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

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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505
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https://community.songnotes.net/c/song-notes-lesson-discussion/q-a-for-july-2023-recognizing-time-signatures-fast-vs-slow-walk-downs-guy-clark-strumming-and-more-lesson-505
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