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Counting in?

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Fri, 09/02/2022 - 09:12
Laura C
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Level 1
Joined: 11/07/2019

Beginner student here.

I finished LOA 1 recently,  and am starting level 2..I'm having a harder

time with the rythm of Temperature than I did with Walk with Me.

In Walk with me, the 4 taps set the beat and speed for me and I just kept that in my head as I played..but Temperature,  instead of start with 4 taps to set the beat, goes tap, tap, tap-tap-tap and I don't get it..

 

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Fri, 09/02/2022 - 14:05
#1
John S
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Joined: 01/03/2017
Band intro

Laura there is a band into to the song before you start playing and that may be throwing you. I would suggest than any questions directly related to lessons you post in the Ask instructor David section for the best response. Good luck  

 

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Fri, 09/02/2022 - 14:41
#2
John S
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Band intro

Laura there is a band into to the song before you start playing and that may be throwing you. I would suggest than any questions directly related to lessons you post in the Ask instructor David section for the best response. Good luck  

So the count in is Ah1     Ah2  Ah1  2. 3. (the band comes in in place of the 4) You would start playing on the first beat following the bands intro   Spend time tapping your foot without playing to get the rhythm  

 

 

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Fri, 09/02/2022 - 19:56
#3
UkuleleRob65
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Joined: 06/06/2014
Learning rhythm

Laura C:

If you've never played an instrument in a band or orchestra before, this can be a really fun challenge. If you haven't done so already, check out David's excellent rhythm lesson at https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/rhythm_training

As John S points out, in the performance recording of Temperature, the band comes in before you start on your harmonica on the first measure's downbeat. Technically, the tune is in 4/4 time, i.e., four beats per measure, but the band plays a "pick-up." In this case when the song is counted in, the band plays its first note on the upbeat of the third beat of the count-in, and plays a triplet, i.e., three notes spaced over a single beat, on the fourth beat of the count-in. Then the harmonica starts right on beat one of the first measure of the song.

The cool thing about tunes like this where the band leads into the song with a pickup is that as the harmonica player, you get to follow them in, rather than having to jump in alone, ahead of the band.

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