Help: Counting In - How do you ?

Subject: Counting In - How do you ?
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 03:04 PM

I know there was a thread on this sometime in the past two years, but I can't find it. Our group is working on more polished "starts" to tunes and songs, and we're confused about the proper way to "count-in" !! Do you go "1-2-3-4" and start on the next "1", or, as some members seem to do, "1-2-3-4-1-2" and then start? Other members dislike a verbal count because it seems to imply that we're not spontaneous. (The ragged but right argument) How do you who play in 4 to 5 member groups cope with this ?

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: skarpi
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 03:37 PM

Hallo Les B, you can start as 1,2- 1,2,3,4, but it is not always like this, are you playing in 4/4 , 2/4 or 3/4 for example. Go on counting for every song I am in 5 member band TAMÓRA and we count in every song, and the songs are going better than they used to do. Get your band to count.

All the best skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 03:51 PM

Well, Les, I'm more used to doing this whith a church choir, not a band. I usually count the full measur4e before the singing starts, plus the unsung beats in the first measure of singing. So, in 4/4 time, if the song starts on the third beat of a measure, I'd count 1-2-4-4, 1-2 - and signal for people to start singing on that 3rd beat.
Since it's in church, I count in a whisper. I don't wanna sound like Lawrence Welk, or something.
anna one, anna two, anna...

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: SeanM
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 04:18 PM

It doesn't really matter HOW you start, as long as you all agree on the point, and rehearse it a few times. My group does "South Australia", opening with about a 30 second bodrahn solo. This was actually about our hardest start, as we all just had to listen to the playing, and decide where a good place to start would be. Then, it was just a matter of remembering.

Another song starts with a very soft chord... helps us keep in tune, as well as notifies everyone when to go.

All this depends on rehearsal, though. A lot of the 'raggedness' in our group gets polished out that way.

M

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 04:35 PM

Just don't do it the way the Smothers Brothers did. (Hmmm see if I can do this non verbally)

12..34...123...4

Nah, you hadda be there!

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: alison
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 09:52 PM

you can count in. If you are miked.... just stand back from the mic so the band can hear the count but the audience doesn't......

or be exotic.. count in a different language....

Even professional bands like Altan count themselves in.. but they do it in gaelic.... (a haon, a do/.... a haon, a do/, a tri/, a ceithair)

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: GUEST,Guest, leeneia
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 10:54 PM

We like to have an accomplished member of the group play a little solo intro, such as a phrase from the end of the song. This sets the tempo, and then we all come in.

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Apr 00 - 11:26 PM

Well.....That about sums it up.

And Rick...you're right...Ain't no way to "transcribe" that bit. Or what about Jerry Van Dyke's "shy" banjo player bit?

BUT JOE!!!!! What's with your counting ability?.....1-2-4-4??????????? Ya' know I'd think that a good Catholic like yourself would be a LOT better at counting; kinda' high on their priority list ain't it? How many kids do you have?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: GUEST, Threadie
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:00 AM

"OK lads after 3"

"3"

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: Escamillo
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:15 AM

Good,Threadie! Ha ha! - reminds me the local jokes about Galizians (Spain)
Un abrazo - Andrés
(Now you should reply "mhh.. 's not a joke")

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: Ely
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 01:32 AM

Potatoes.

1-potato, 2-potato, 3-potato, 4-potato. Sometimes we do eight potatoes if we want to show off. Or if we think we need more time. We're kind of pathetic like that.

Subject: RE: Help: Counting In - How do you ?
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Apr 00 - 09:55 AM

Had a band that never could get it right. We settled on ONE TWO SEVERAL, AND A BIT.