song timing

[txhawaii]

I am probably going to use all the wrong terminology as I have no formal training but I am trying to self teach myself things.

The song Time Moves Slow by Badbadnotgood has an odd timing I can't seem to latch onto. The versus are easy but the chorus is confusing.

The song has multiple tab videos out there so I am not looking for a transcription but more of a means to learn how to count ? is that the way to say it?

 

[SteveCS]

For the most part, straight ahead 4/4 to my ears. Some nice syncopation and a cool groove, but 4/4 all the way to 3:50. After that 2/8 might work as there is no discernable backbeat - same tempo as before. It could just as easily be notated 4/4 to the end, but the absent backbeat is problematic. It also feels like there should/could be a swing feel (or 3/8 with dotted quaver = 70) in the ending, but nothing is playing that.
Really cool tune, BTW - who says there is no good new music any more?

 

[txhawaii]

i immediately liked this song when I first heard it a few months ago. I just recently picked up the bass to play along and found it to be much more challenging that I thought.

but the absent backbeat is problematic

since I'm strictly an amateur player, that lack of backbeat throws me off. is the voice the actual metronome I should be hitting the notes to in the chorus?

 

[mambo4]

the end bit around 3:50 is certainly challenging, but that's not the 'verse' you mentioned
the first 3:50 of the song is a steady 4/4 up to that point.
A couple triplet fills, but nothing too unusual.
The chorus does not lack a backbeat - just the weird coda.
The snare and the ride cymbal are a steady reference throughout.
can you cite a specific time stamp where you are finding difficulty?

 

[txhawaii]

the end bit around 3:50 is certainly challenging, but that's not the 'verse' you mentioned
the first 3:50 of the song is a steady 4/4 up to that point.
A couple triplet fills, but nothing too unusual.
The chorus does not lack a backbeat - just the weird coda.
The snare and the ride cymbal are a steady reference throughout.
can you cite a specific time stamp where you are finding difficulty?

please forgive my lack of music knowledge and verbiage as I have no education in music.

around 1:31 when the bassist starts to do his runs. it seems s/he are hitting notes in btw the beats. i just listened to the song again and it actually seems "easy" until I pick up the bass and try to play along, I start to fumble with the timing.

I'm not sure how to pick up my timing on the song.

 

[mambo4]

right at about 3:32 there is a triplet run that might be throwing you
3 16th notes crammed into the space of 2
Other than that the chorus is mostly 16ths and tasteful rests.

If you haven't developed your sense of 16th note subdivisions it may be challenging.
Maybe Anthony wellington can help:



And one final tip:
The one thing I did that most improved my sense of rhythm was learning notation.
Cleared up the fog of understanding for almost any music I hear.

 

[txhawaii]

right at about 3:32 there is a triplet run that might be throwing you
3 16th notes crammed into the space of 2
Other than that the chorus is mostly 16ths and tasteful rests.

If you haven't developed your sense of 16th note subdivisions it may be challenging.
Maybe Anthony wellington can help:



And one final tip:
The one thing I did that most improved my sense of rhythm was learning notation.
Cleared up the fog of understanding for almost any music I hear.

Thanks for the tip. Indeed it is the triplets. I did notice that.

I should be learning this song solely by ear but I haven’t found an actual transcription. The real problem is I’ve found a YouTube vid w tabs. And I know that’s likely the main source of my frustration. I’m not a great reader but I assume I’d do much better reading the notations than tabs.

 

[mambo4]

It's written in a sort of half time from how I would think of it - he uses 8ths instead of 16ths.
Looks like that transcription doesn't notate the triplets as triplets

It sounds pretty triplety to me on the original track

 

[Don Kasper]

And one final tip:
The one thing I did that most improved my sense of rhythm was learning notation.
Cleared up the fog of understanding for almost any music I hear.

This is GOLD ^.
IMFO, of course.
Also - MLB Batters and Comedians work on "timing"...Musicians work on "Rhythm".
A former teacher described Rhythm as "the Clasping of Time".
Good Luck and Good Rhythm, txhawaii.

 

[Dust2Dust]

Wow, I never heard that song before. Nice.
What category of music does it fall under? (Forgive my ignorance, I'm a rock/metal guy)

 

[KidAmnesia]

I think the difficulty here is that the bass and drums are constantly playing quite a bit ahead or behind the beat in a very J Dilla kind of vibe. It's a pretty strightforward 4/4 song, but the groove is all over the place.

And I would also count it at 140 bpm.

 

[SteveCS]

...
that lack of backbeat throws me off.
...

The lack of back-beat is only in the Coda (ending) where the time changes to a really simple '1-to-the-bar' signature.

 

[txhawaii]

Wow, I never heard that song before. Nice.
What category of music does it fall under? (Forgive my ignorance, I'm a rock/metal guy)

??modern r&b?? dunno. its cool tho. nice bass line.

seems lots of people never heard this song. I came across it accidentally. glad people dig it

 

[BlueRock]

Spend some time learning to read rhythms (Louis Bellson' Modern Reading Text In 4/4 is the book) and this kinda thing will become much easier to hear.

At 3:49 the feel changes and it stays in 4/4 but also the tempo abruptly drops about 10 bpm. The tempo drop is obscured because the feel goes from a comfortable modern R&B groove to short 8th notes right on top of the beat.
It's kinda cool but it won't take that much work to grasp what's going on.

Then you can try this.

 

[SteveCS]

Spend some time learning to read rhythms (Louis Bellson' Modern Reading Text In 4/4 is the book) and this kinda thing will become much easier to hear.
...

100% this - to the task, the book and the inevitable outcome.

 

[Malcolm35]

since I'm strictly an amateur player, that lack of backbeat throws me off. is the voice the actual metronome I should be hitting the notes to in the chorus?

I sing, under my breath, with the lead vocalist to keep up with where the song is going at this specific moment. The lyrics - story being told is important in what I play. Got to also fall into a groove and the drummer is a big help with this.

As to the chorus - I'll add this. I also let the solo instruments get the melody notes and I concentrate on the harmony and use chord tones (R-3-5-7) or root on one and as many other chord tones as needed, for this specific song. Long story...

Have fun.

 

[txhawaii]

Spend some time learning to read rhythms (Louis Bellson' Modern Reading Text In 4/4 is the book) and this kinda thing will become much easier to hear.

At 3:49 the feel changes and it stays in 4/4 but also the tempo abruptly drops about 10 bpm. The tempo drop is obscured because the feel goes from a comfortable modern R&B groove to short 8th notes right on top of the beat.
It's kinda cool but it won't take that much work to grasp what's going on.

Then you can try this.

that song gave me a headache

 

[Jogobass]

sounds like a tempo change at 3:50 and after

 

[BlueRock]

that song gave me a headache

Mine too. I think that may be what they were going for.

 

[Febs]

For the most part, straight ahead 4/4 to my ears. Some nice syncopation and a cool groove, but 4/4 all the way to 3:50. After that 2/8 might work as there is no discernable backbeat - same tempo as before. It could just as easily be notated 4/4 to the end, but the absent backbeat is problematic.

To my ear, it stays in 4/4 there. I don't think the missing back beat is problematic at all.