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Topic: Time signatures, advice on counting off correctly |
Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 27 Feb 2008 1:29 pm |
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We have a small Gospel group goin, and need to know how to count off our songs so everbody in the band can start at the same time. So, how would you count off 4/4 timing, 2/4 timing, 3/4 timing, and 6/8 timing. I know there are different feels like country shuffle, Ray Price shuffle, straight eight feel etc. But in general how would you count off the above time signatures? Thanks
Terry |
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Ron Sodos
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2008 3:13 pm
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| There is no way to say without knowing the song and what the pickup notes are. Some songs pickup the 3 and 4 of the first bar so you count 1,2 and the song starts. But really there is no way without knowing the kick off of the song. |
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Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2008 3:56 pm Know the beat
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You must know the beat the kick off starts on.
You then start the count off with that beat number for the kick off.
in 4/4 time.
In on 2.
count 2,3,4,1, start.
In on 1.
count 1,2,3,4, start.
In on 3 and,
count and,4 and, 1 and, 2 and, 3 start.
In 3/4 time.
in on 2
count 2,3,1,start.
in on 1
count 1,2,3 start.
Others may have different ways.
God Bless
_________________
Gordon Borland
MSA D10,1974 Fender twin reverb |
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Whip Lashaway
From:
Monterey, Tenn, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2008 6:07 pm
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What Gordon said!!!!! God Bless, Whip
_________________
Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string
Excel S12 8x9 blue
Excel S12 8x9 black |
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Jim Ragan
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2008 7:51 pm
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If you play with a band that you do not rehearse with, then you can forget it.
They will wait until you are finished with the intro and 3 bars into the song,
That is why the jams are so fun. |
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Steve Alcott
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2008 8:31 pm
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This is how I do it and how I like it done:
Start the count with "1", as it's important for everyone to know where the downbeat is. In the examples, commas indicate quarter rests; slashes indicate quarter notes.
4/4 shuffle or straight 8th: 1, 2, 1234 ; if there are pickups, leave out the appropriate numbers, eg.: 1, 2, 12// or 12341///.
3/4 time, 1,,2,,123123 or with a two note pickup: 1,,2,,1231//.
Fast 4/4 or cut time: 1,,,2,,,1,2,1234
If you don't know what the intro is going to be, just say something like: "Two bar count-put the pickups where ya want'em"
It's also helpful to snap, clap, whatever, on 2 & 4 (4/4) or 2 & 3 (3/4) to set the tempo and get everyone's attention before the actual count. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 Feb 2008 9:12 pm
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| Quote: |
If you play with a band that you do not rehearse with, then you can forget it.
They will wait until you are finished with the intro and 3 bars into the song,
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Only if they are paying attention 
I can count off a song, but only if I am not the one kicking it off. For some reason I just can't do it.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Mike Ester
From:
New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Feb 2008 6:50 am
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| This makes for an interesting thread. I never knew how to explain it. I just "do it". |
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Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 29 Feb 2008 8:12 pm count off
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| Quote: |
This is how I do it and how I like it done:
Start the count with "1", as it's important for everyone to know where the downbeat is. In the examples, commas indicate quarter rests; slashes indicate quarter notes.
4/4 shuffle or straight 8th: 1, 2, 1234 ; if there are pickups, leave out the appropriate numbers, eg.: 1, 2, 12// or 12341///.
3/4 time, 1,,2,,123123 or with a two note pickup: 1,,2,,1231//.
Fast 4/4 or cut time: 1,,,2,,,1,2,1234
If you don't know what the intro is going to be, just say something like: "Two bar count-put the pickups where ya want'em"
It's also helpful to snap, clap, whatever, on 2 & 4 (4/4) or 2 & 3 (3/4) to set the tempo and get everyone's attention before the actual count. |
Thanks Steve, that's more like what I was thinkin of.
Thanks to all for replies.
Terry |
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Martin Vigesaa
From:
Moorhead Minnesota, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2008 1:34 pm
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It's always interesting when your pickup note start on the 2 and the drummer gives you: "one". 
Many ways work. The trick is having all band members knowing which method it will be. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 5 Mar 2008 4:15 pm
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| i usually start with 'one' and then go to 'two'..etc. |
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Tim Harr
From:
Dunlap, Illinois
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Posted 6 Mar 2008 6:09 am
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It is basic math.
Knowing the note values of the actual pick up notes enables you to count off correctly.
I usually try to count a full measure; starting on the division of beat that completes the measure to include the pick up notes. |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2008 7:04 am
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Here's one:
Question: Do you know why line dancers count off the song "Five, Six, Seven, Eight"?
Answer: Because you can't lisp "One, Two, Three, Four"
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Don Barnhardt
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2008 7:50 pm
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| ne, Two, Thwee, Four |
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