Intros where it's hard to find the "1"

[BassyBill]

You know what I mean - you think you've got the beat nailed down when you hear the record start, and then when the band comes in you realise that the bar lines aren't where you thought they were.

Here's some examples, let's have yours too.

A mild case, not too hard to cure...

Invalid Link Removed

A little more severe...

Invalid Link Removed

This is the classic one, always caught me out until I figured out how to count through the drum intro...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[ric stave]

The Police - Spirits In The Material World - easy to have that bass line turned around in your head (an 1/8th note off) and once you think you have it, it's a real b@#$&* to 'relearn/refeel' it.


Lonely Boy's a good example too.

 

[MonetBass]

^ +1.

"Good Times Roll" by the Cars is another.

 

[nutdog]

Had trouble with this one. A measure of 3/4 before before all the 4/4. Then it repeats at 1:08 and I think there is a measure of 2/4 before it. It didn't help that the intro wasn't in the score.

Glee Cast - River Deep, Mountain High (Glee Cast Version) - YouTube

I figured it out but the group just said *&^% it and did the whole thing 4/4. I doubt anyone noticed. Fun song to play.

 

[dougjwray]

Here's the fine drummer, Nate Morton, explaining the intro to Zep's "Rock and Roll."

Nate Morton breaks down Rock & Roll intro fill - YouTube

Nate and I did some gigs together when we both lived in Boston in the early '90s.

 

[Art Araya]

I don't find that Andrew Gold one hard at all. The bass player just jumps in doubling the keyboard part. The others you list were tricky!

 

[tZer]

The Police - Spirits In The Material World - easy to have that bass line turned around in your head (an 1/8th note off) and once you think you have it, it's a real b@#$&* to 'relearn/refeel' it.


Lonely Boy's a good example too.

+1 again!

There are other songs by the Police that are similarly tricky...

"The Bed's Too Big Without You"

How about Chaka Khan and Rufus - "Invalid Link Removed"

 

[BassyBill]

Here's the fine drummer, Nate Morton, explaining the intro to Zep's "Rock and Roll."

Nate Morton breaks down Rock & Roll intro fill - YouTube

Nate and I did some gigs together when we both lived in Boston in the early '90s.

Yep - that's it, spot on.

 

[Lawkeeper]

For some reason I seem to lose it on Sex on Fire as well.. Don't know why, really.

 

[elgecko]

I've always found the build up to this one misleading.

Desmond Dekker - Israelites 1968 - YouTube

 

[foq1978]

One from the best:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Ben Heard]

First time I heard this, I died a little inside. Danny Carey (Tool's drummer) is god at dropping time, and this one is tricky to figure out when to come in. I'll let the time signature stay unknown for now and you guys can figure it out!

Tool - Ticks and Leeches

 

[jmattbassplaya]

It's not the one, but that whole intro bit to Rush's 'Spirit of the Radio' is a real pain in the rump.

 

[tZer]

It's not the one, but that whole intro bit to Rush's 'Spirit of the Radio' is a real pain in the rump.

Amen.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

First time I heard this, I died a little inside. Danny Carey (Tool's drummer) is god at dropping time, and this one is tricky to figure out when to come in. I'll let the time signature stay unknown for now and you guys can figure it out!

Tool - Ticks and Leeches

Easy. 7/4 lol.

 

[tZer]

Another one by the Police:

"Murder by Numbers"

 

[jmattbassplaya]

The Police have always been nuts when it comes to time. Sting will be singing in one time, playing in another, and will be jumping up and down on stage in another. The guy is a monster!

 

[Ben Heard]

Easy. 7/4 lol.

Rush fans know their stuff!

This one's short, but the meter isn't too common.

Celestial Terrestrial Commuters - Mahavishnu Orchestra

 

[Ben Heard]

The Police have always been nuts when it comes to time. Sting will be singing in one time, playing in another, and will be jumping up and down on stage in another. The guy is a monster!

+1 to that! Everytime I hear them, I'm in awe. His solo stuff is also extremely rhythmically complex. The Police's drummer -- whose name escapes me -- is a tank as well, his hi hat pyrotechnics are great.

 

[tZer]

The Police have always been nuts when it comes to time. Sting will be singing in one time, playing in another, and will be jumping up and down on stage in another. The guy is a monster!

Sting is the man, indeed - and so is Mr. Copeland with his 'otherworldly' drum approach. He frequently talks about how he uses "common" drum patterns he grew up listening to that happen to be 'inverted' patterns of common American pop grooves or Reggae grooves. Growing up in Lebanon and Egypt turned him onto all sort of what we (Western ears) hear as inside out.