music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

, counting is a system of regularly occurring

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by ...

s that serve to assist with the

performance A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Management science In the work place ...

audition An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece giv ...

of music by allowing the easy identification of the beat. Commonly, this involves verbally

counting Counting is the process of determining the number of elements of a finite set of objects, i.e., determining the size of a set. The traditional way of counting consists of continually increasing a (mental or spoken) counter by a unit for every ele ...

the beats in each measure as they occur, whether there be 2 beats, 3 beats, 4 beats, or even 5 beats. In addition to helping to normalize the time taken up by each beat, counting allows easier identification of the beats that are stressed. Counting is most commonly used with

rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular re ...

(often to decipher a difficult rhythm) and

form Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens. Form also refers to: *Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter data * ...

and often involves subdivision.

Introduction to systems: numbers and syllables

The method involving numbers may be termed ''count chant'', "to identify it as a unique instructional process." In lieu of simply counting the beats of a measure, other systems can be used which may be more appropriate to the particular piece of music. Depending on the

tempo In musical terminology, tempo ( Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (ofte ...

, the divisions of a beat may be vocalized as well (for slower times), or skipping numbers altogether (for faster times). As an alternative to counting, a

metronome A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον (''métron'', "measure") and νομός (nomós, "custom", "melody") is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats pe ...

can be used to accomplish the same function. Triple meter, such as , is often counted 1 2 3, while compound meter, such as , is often counted in two and subdivided "One-''and''-''ah''-Two-''and''-''ah''"Blatter, Alfred (2007). ''Revisiting music theory: a guide to the practice'', p.26. . but may be articulated as "One-''la''-''lee''-Two-''la''-''lee''". For each subdivision employed a new syllable is used. For example, sixteenth notes in are counted 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a, using numbers for the quarter note, "&" for the

eighth note 180px, Figure 1. An eighth note with stem extending up, an eighth note with stem extending down, and an eighth rest. 180px, Figure 2. Four eighth notes beamed together. An eighth note (American) or a quaver ( British) is a musical note pla ...

, and "e" and "a" for the sixteenth note level. Triplets may be counted "1 tri ple 2 tri ple 3 tri ple 4 tri ple" and sixteenth note triplets "1 la li + la li 2 la li + la li".Harnum, Jonathan (2004). ''Basic Music Theory'', p.68-70. . Quarter note triplets, due to their different rhythmic feel, may be articulated differently as "1 dra git 3 dra git". Rather than numbers or nonsense syllables, a random word may be assigned to a rhythm to clearly count each beat. An example is with a triplet, so that a triplet subdivision is often counted "tri-pl-et".Nokes, Mark (2009). However, when voiced "tri-pl-et" sounds as "tri-plet"; ergo, an extra sound added to the word triplet can be more effective and truly a three syllable word -- "tri-pa-let". ''Modern Guitar Method: A Practical Approach'', p.35. . The Kodály Method uses "Ta" for

quarter note A quarter note (American) or crotchet ( ) (British) is a musical note played for one quarter of the duration of a whole note (or semibreve). Quarter notes are notated with a filled-in oval note head and a straight, flagless stem. The stem ...

s and "Ti-Ti" for eighth notes. For sextuplets simply say triplet twice (see Sextuplet rhythm.png), while quintuplets may be articulated as "un-i-vers-i-ty". In some approaches, "rote-before-note", the fractional definitions of notes are not taught to children until after they are able to perform syllable or phrase-based versions of these rhythms. "However the counting may be syllabized, the important skill is to keep the

pulse In medicine, a pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the cardiac cycle (heartbeat) by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the n ...

steady and the division exact." There are various ways to count rhythm, from simple

number A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual number ...

s to counting

syllable A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds typically made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel) with optional initial and final margins (typically, consonants). Syllables are often considered the phonological ...

s to beat placement syllables. Here are a few examples.

