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Q&A: Recognizing Time Signatures by Ear?

Lesson #505 • Aug 1, 2023

Hey there, friends! Here’s a community Q&A video for July 2023, where I answer a handful of questions recently posted in the forum over on my songnotes.net website. To everyone who posted these questions – I hope you find these answers helpful!

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 0:35 Counting Beats in Each Measure?
  • 5:30 Star Spangled Banner in 4/4 Time?
  • 7:07 Walk-Downs: Slow vs Quickly?
  • 11:56 Country Honk Rhythmic Bassline?
  • 16:21 LA Freeway Chorus Strumming?

Have a question you’d like me to answer? Shoot me an email at [email protected]

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Jump in the conversation with other members of the Song Notes community! Post a comment about this lesson, ask a question, or even upload a video of your progress. All skill levels welcome!

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Lessons I Mention

"Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton

$ Song Sheet Available

"Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kris Kristofferson / Johnny Cash

$ Song Sheet Available

Acoustic Blues with Keith Richards

★ Instructional PDF

"Star Spangled Banner" in Open Position

★ Instructional PDF

"LA Freeway" by Guy Clark

$ Song Sheet Available

G-chord finger position guide

★ Instructional PDF

Walking Up & Down in Each Major Key

★ Instructional PDF

Other Videos I Mention

Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner. Notice how it’s in 4/4 time! She’s usually adding the extra beat on to the third word (or syllable) of each line.

Here’s Jewel singing the Star Spangled Banner, also in 4/4 time. The bass strings on her guitar are a heplful way to follow the quarter notes.

Finally, the Adam Neely video I reference. The first 6 minutes includes plenty of very helpful instruction on the topic of time signatures and rhythmic pulse.

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