I'm having a timing crisis!!!

[cato0001]

I'm recently started to learn to read music and am having something of a crisis with timing. Everthing has been going fine playing along with the cd that comes along with the book i'm using (Alfreds basic). But somebody mentioned I should be counting the beats rather than just copy the timing from the cd.

I have been tapping my foot but not realy paying attention to the number of beats for a half note or for a dotted half note. I've just been getting a a "feel" for the timing from the cd.

So...should I be counting in my head all the time as I play for example 123412341234 playing a note for each quarter note and playing a note on 1 and 3 for a two half notes in a bar. (assuming 4/4 time)

If I should be counting have you any tips on how to do this whilst concentrating on getting my finger to the right place.

Thanks

[eische]

try counting out your songs without playing along, it shouldn't be long until you don't »count« any longer but get a feeling for how many foot-pads have gone by.......

[BloodXero]

try to use a movement that you recognize to keep time (such as headbanging). no im not suggest you headbang while you're sitting on your bed learning a new song or something. im saying find something natural that you so to keep time. for i bob the head of the guitar a little bit or sometimes i'll bob my head back in forth like a "mini headbang". notice i say "mini" headbang. just a little tap will do.

[zigote]

A tip from a old teacher of mine...

Without the CD playing.. Just read the rhythm,
While doing this take your left hand and tap your knee on every beat.
[ex. in 4/4=1,2,3,4 3/4=1,2,3 ect.]

Take your right hand and tap every pluse,
Even if it`s a triplet,eight notes, or whatever it reads.

So, If you had a measure of 4/4 in eight notes,Tap it like this,
LH=Left Hand RH=Right Hand

1 = LH
& = RH
2 = LH
& = RH
3 = LH
& = RH
4 = LH
& = RH

This way your only reading the rhythm and not the note it self,
Do this a few times before trying to play the piece, Then you`ll start to see the rhythm ahead of time,

After you have mastered that piece of study..
Don`t move on, Turn the page upside down and read just the rhythm,


Oh Yeah, At first allways count the study.
With in time you`ll know that phrase when you see it again.

[speedzombie]

The way I count beats is I tap my foot to the beat of the music. Then you can count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and for eighth notes... or 1 e and uh 2 e and uh and so on for sixteenth notes. Just concentrate on the music and count out loud so that you can keep track of where you are. You can also change the first number when you change measure. For example, you can count for 4/4: 1 'n 2 'n 3 'n 4 'n 2 'n 2 'n 3 'n 4 'n and so forth. I really think that the most important thing is to get the feel of the music and to practice a lot.

[Perfect4th]

Music "reading" is the same as written word "reading". Eventually you move away from Dr. Seuss to War and Peace. You begin to read naturally, with the necessary pauses and stops and the periods and commas. Without thinking about it. It takes time.

Peace!