Numbers systems

Numbers

Ultimately,

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wr ...

s count using numbers, “ands” and

vowel A vowel is a syllabic speech sound pronounced without any stricture in the vocal tract. Vowels are one of the two principal classes of speech sounds, the other being the consonant. Vowels vary in quality, in loudness and also in quantity (len ...

sounds. Downbeats within a measure are called 1, 2, 3… Upbeats are represented with a plus sign and are called “and” (i.e. 1 + 2 +), and further subdivisions receive the sounds “ee” and “uh” (i.e. 1 e + a 2 e + a). Musicians do not agree on what to call triplets: some simply say the word triplet (“trip-a-let”), or another three-syllable word (like pineapple or elephant) with an antepenultimate accent. Some use numbers along with the word triplet (i.e. “1-trip-let”). Still others have devised sounds like “ah-lee” or “la-li” added after the number (i.e. 1-la-li, 2-la-li or 1-tee-duh, 2-tee-duh). Example The folk song lyric " This Old Man, he played one, he played knick-knack on my thumb, with a knick-knack paddy whack, give my dog a bone, this old man came rolling home" in time would be said, "one and two one and two one and two and one and two and uh one and two ee and uh one ee and uh two one and two and one and two." 1 e and uh 2 e and uh 3 e and uh 4 e and uh

Traditional American system

Counts the beat number on the tactus, & on the half beat, and n-e-&-a for four sixteenth notes, n-&-a for a triplet or three eighth notes in compound meter, where n is the beat number.

Eastman system

The beat numbers are used for the tactus, te for the half beat, and n-ti-te-ta for four sixteenths. Triplets or three eighth notes in compound meter are n-la-li and six sixteenth notes in compound meter is n-ta-la-ta-li-ta.

Froseth system

Counting system using n-ne, n-ta-ne-ta, n-na-ni, and n-ta-na-ta-ni-ta. All three systems have internal consistency for all divisions of the beat except the tactus, which changes according to the beat number.

Syllables systems

Syllables systems are categorized as "Beat Function Systems" - when the tactus (

) has certain syllable A, and the half-beat is always certain syllable B, regardless of how the rest of the measure is filled out.

French system

The French "Time-Names system", also called the "Galin-Paris-Cheve system", originally used French words. Toward the middle of the 19th century the American musician

Lowell Mason Lowell Mason (January 8, 1792 – August 11, 1872) was an American music director and banker who was a leading figure in 19th-century American church music. Lowell composed over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His best-known ...

(affectionately named the "Father of Music Education") adapted the French Time-Names system for use in the United States, and instead of using the French names of the notes, he replaced these with a system that identified the value of each note within a meter and the measure. *

Whole Note A whole note (American) or semibreve (British) in musical notation is a single note equivalent to or lasting as long as two half notes or four quarter notes. Description The whole note or semibreve has a note head in the shape of a hollow o ...

: Ta-a-a-a *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Ta-a *

Quarter Note A quarter note (American) or crotchet ( ) (British) is a musical note played for one quarter of the duration of a whole note (or semibreve). Quarter notes are notated with a filled-in oval note head and a straight, flagless stem. The stem ...

: Ta *2

Eighth Note 180px, Figure 1. An eighth note with stem extending up, an eighth note with stem extending down, and an eighth rest. 180px, Figure 2. Four eighth notes beamed together. An eighth note (American) or a quaver ( British) is a musical note pla ...

