In an effort to put my money where my mouth is, I decided to do a video you can use on the daily to improve your counting and timing and subdividing beats on your guitar.
Obviously everyone is someplace different and for some folks this will seem obvious and easy, but I have a hunch that for most, it’ll be a struggle…
But please take the time and it will pay off in a big way down the line, I promise.
11 replies to "How To Make Counting Part Of Your Day"
Good one! Keep going!
I learn when I listen, this was a great one for me. Thank you
Griff- just after 3:00 you said “three groups of four”. Did you mean four groups of three?
Good lesson for me. Just wondering, since we put our for down on the downbeat, that is as you mentioned, the one, two, etc., on which sub part should we raise it up before the next downbeat? The “and” or the “uh”? Thanks!
Sorry, that should say “foot down”.
This can actually be tricky. Raising and lowering your foot is just an “up & down” motion with an “even” count, down up down up, 1 & 2 & with the down stroke on the beat. However, in this exercise triplets are being used giving it an “odd” count, 1 & uh 2 & uh. The trick is to just tap your foot as if it is an even count but count out the triplets starting on the down stroke. It’s easier than it sounds. You can practice this count by tapping your left foot to a 4/4 beat and clapping to a 12/8 beat, where as for every tap of your foot there are 3 claps. Tap 1 2 3 4, clap 1 & uh 2 & uh 3 & uh. Do this until the actual counting becomes subconscious and you don’t have to concentrate on the blended counts.
Hope this helps. Have a great day!
This sounded really easy watching the video but when I grabbed my guitar and tried to do it, it was challenging. It will take me a while to get it up to full speed. I found myself singing the notes as I counted them. Maybe this will help with my singing too? It certainly couldn’t hurt. 🙂
OMD, well after over 50 yrs of playing still have problems with counting even after purchasing Rythmn figures engrained bad habit I suppose. It’s the old stroke the head whilst rubbing your tummy. I return to that course periodically, but I’m a lost cause.
Me too after 30 years of playing. I can’t count and play. My rhythm is like Steve Martin in the Jerk.
Thanks for lesson, what I need the most in my
playing right now.
Great as always very helpful