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Author Topic:  finding music "bars"
Ed Altrichter

 

From:
Schroeder, Minnesota, USA
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2009 7:02 am    
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How does one determine where a music "bar" is, when playing by ear ? For instance, where are the "bars"
in the song "Your cheating Heart" ? How would I find where the bars are in any other song ?
Ed
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Steve Hitsman


From:
Waterloo, IL
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2009 8:00 am    
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If I understand your question, you can determine where the bars begin and end by counting. If a song is in 4/4 time, the bar begins with beat one and ends with beat four. In 3/4, count one to three.

You ask about "Your Cheatin' Heart"... the intro starts on beat two of the first bar (the pickup notes) then continues over the next three bars. The vocal starts on beat two of the next bar.

Chords usually change at the beginning of a bar so if you can hear that, you'll know where the bar begins... notice, I said usually. The drummer also usually indicates beat one.


Last edited by Steve Hitsman on 11 Dec 2009 8:38 am; edited 1 time in total
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Franklin

 

Post  Posted 11 Dec 2009 8:28 am    
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Your Cheatin Heart was written in 4/4 time. "Your Cheatin" starts on beat two of the first bar. The word " Heart " is the first beat of the next bar. From there you can just count in groups of four quarter notes until the end of the song. 4/4 means there are four quarter notes to each individual bar of time.

You should probably find a friend musician of any instrument to help you with this. Because of musical phrasing, the melodies to most songs are typically found at varied places within the bar. It may seem confusing right now-a few lessons should clear this up. Understanding how time is divided into bars and how to hear it gets easier once you understand the timing of whole, half, quarter & eighth notes.

Paul
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Steve Hitsman


From:
Waterloo, IL
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2009 8:39 am    
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Yep, I typed four when I meant two! Subsequently edited for accuracy. Thanks, Paul.
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