: Ta Te *4 Sixteenth Notes: Tafa Tefe

Kodály method

: Ta-a-a-a or ta-o-o-o *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Ta-a or ta-o *

: Ta *1

: Ti *2 Eighth Notes: Ti-Ti *4 Sixteenth Notes: Ti-ri-ti-ri *Eighth Note Triplet: Tri-o-la *Eighth Note followed by a Quarter Note and another Eighth Note: Syn-co-pa

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
method

: Lang-ng-ng-ng *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Lang-ng *

: La *2 Eighth Notes: Lira *Dotted Quarter followed by Eighth: La-ira

Edwin Gordon system

Usual duple meter *

: Du-u-u-u *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Du-u *

: Du *2 Eighth Notes: Du-De *4 Sixteenth Notes: Du-Ta-De-Ta Usual triple meter *Dotted Quarter Note: Du *3 Eighth Notes: Du-Da-Di *6 Sixteenth Notes: Du-Ta-Da-Ta-Di-Ta Unusual meters pair the duple and triple meter syllables, and employ the "b" consonant.

Takadimi Takadimi is a system devised by Richard Hoffman, William Pelto, and John W. White in 1996 in order to teach rhythm skills. Takadimi, while utilizing rhythmic symbols borrowed from classical South Indian carnatic music, differentiates itself from ...

The beat is always called ta. In simple meters, the division and subdivision are always ta-di and ta-ka-di-mi. Any note value can be the beat, depending on the

time signature The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note va ...

. In compound meters (wherein the beat is generally notated with dotted notes), the division and subdivision are always ta-ki-da and ta-va-ki-di-da-ma. The note value does not receive a particular name; the note’s position within the beat gets the name. This system allows children to internalize a steady beat and to naturally discover the subdivisions of beat, similar to the down-ee-up-ee system. Example The folk song lyric "This Old Man, he played one, he played knick-knack on my thumb, with a knick-knack paddy whack, give my dog a bone, this old man came rolling home" would be said, "tadi ta tadi ta tadi tadi tadi tadimi tadi takadi takadimi ta tadi tadi tadi ta."

Examples of simple meter rhythms (Takadimi)

File:Whole note.gif, Whole Note = ta-a-a-a File:Half note.gif, Half Note = Ta-a File:Quarter note.gif, Quarter Note = Ta File:Figure rythmique deux croches lien bas.svg, Two Eighth Notes = Ta-Di File:Sixteenth note run.png, Four Sixteenth Notes = Ta-Ka-Di-Mi File:Eighth rest.svg, File:Eighth note (crop).gif, Eighth Rest + Eighth Note = X-Di File:Eighth note (crop).gif, File:Sixteenth note.gif, Eighth Note + Two Sixteenth Notes = Taaa-Di-Mi File:Sixteenth note.gif, File:Eighth note (crop).gif, Two Sixteenth Notes + Eighth Note = Ta-Ka-Diii

Examples of compound meter rhythms (Takadimi)

File:Dotted whole note.svg, Dotted Whole Note = Ta-a-a-a File:Dotted half note with upwards stem.svg, Dotted Half Note = Ta-a File:Dotted quarter note with upwards stem.svg, Dotted Quarter Note = Ta File:Eighth note (crop).gif, Three Eighth Notes Beamed Together = Ta-Ki-Da File:Eighth note (crop).gif, File:Eighth rest.svg, Eighth Note + Eighth Rest + Eighth Note = Ta-X-Da File:Sixteenth note.gif, Six Sixteenth Notes = Ta-Va-Ki-Di-Da-Ma File:Eighth note (crop).gif, File:Sixteenth note run.png, Eighth Note + Four Sixteenth Notes = Ta-aa-Ki-Di-Da-Ma File:Sixteenth note run.png, File:Eighth note (crop).gif, Four Sixteenth Notes + Eighth Note = Ta-Va-Ki-Di-Da-aa File:Sixteenth note.gif, File:Eighth note (crop).gif, Two Sixteenth Notes + Eighth Note + Two Sixteenth Notes = Ta-Va-Ki-ii-Da-Ma

Takatiki

This is a beat-function system used by some Kodály teachers that was developed by Laurdella Foulkes-Levy, and was designed to be easier to say than Gordon's system or the Takadimi system while still honoring the beat-function. The beat is said as "Ta" in both duple and triple meters, but the beat divisions are performed differently between the two meters. The "t" consonant always falls on the main beat and beat division, and the "k" consonant is always when the beat divides again. Alternating "t" and "k" in quick succession is easy to say, as they fall on two different parts of the tongue, making it very easy to say these syllables at a fast tempo (much like tonguing on recorder or flute). It is also a logical system since it always alternates between the same two consonants. Duple meter *

