You started learning about applying counting in our lesson on Two Bar Snare Rhythms Made Of Eighth And Quarter Notes, next we'll extend our rhythms to a four bar pattern and will include minims and semi breves. Both of these note values last for more than 1 beat. This means we will be adding counting underneath empty spaces to maintain our rhythm. I will talk through the process and there will be some example rhythms provided below for you to apply counting to. This is the example rhythm:
As before, the first thing to do is to write in all of the numbered counts. Remember, a semi breve lasts for four counts so we will write '1' underneath it then '2 3 4' filling the rest of the bar. You won't play anything on the '2 3 4' but it is useful to note the counting you know how long before you play the next beat. A minim lasts 2 counts so we will write the appropriate numbers under it, the next numbered count in the gap after it then continue with our bar. Treat crotchets and quavers in the same way you did in the previous lesson. So far that will give us this:
Finally we'll fill in the remaining '+' counts. Which gives us the complete counting:
TASK
- Work out the counting for the following rhythms, use the counting checker to see if you got it right:
Exercise 1
Check Your Counting:
Click here for the answer.
The counting for this is: 1+2 3+4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4+1 2+3 4
Exercise 2
Check Your Counting:
Click here for the answer.
The counting for this fill is: 1 2 3 4+1 2 3+4+1 2+3 4 1 2 3 4
Try our lesson on Adding Semi Quavers next.
