a question about counting outloud...

[Bill_Sheehy]

I read the post on this subject, but didn't find the answer to my question. Working my way along the fretboard, picking out the notes/chords is going pretty good.. at least I'm enjoying myself. However learning the knack of picking, strumming and counting is leaving me in a dither! Picking, uh huh... stumming, uh huh ... but doing all this while counting... huh uh.
Griff says counting is important and logic tells me he's right. So, how do I learn the art? Without this, I'll always be out of time.
Am I making this too hard?
Is there a simple, 'should have read/listened' instruction I passed over?
Will someone save me?
Thanks......
Billy

 

[luckylarry]

Billy, as strange as it seems at this time counting out loud while strumming a chord or picking a note or even singing just takes practice. You will find that you can do it but you must go slow at first. I suggest doing something really simple such as 1/4 notes set to a metronome of about 60. Just turn on the metronome and pick a note with each pulse and count,1,2,3,4. It will drive you mad because it is 1 note per second. I chose this speed for 2 reasons, first it is really hard to play that slow. Secondly, when you add in the 1/8 and 1/16 notes this second between beats seems to be pretty fast at first. Now, just do this for a few minutes until you are too bored then play some fun stuff. Never stop when you are frustrated or bored. Hope this helps. 

 

[cowboy]

agree with LL1....it's mostly about practice....if you watch some of the better players (SRV comes to mind because I just got done watching one of his DVD's), you'll see them keeping time or "count" with their feet...after a while it becomes a habit....again, at's about practice...later.

cowboy

 

[Bill_Sheehy]

Thank you LuckyLarry and Cowboy ...
I suppose, way down deep, I knew the answer would be practice, practice, practice... so much of learning to play ends up there.
LL, your comment on following the metronome is a good place to start... and that is exactly the hint I was looking for.
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to help out.
Ain't this fun?

Now I gotta go practice..... [smiley=beer.gif]

 

[steve o]

Thank you LuckyLarry and Cowboy ...
I suppose, way down deep, I knew the answer would be practice, practice, practice... so much of learning to play ends up there.
LL, your comment on following the metronome is a good place to start... and that is exactly the hint I was looking for.
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to help out.
Ain't this fun?

Now I gotta go practice..... [smiley=beer.gif]

Aussie Bill,
here's a link to an online metronome that I love. You can set it to any style drum click and speed. Eliminates the relentless insanity inducing click that can lead my wife to grabbing the frying pan ;D

http://www.rinki.net/pekka/monkey/

 

[panther]

Aussie;
As with anything you are trying to learn, if at first you can't do it, slow it down, until you can, even if it's 30 BPM. Then gradually build up.
Dan

 

[Bill_Sheehy]

One and all: Thank you ... and guess what? In this morning's email, Griff had sent another of his great videos: Strumming And Rhythm Mastery – Video 1... all about, you guess it; strumming and keeping time by counting! What perfect timing!

Spent the best part of a half-hour with it and feel as if the light bulb overhead is flashing! A bit more work with this and I'll feel comfortable about moving on to the next phase of my musical career: getting and working with the BGU lessons!

Look out SRV, this old fart is coming up fast!

Oh, and made possible by y'all................ [smiley=wink.gif]
billy