If you're working with notation or even tab you need to learn about Time Signatures or meter #which tells you the number of beats in a measure and what note (whole, half, quarter, eighth) get a single beat.
Most waltzes, for example, are 3/4 time where there are three beats per measure and a quarter note gets one beat. #If you listen to your waltz and count in your head 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3. #Lots of fiddle tunes are 4/4 where there are 4 beats per measure and a quarter note gets 1 beat 1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4. #If you watch a Symphony or a chior director's baton #you can see the baton move to the beats and often the top of the movements is the first beat of the measure. #This helps keep everyone in the same place in the score.
A metronome will help with your timing. #It's like a foot tap that won't change speed. #often when I play I'll either speed up or slow down through phrases in a tune that are either hard, or easy for me. #This irregular timing skews the flow of the tune. #If you practice with a metronome set to the right meter you can even things out and improve your inner clock.
You can change the beats per minute to faster or slower. #It may be good to learn a new song at a slower beats per minute and once you can play it cleanly through begin to speed it up to Big Mon speed!
I hope this helps.
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
+ Give Blood, Save a Life +
Bookmarks