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Time


Compact Diss

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How do you feel about time? Did it come naturally to you or was there a learning curve? I've been in lessons and have learned to play "smells like teen spirit" by Nirvana. The problem is the timing, how did you get this part of music? I have sat for some time practicing along with a metronome just strumming, 1234, 1and2and3and4, 1e+a, you get the picture. Any advice. I also listen closely when I hear music now and try to get the bpm down. I am also using a drum machine to practice timing. Once again, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

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I taught myself to play guitar, and timing came pretty naturally to me. All i do play the song as it plays on your stereo a bunch of times and your strumming just kinda stays in time. plus humming/singing as you play will help.
hot girls, fast cars, and even louder guitars
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Originally posted by revorhythm:

I taught myself to play guitar, and timing came pretty naturally to me. All i do play the song as it plays on your stereo a bunch of times and your strumming just kinda stays in time. plus humming/singing as you play will help.

Same thing here. Nice to see you back and posting on the forum again! :wave:

BlueStrat

a.k.a. "El Guapo" ;)

 

...Better fuzz through science...

 

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thanks Bluestrat, I have been doing the playing along the last couple of nights, just trying to work up to Cobains speed. My old guitar teacher went back to LA, this time I'm learning from the owner and I'm happy to say he is serious about teaching people to read, learn and play music the way it should be done. I will jump around from Blues to rock and back if given the chance--this guy keeps me going in the right direction. I know a lot of people are not Nirvana fans and so on but this song has taught me a lot about strumming and the different types of music that utilize it. Next thing I am going for is "walk this way", these two songs were significant for me-after this one I want to concentrate on building a good foundation to be able to play many different types of music.

 

 

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If you're strumming an 8th note rhythm, the 1, 2, 3, 4 will always be a downstroke. The "ands" will always be an upstroke.

 

If you're strumming a 16th note rhythm ("Teen Spirit" would qualify)...the 1 & 2 & etc are downstrokes, and the "e" and "a" are upstrokes. Don't forget that there are "ghost strokes"...so in Teen Spirit...the first chord goes

 

1 (e) (&) a 2

 

One is a downstroke...then the first "e &" being held (dotted eighth) then a(n) what kind of stroke on the "a"? An upstroke...followed by a downstroke on the "2".

 

Practice muting your strings and making your strumming sound like a locomotive...chugga chugga etc...in 16th notes, with accents on 1, 2, 3, 4. This oughta help your timing, especially on "Teen Spirit" type songs.

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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Originally posted by Compact Diss:

thanks Bluestrat, I have been doing the playing along the last couple of nights, just trying to work up to Cobains speed. My old guitar teacher went back to LA, this time I'm learning from the owner and I'm happy to say he is serious about teaching people to read, learn and play music the way it should be done. I will jump around from Blues to rock and back if given the chance--this guy keeps me going in the right direction. I know a lot of people are not Nirvana fans and so on but this song has taught me a lot about strumming and the different types of music that utilize it. Next thing I am going for is "walk this way", these two songs were significant for me-after this one I want to concentrate on building a good foundation to be able to play many different types of music.

It's funny that you should mention Nirvana. I bought a copy of Guitar World today. Kurt Cobain was on the cover and it's the 10th anniversary of the release of in utero. It's a really good article, and it's got me dragging out all my Nirvana CD's and tapes.

BlueStrat

a.k.a. "El Guapo" ;)

 

...Better fuzz through science...

 

http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html

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Oops. I posted this on a different version of this thread. I'll re-post here:

It's always been a natural thing for me, so it has always been one of my strengths as a player.

Since it is one of my strengths, I make sure to practice it a fair bit so I can stay sharp.

 

I frequently will even tap along with the radio in the car just to keep tight with the time & the rhythm.

May all your thoughts be random!

- Neil

www.McFaddenArts.com

www.MikesGarageRocks.com

 

 

 

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Time was not natural at all for me at first. But after a few years, it suddenly came together. I've become as comfortable with odd time signatures and polyrhythms as I am with straight time.

 

One key to learning time is to listen to as much music in as many different styles as possible. And while it's important to be aware of the bpm and the technical aspects, it's possibly more important to simply *feel* the time - to feel the accents, the pulse. Ya gotta get it into your blood & your bones, you know?

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

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Off the subject:

 

coyote - have I ever told you how much I love your signature line?

 

Sorry for the digression.

 

Now back to our regularly scheduled postings.

:)

May all your thoughts be random!

- Neil

www.McFaddenArts.com

www.MikesGarageRocks.com

 

 

 

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Time was not natural to me at all. Probably because I spent the first few years playing alone in my room. Once I started playing with other people regularly, I became much more aware of timeing (and tuning). Do anything you can to play with others. I don't know what age you are but high school band is an option. I joined a church group and played for several years, easy music but really helped in my development.

I have played for almost 30 years but still find myself wanting to cut short periods where I am resting. Music with pauses in it will always be a challenge for me I think. I can keep a steady rhythm going fine, but any odd rests and I really almost have to count it out.

I know alot of players that have spent alot of time on playing fast scales that cannot keep time with other people at all. They are so used to playing along with records that they cannot follow a drummer or group.

Another thing that will help is that if you record yourself often so you can listen to what you are actually playing rather than your perception of what you are playing. I still use this and am surprised at how fast I play some pieces that I think I am playing at the tempo I had in my mind. After recording I can be aware of what tempo I want and adjust my fell for the piece accordingly.

There are people out there with natural rhythm and others with perfect pitch, the rest of us have to work at it and use every trick or tool available to overcome our shortcomings.

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Interesting. I've got 3 small kids(2,4,6) and I can see subtle timing and pitch things already. My 2.5 year old puts on her big sisters tap shoes and taps in time with whatever music is on. Not perfectly, but enough where it's noticeable. I'm curious if this a 'learned skill' or what. Probably a good question for a drum teacher.
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I think timing can be both learned and it can also be natural. I am very lucky that I have good timing skills and can ride the snare so to speak. I actually developed most of it by playing with the record a few times and then trying it by myself. I kept doing it until the guitar parts are identical. it also helps get the neck positions exactly right as well as picking styles. If you are picking it differently it will show up when you play it right after listening to it.

Reach out and grab a clue.

 

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I must be one of the naturals. Timing for me (on guitar) is just a matter of feeling the pulse. 'Course, I was a bass player before I taught myself guitar, so that might have something to do with it.
**Standard Disclaimer** Ya gotta watch da Ouizel, as he often posts complete and utter BS. In this case however, He just might be right. Eagles may soar, but Ouizels don't get sucked into jet engines.
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After seeing some of the troubles students have with timing and rhythm...I've said "I wonder how these people manage to have sex?" (does a comedian's impersonation of someone with no rhythm trying to do the dirty boogie)...
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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As much as formal music training gets bashed around the 'ole guitar forum, the 5 years of Clairinet lessons I took from 6th through 10th grade gave me a solid foundation in theory and in practice that would have been very difficult to master on my own. Not that it can't be done.
So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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