually change.
I suppose it only means something when you have a "non-half time" standard to judge against ( like a 4/4 walking bass line.)

 

[Lo-E]

The thread topic actually sums it up quite well. It's half-time FEEL. It's really only different because of the way the beats are accentuated; breaking it down to two beats per measure.