Chords for How to Count Basic Rhythms

_ Let's talk about rhythm.
[E] Specifically, these things.
[D] This is a quarter note.
[B] It's worth [A] one beat.
This is [D] a quarter rest.
It's also worth one beat, but of nothing.
This is a measure.
In it, you put notes [A] and rests.
[D] It's like their house.
[G] This note hired an interior designer.
It's century modern, nice.
Finally, this is a time signature.
This tells us how many notes and rests can
fit in the house.
I mean measure.
This time signature is called 4-4.
The top number tells us [A] how many beats can fit in [D] each measure.
Kind of.
Because [A] the top number is 4, there are 4 [D] beats per measure.
[Am] _ _ _ _
The bottom number tells us what [G] kind of note gets one beat.
[D] Kind of.
If the bottom [A] number is 4, the 4 represents a quarter note.
This means that a [F#] time signature that says 4-4 [Bm] is actually saying [D] 4 quarter [G] notes.
4-4 tells us [E] that there are 4 [Fm] quarter notes in each [D] measure.
Time signatures are definitely not at all confusing and most people understand them right away.
Here's a measure of 4 quarter notes.
[E] I'm going to count them first.
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4.
[A] Now I want you to try it.
[D] Ready, get, set, go.
_ [E] _
_ [A] Nice job.
Now here's a measure of 4 quarter rests.
When you count these, you can either leave it silent or say [Bm] shh.
I recommend shh because [G] it'll teach your brain to recognize rests [E] actively,
which in turn will lead you to developing [F#m] a better sense of [C#] rhythm.
4 [F#m] quarter rests sound like this.
[C#] _ _ _ [E] _ _ [A] Now it's your turn.
[D] Ready, get, set, go.
_ [E] _
_ [A] Awesome [D] job.
You can create all kinds of different rhythms simply by [D] switching out the rests and notes.
However, the number [E] is always going to be in the same [D] place.
For example, this last [A] note is always going to be counted as 4 because it's the fourth [F#] beat in the measure.
[Bm] It's not 3 because the third beat [G] is right here.
You just say shh [D] because it's covered by a [F#] rest.
Oh, hey, would you look at the time?
It's drill time.
First I count, then you repeat.
Ready?
[E] Let's begin.
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4.
[A] _ _ [F#] _ _ [D] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 2, shh.
_ [A] _ _ _ 1, shh, [F#] 3, 4.
[Bm] _ _ _ [G] 1, shh, 3, shh, [E] _ _ _ _ [F#m]
2, [C#] 3, 4.
[F#m] _ _ [C#] _ 1, shh, [E] shh, 4.
[A] _ _ _ _ [D]
shh, shh, 3, shh. _ _ _ _ _
Great job.
[A] Moving on.
This is a half note.
[D] It's worth 2 beats.
This is a whole note.
It's [E] worth 4 beats.
This is a half rest.
It's worth [A] 2 beats of rest.
And this is a whole rest.
It's worth 4 [F#] beats of rest.
Now, how do [Bm] we count these?
Let's start with [G] the rests.
These are pretty simple.
[E] You just say shh [F#] on every beat.
[F#m] So your half rests [C#] are counted [F#m] shh, shh, and [C#] your whole rests are counted shh, shh, [E] shh, shh.
[A] The notes are a bit more challenging, [D] and there are lots of different ways to count them.
I think the best method is you start on the number,
and then you bounce your voice for every [A] following beat the note is held to.
[D] For example, the whole note would be counted like this. One. _ _
Like saying shh on the rests, [A] bouncing your voice helps you think about held notes actively,
[F#] and helps you develop your internal [Bm] pulse, which is extremely important [G] to have in music.
Two half notes [E] would be counted like [B] this.
_ [F#m]
One, [F] three.
Notice [F#m] that beats 2 and [C#] 4 are contained within these two [E] half notes.
This [A] is why we're skipping over them.
[F#] And hey, would you look at the time again?
It's another drill time.
[D] Same as before.
First I go, then [E] you repeat.
_ [D] One.
_ _ [A] _
_ [B] _ _ [D] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ One, three.
[A] _
_ _ _ _ [F#] One, shh, _ _
[Bm] _ _ _ [G] _ _ three.
[E] _
_ [Bm] _ _ [F#m] One, [C#] two, three.
[F#m] _
_ [F] _ _ [A] One, three, four.
_ _ _ [D] One, two, [F#m] four. _
_ _ _ [D] One, shh, three.
[A] _
_ [B] _ _ [D] One, shh, four.
_ _ _ _ _ Two, [A] four.
_ _ _ _ _ [F#] Three, [Bm] four.
_ _ _ [G] _ Two, shh, [E] _
_ [B] _ _ [F#m] shh, [C#] shh, four.
[F#m] _
_ [C#] _ _ [A] _ _ [E] _ [A] One measure of call and response is easy,
[D] but what's actually more difficult is counting the rhythms correctly with multiple measures of music.
Here are four measures of rhythm.
[A] Look at it, figure it out in your brain.
[D] You're going to try it first, then we do it together so you can tell if you did it right.
Prepare yourself.
One, two, ready, [A] go.
_ _ _ _ _ [F#] _ _ _
[Bm] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [E]
Okay, [B] let's do it together.
[F#m] One, two, [C#] ready, [F#m] go.
One, [C#] two, three.
[Am] One, [B] _ [A] three, four.
One, two, [D] four.
One. _ _
Did you do it correctly?
If so, let's move on.
Next example.
Pause [A] the video if you need to.
Take a look at it, and [D] when you're ready, give it your best shot. _
One, two, ready, go.
_ _ _ _ [A] _
_ _ _ _ _ [F#] _ _ _
[Bm] _ _ _ [G] All right, now together with me.
[E]
One, [B] two, ready, [F#m] go.
One, shh, [C#] three, [F#m] four.
One, [C#] two, three.
[A] Two, [B] _ three, [A] four.
Two, shh, [E] four.
[B] Next example.
When [F#m] you think you got it, give it a [C#] shot.
_ [F#m] One, two, ready, go.
[A] _
_ [E] _ _ [A] _ _ _ _ [D] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
And now with me.
[A] One, two, ready, go.
[D] One, shh, shh, shh, shh.
Three, shh, two.
_ [A] _ _ _ _
Next [F#] example.
Take a look.
[Bm] One, two, ready, go.
[G] _
_ _ _ [E] _ _ [B] _ _ [F#m] _
_ [C#] _ _ [F#m] _ _ _ _ [A]
All right, now together with me.
One, two, ready, [D] go.
One, shh, three.
One, shh, four.
Three, [A] four.
_ _ [D] 4.
_ _ Did you do all that correctly?
If so, congratulations!
You now know the [B] basics.
If [Em] you found this video helpful, [A] then let us know in the comments [Bm] section down below.
[F#] As always, remember to leave [Bm] a like and subscribe.
[F#] I'm MrMento, [D] and I'll see you next time.
[A] _ _ [D] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [F#m] _
_ _ _ [D] _ _ [G] _ _ _