Counting out Loud Accurately.

[SonOfChaos]

Hi everyone. I'm a rhythmically challenged individual and have recently been trying everything to correct the many bad habits and develop a strong sense of rhythm I am lacking. I recently picked up Mangini's books 1 & 2 and all I can say is WOW. After reviewing his book I believe his approach can fix anyone as he is a teacher and not a shower, after much study I found that my biggest problem is counting out loud.

Sure, I can count, I can do it to a metronome, but I seem to waver. I am focusing and trying to get this correct as he mentions that counting out loud will allow you to stay on rhythm even if your hands drift. The joys of unemployment allows me plenty of practice time, but not enough for a teacher which is what I really need here.

So, HOW do I know my count is truly accurate to a metronome. I feel like I waver when I count. On a positive note, I now PERCEIVE my problem, but I'm not sure how to get myself accurate. Anyone who has had to really work for their rhythm is who I need to hear from, if you say, 'just feel it' I am personally hiring an execution squad to kill you as that does not help me.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

There are free online metronomes and I would suggest downloading one of these and just turning it on and counting out loud with it. You will reinforce your inner clock and have better rhythm in due time.

[SonOfChaos]

Do you know one that can do the "bleep" and a human count at the same time? I feel like the harder and more accurate I make my count, the less undoing I will have to do.

[eardrum]

Try walking, marching or dancing to the click. That will make it tangible.

Then add the counting.

Definitely start simple and work your way up from a good lock.

[Jeff Almeyda]

So, HOW do I know my count is truly accurate to a metronome. I feel like I waver when I count. On a positive note, I now PERCEIVE my problem, but I'm not sure how to get myself accurate. Anyone who has had to really work for their rhythm is who I need to hear from, if you say, 'just feel it' I am personally hiring an execution squad to kill you as that does not help me.

Record yourself along with the click.

[Royal]

Hi everyone. I'm a rhythmically challenged individual .

And you want to play drums. Interesting.
.................................................. ...................................http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4572/65x5a7luxjlln.gif (http://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=65x5a7luxjlln.gif)

[larryace]

Royal ha ha ha

202020

[ace76543]

just feel it dawg

seriously though, counting out loud in perfect time will only come with hours and hours and hours and hours of practice with a metronome. it's like judging real time. we know roughly how long a second is because we've spent our entire lives using seconds as a measurement of time. same thing with musical time, it just comes with practice

[lyrad]

one thing i definitely recommend for you to do is to get a metronome that can do 1 measure of click and 1 measure mute, 1 measure of click and 3 measure mute, etc. This really helps with your internal timing. Don't expect to nail it immediately, it definitely takes a lot of practice. You should download the metronome called Weird Metronome.

[brentcn]

Hi everyone. I'm a rhythmically challenged individual and have recently been trying everything to correct the many bad habits and develop a strong sense of rhythm I am lacking. I recently picked up Mangini's books 1 & 2 and all I can say is WOW. After reviewing his book I believe his approach can fix anyone as he is a teacher and not a shower, after much study I found that my biggest problem is counting out loud.

Sure, I can count, I can do it to a metronome, but I seem to waver. I am focusing and trying to get this correct as he mentions that counting out loud will allow you to stay on rhythm even if your hands drift. The joys of unemployment allows me plenty of practice time, but not enough for a teacher which is what I really need here.

So, HOW do I know my count is truly accurate to a metronome. I feel like I waver when I count. On a positive note, I now PERCEIVE my problem, but I'm not sure how to get myself accurate. Anyone who has had to really work for their rhythm is who I need to hear from, if you say, 'just feel it' I am personally hiring an execution squad to kill you as that does not help me.

I've taught counting out loud to students, including some who are more challenged than others, to great effect and success in ALL cases! :)

Counting aloud is great because we use our senses to define the beat (or, should I say, the space between the beats). We speak it and hear it. If you add a physical task, like clapping or snapping, then you actually do "feel" it (though not like in your post haha!), but you also hear the sound you make, and see the action you perform, which enhances the experience.

Sitting next to someone who is also clapping and counting aloud will also enhance the experience, and this is why getting together with a teacher or fellow student is vital.

Don't limit yourself to metronomes, use songs with simple time signatures, too. But start with clapping, then move to playing with one stick on your thigh, then two sticks, then on a pad. All while counting aloud!

[Fox622003]

I was extremely rhythmically and musically challenged when I started playing drums, so I suggest giving my opinion a real chance.
I've never practiced or played counting aloud, I personally believe it's not all that useful, and it makes you look stupid in my opinion; however, it's obvious it works for some, so if you want to try that, go ahead. What has worked for me though, is learning rhythmic theory, to grasp what someone else is playing, lock in with their rhythm (as in "feeling" the beat [understand that "feeling" in this context translates to in someway manifest the knowledge of where the pulse is, I usually do it with my left foot, it's the same as counting out loud, but doesn't look as silly]), become proficient in reading and writing music, transcribing beats and fills (or full songs). Conceptualizing and perceiving the notes in this analytical manner will allow you to understand rhythm as much (if not more) as a person who feels it naturally, because the analysis will eventually come to you without even thinking about it. I also play with a metronome 95% of the time, both live and in a recording situation; it's the same principle, you will sound very mechanical and forced at first, but the metronome will just be in the background in the future, as a guide, only dictating a constant pulse, but not the flavour (groove) you put to it.
Again, become a theory freak, know what time signature of everything you are hearing and how it's written out, that way you will *always* know where "one" is.


Fox.