: Ta-a-a-a (no added accent on each beat) *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Ta-a (no added accent on each beat) *

: Ta *2 Eighth Notes: Ta-Ti *4 Sixteenth Notes: Ta-Ka-Ti-Ki *Sixteenth Note Combinations: Ta---Ti-Ki, Ta-Ka-Ti---, Ta-Ka---Ki *Eighth Note followed by a Quarter Note and another Eighth Note: Ta-Ti---Ti *Eighth Note Triplet: Ta-Tu-Te *Rests: (silent) Triple meter *Dotted Half Note: Ta-a-a- (no added accent on each beat) *Dotted Quarter Note : Ta- *3 Eighth Notes: Ta-Tu-Te *Eighth Note Combinations: Ta----Te, Ta-Tu----- *6 Sixteenth Notes: Ta-Ka-Tu-Ku-Te-Ke *Sixteenth Note Combinations: Ta--Tu-Ku-Te, Ta-Ka-Tu---Te, Ta--Tu--Te-Ke *Rests: (silent)

Ta Titi

: Toe / ta-ah-ah-ah *Dotted Half Note: Toom / ta-ah-ah *

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

: Too / ta-ah *

Dotted Quarter Note In Western musical notation, a dotted note is a note with a small dot written after it. In modern practice, the first dot increases the duration of the basic note by half (the original note with an extra beam) of its original value. This mea ...

: Tom / ta-a *

: Ta *1

: Ti *2 Eighth Notes: Ti-Ti *Eighth Note Triplet: Tri-o-la *2 Sixteenth Notes: Tika / Tiri *4 Sixteenth Notes: TikaTika / Tiritiri *2 Sixteenth Notes and 1 Eighth Note: Tika-Ti / Tiri-Ti *1 Eighth Note and 2 Sixteenths: Ti-Tika / Ti-Tiri This system allows the value of each note to be clearly represented no matter its placement within the beat/measure Example The

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has ...

lyric "This Old Man, he played one, he played knick-knack on my thumb, with a knick-knack paddy whack, give my dog a bone, this old man came rolling home" would be said, "titi ta titi ta titi titi titi ti-tiri titi tiriti tiritiri ta titi titi titi ta"

Down-ee up-ee

Beats are down, up-beats are up, subdivisions are “ee” but… need more info! Example The folk song lyric "This Old Man, he played one, he played knick-knack on my thumb, with a knick-knack paddy whack, give my dog a bone, this old man came rolling home" would be said, "down up down down up down down up down up down up down up-ee down up down-ee-up down-ee-up-ee down down up down up down up down."

Mixed numbers and syllables systems

McHose/Tibbs

1 2 3 4, 1 te, 1 ta te ta

Other systems

Orff system

Using words

Sources

External links

* http://www.takadimi.net {{DEFAULTSORT:Counting (Music) Ear training Rhythm and meter

Introduction to systems: numbers and syllables

Numbers systems

Numbers

Traditional American system

Eastman system

Froseth system

Syllables systems

French system

Kodály method

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ... method

Edwin Gordon system

Takadimi Takadimi is a system devised by Richard Hoffman, William Pelto, and John W. White in 1996 in order to teach rhythm skills. Takadimi, while utilizing rhythmic symbols borrowed from classical South Indian carnatic music, differentiates itself from ...

Examples of simple meter rhythms (Takadimi)

Examples of compound meter rhythms (Takadimi)

Takatiki

Ta Titi

Down-ee up-ee

Mixed numbers and syllables systems

McHose/Tibbs

Other systems

Orff system

See also

Sources

External links

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
method