Need Help Starting out.

[Music Illit]

I just started trying to learn to play the guitar.I bought a book to "teach myself" with but I cat get past the part that teaches me to read the music, I know how to read it I just don't have a clue about counting or rythem.Anything anyone can tell me to help me get a concept on how to count and undstand rythem would really help.

[ianb]

The most common rhythm is called 4/4 time which means that each measure contains four beats and each beat is the length of a 1/4 note.

Say the word Tea four times and then repeat for the next bar.

Tea.Tea.Tea.Tea....

a 1/4 note can be replaced with 2 1/8 notes and these can be grouped together.

Say the word Cofee four times and then repeat

Cofee.Cofee.Cofee.Cofee...

each 1/8 note can be replaced by 2 1/16 notes
Say the word Cherry-Cola 4 times and then repeat.

Cherry-Cola.Cherry-Cola.Cherry-Cola.Cherry-Cola...

The notes are used like the sylables in words to give each phrase it's own rhythm.
The peice of music will have its overall rhythm (the bit you can dance/jump up and down/nod quietly/tap your foot to) and individual phrases in the music will have their own rhythm related to the music.

Finding words that fit the pattern of notes like the above examples is the best way I have ever come across (David Mead's book on Rhythm)

I hope this helps a bit.