Counting Lesson

Counting Lesson

Let's practice our counting skills!

As you know..

Time signatures determine how counting happens.

Counting is based entirely on the number of beats in a measure.

• - subdivisions of those beats come from the time signature!

• For example, in 4 over 4 time, the quarter note gets one beat, so four quarters would be counted 1, 2, 3, 4.

• Or just see for yourself.

Simple enough right?

Figure out how many beats there are (top number) and what kind of note gets a beat, and go from there!

But what if it's not that easy?

Difficulty 1

Subdivisions

Half of a beat is counted with a number or an and (&)

Like in this example.

You already know this.

So show me!

Multiple Choice

How do you count this rhythm?

• 1 2& 3 4

• 1& 2 3 4

• 1& & 3 4

• 1& & & 4

Multiple Choice

Or this one?

• 1& & & 4

• 1& & & &

• & 2 3 4&

• & 2& 3 4

Just remember.

EVERY measure starts with 1, unless it's tied from the previous measure.

Always.

Subdivisions

• We use "e" or "a" to subdivide further - into four parts of the beat.

• So sixteenth notes (in 4 over 4 time) are (1, 2, 3, or 4) # - e - & - a

• The smaller the division of beat becomes, the easier it is to miscount or misplace a note.

Fill in the Blanks

You may have gotten that but typed it differently than me.

Sorry! Keep beats together, space in between. "1&a 2&" for example.

So let's get silly.

What happens when we CHANGE the time signature?

Multiple Choice

• 1 & 3e&

• 1

• 1& 2 3&a

• 1 2&3e

Not too hard yet.

• So let's get REALLY silly.

Multiple Choice

• 1a

• 1&

• 1 3

• &a

That easy?

Yup. Don't let the time signature throw you. 3 beats, sixteenth note is beat, therefore, 1- 3.

My brain hurts.

Let's get really silly then.

Multiple Choice

• 1 2345 6 7

• 1 2e&a 3&

• 15678911

• I'm utterly lost.

It's not nearly as complicated as you think.

Whole note gets ONE beat. A half of a whole is .. a half .. so that's the "and" - and therefore quarter notes are "#e&a"

So you try.

Your assignment is to write in counts in these odd time signatures. I know you can do it!