Hello ss.org,
I have a few questions about counting time signatures.
1st Question: The way I have been going about doing this is to count the beats in my head. (ex 1 e and a 2 e and a...) The way I have come to understand it is that typically in metal songs most notes have an 8th note value, and 16th notes are used for speeding up areas with legato or gallops etc. Generally if note values remain constant it can get boring rather quickly. My question though is how do you generally count out a part in your head while playing?
example: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
If you were chugging a rhythm on the red bolded divisions, would you still count the divisions that aren't being played (rests, let ring, etc) in your head as you play?
2nd Question: Is it better to practice to a metronome (simple beep/click on the quarter note beats), or to use a drum machine and set up something simple like kick drum on beats 1, 3 and snare on beats 2, 4 with like a cymbal on all beats? Or even set up a drum machine to match your rhythm and play along to the kick/tom/snare/etc or some combination?
3rd Question: A lot of the bands I listen to and learn riffs from play in an equal mixture of 3/4, 7/8, and 4/4 timing. Should I devote equal time practicing in each of these or pick one to spend the blunt of my practice schedule on? I have unfortunately not jammed with any drummers yet who can improvise anything outside of 4/4.
4th Question: What is a good way to count odd time signatures? 3/4 time seems like it would be fine to count as 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a and then loop, but something like 7/8 seems awkward as I'm not use to saying 4 e 1 e & a... etc
5th Question: What is the best way to count triplets when you are improvising them over a non triplet drum beat. For example if the cymbal is on 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & and you want to randomly introduce triplets as part of a melody or something who do you get your mind use to the switch from counting 1 e & a 2 a la.. etc and back? Would you ever start a triplet on a 16th note division? (e's and a's) How would you accomplish this?
Thanks in advance for any help! I realize this might be a lot for one thread but as I find adequate answers I will come back to this opening post and mark questions as answered. Thanks again.
I have a few questions about counting time signatures.
1st Question: The way I have been going about doing this is to count the beats in my head. (ex 1 e and a 2 e and a...) The way I have come to understand it is that typically in metal songs most notes have an 8th note value, and 16th notes are used for speeding up areas with legato or gallops etc. Generally if note values remain constant it can get boring rather quickly. My question though is how do you generally count out a part in your head while playing?
example: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
If you were chugging a rhythm on the red bolded divisions, would you still count the divisions that aren't being played (rests, let ring, etc) in your head as you play?
2nd Question: Is it better to practice to a metronome (simple beep/click on the quarter note beats), or to use a drum machine and set up something simple like kick drum on beats 1, 3 and snare on beats 2, 4 with like a cymbal on all beats? Or even set up a drum machine to match your rhythm and play along to the kick/tom/snare/etc or some combination?
3rd Question: A lot of the bands I listen to and learn riffs from play in an equal mixture of 3/4, 7/8, and 4/4 timing. Should I devote equal time practicing in each of these or pick one to spend the blunt of my practice schedule on? I have unfortunately not jammed with any drummers yet who can improvise anything outside of 4/4.
4th Question: What is a good way to count odd time signatures? 3/4 time seems like it would be fine to count as 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a and then loop, but something like 7/8 seems awkward as I'm not use to saying 4 e 1 e & a... etc
5th Question: What is the best way to count triplets when you are improvising them over a non triplet drum beat. For example if the cymbal is on 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & and you want to randomly introduce triplets as part of a melody or something who do you get your mind use to the switch from counting 1 e & a 2 a la.. etc and back? Would you ever start a triplet on a 16th note division? (e's and a's) How would you accomplish this?
Thanks in advance for any help! I realize this might be a lot for one thread but as I find adequate answers I will come back to this opening post and mark questions as answered. Thanks again.