How can I count steady while also playing a non-steady rhythm?
I'm trying to arrange a song, but I'm running into trouble with figuring out the rhythm. I can tap out the rhythm perfectly fine but when I try tapping out the rhythm I can't count steady. I'm basicaly counting the numbers to the rhythm.
For example if I am listening to a rhythm, quarter-half-quarter, I would count it like "one, ttwwoo, three."
EDIT: This isn't a possible duplicate of this. I am not asking if musicians always count, I am asking how musicians count.
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I cannot use metronomes easily, and find a simple drum beat more helpful. You can get a free online drum machine here at the Hydrogen project on Sourceforge
If tapping your foot does not come naturally (when combined with playing something else), try nodding.
Do you really need to count numbers consciously?
Usually, I find that it's enough to 'feel' or 'imagine' the basic pulse (at the same intervals at which you would count) as the 'background' task in my mind, while focusing on a tricky rhythm and how it relates to that basic pulse. Usually that's all the figuring out I need to do to notate (or recall) the rhythm.
Use a metronome. It will count the beats or sub-beats for you.
Or, do as a lot of us do, count (in 4/4) !e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a. That splits the bar into 16, usually enough.
Or, just count to 16 if it's slow enough to manage. Trouble with that is the long words don't have enough time, often.
Or, tap your foot,(maybe two feet alternating), nod your head, shrug your shoulders while singing/playing.
Or, get someone else to help with counting the beats.
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