ISSUE #66 \__\__\___THE____/__/__/ June 5, 2002 _______________TEMPO DISPATCH ___________ Newsletter For Drummers and Drumming Enthusiasts Copyright Bill Powelson 2002 all rights reserved. ____________'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS'_______ Tips * Tricks * Hints * Ads * Freebies * Lessons * _________NOW more than 13,000+ SUBSCRIBERS!__________ IN THIS ISSUE . . . FEATURE ARTICLE: 1. In this lesson I'll try to help clear-up some of the TERMINOLOGY confusion caused by TIME SIGNATURES like 6/8 and 4/4.    2. Humor: The Indian Way _____________________________________ |__________FEATURE ARTICLE___________|             DRUM LESSON TIME SIGNATURES:  6/8 VERSUS 4/4:     This lesson is for the more advanced 'thinkers' out there . . .     It may not be for ALL beginners.     BEGINNERS:  If this lesson seems a little 'over your head' . . . scroll down to the additional BEGINNERS LESSON, below it. QUESTION:     *  What's the difference between 6/8 and 4/4? ANS:     Not much! FOR EXAMPLE . . . (The 'BLUES BEAT')     8TH 'TRIPLET' 2/4 or 4/4 will contain all the SAME RHYTHM patterns as 6/8 and 12/8 respectively. Yet, the rhythms may be written EITHER way. THINK ABOUT IT!     The counting-procedure, the time-signature and the notation involved, WILL ALL be different, but the RHYTHMS CONTAINED, WILL ALL BE THE SAME.     The counting-procedure, the time-signature and the notation involved, is determined by the writer. This in-turn, effects the TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY WE USE when referring to the rhythm patterns contained in each of these time-signatures. .................................................... NOTE:     We tend to get the TECHNICAL names for a rhythm pattern from the time-signature, and the way we SEE THAT PATTERN in its written form. ....................................................     So . . . we end up with dozens of DIFFERENT TECHNICAL NAMES for the SAME GENERAL PATTERNS.  It's a nightmare!     For example, think of the BLUES BEAT. It 'might' be written as 6/8, or 12/8! Likewise, it may be written as 8th TRIPLET 2/4, or 8th TRIPLET 4/4! (In truth, it could also be written several OTHER ways!)     Depending on HOW it's written . . . the TECHNICAL NAME of the pattern may change up to a dozen (or more) times!     X X X X X X       S B     If it is written in 6/8 (or 12/8), we'll be looking at six (or 12) 8th notes on the cymbal line . . . and the proper way to count them would be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc., etc.  The technical name would be 6/8 or 12/8.     ANOTHER WRITER might choose to write the same 4,096 'BLUES BEAT' pemutations as '8th TRIPLET 2/4' (or 4/4.) In which case the proper count would be '1 an a 2 an a' etc., etc.     NOW . . . The technical name for all the SAME beat permutations will become '8TH TRIPLET 2/4, OR 8TH TRIPLET 4/4'!      Maybe that's why a street-name like 'BLUES BEAT' has taken-hold to become the 'STANDARD NAME' for this rhythm structure!  Otherwise, when communicating onstage . . . we might need to call this structure by ALL its (twelve or more) different technical names, in one VERY LONG (five minute) breath. SHUFFLE?  Same problem!     The SHUFFLE beat is blessed with ALL these same confusing issues, plus a COUPLE MORE!  It's no wonder there's so much ONSTAGE confusion about these beat names!  It's a confusing 'TERMINOLOGY NIGHTMARE' for students and professionals as well.     We might write the Shuffle beat as 6/8, 12/8, 8th TRIPLET 2/4 or 4/4 . . . and a host of other ways as well. AND, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY . . . (STILL MORE CONFUSION!)     Another writer might choose to write the Shuffle pattern as a dotted-8th/sixteenth rhythm in 2/4 or 4/4, producing the SAME SHUFFLE RESULT!     NOW . . . all the SAME beat permutations become technically known as 'Dotted Eighth / Sixteenth 4/4'!    Then the count becomes 1 e an a, 2 e an a, etc., etc. It means we play only on the count and the 'a', which produces the SAME rhythm we call SHUFFLE . . .     The Blues, Shuffle and Swing beats are all actually the same general rhythms, give or take a few notes on the cymbal line.     Those rested-notes are VERY important distinctions though, because the LESS cymbal notes we play . . . the FASTER the rhythm will be geared . . . which creates an entirely new and different 'feel', as the tempos increase . . . NOTE:  X = ANY NUMBER     These same confusing issues occur in 3/4, 5/4, 7/4 and all the other X/4 versus X/8 signatures.  Similar confusions occur in the X/16 and X/32 signatures as well . . .    It's a confusing, redundant mess! FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . .     FOR EXAMPLE:  8th-triplet 3/4. (Counted: 1 an a 2 an a 3 an a) 'COULD' be written as (and named) 9/8. (Then it would be  counted: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)         . . .  All the rhythms contained in either written method are essentially the same rhythms . . . (only the note-values and the TERMINOLOGY will be changed . . . to confuse and frustrate us all.) HERE'S SOME HOPE!       There IS an UPSIDE to all this!  :) (NOTE:  X = ANY NUMBER)      As we learn ALL the beat permutations of any '8TH TRIPLET X/4' . . . We will also be learning a relative X/8, X/16, X/32 structure at the same time. SO . . . X/4 is ALL we need to study! We get the other rhythms by proxy!  The rhythms are the same.  Only the notation, count-procedure and TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY will be altered if the denominator is other than 4.      All this is covered in-depth within the time-signature and related lessons of my course.  (My objective here is simply get you thinking about it . . .) .................................................. PAID STUDENTS:     PREPARE YOURSELF for the Ultra-Advanced, TIME SIGNATURE LESSON, this way . . . STUDY THE FOLLOWING LESSONS IN THIS EXACT ORDER . . . 1. Rhythm Terminology, Symbols and Note Values http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/notevals.html 2. Basic Dance Beats http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/prime01.html 3. Permutations http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/perms01.html 4.  Waltz: http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/waltz01.html 5.  Time Signatures http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/timesigs.html ....................................... Now, here's some special help for, BEGINNING STUDENTS OF DRUMSET: FOLLOW THIS LESSON-PLAN, FOR BEST RESULTS:     The drum lessons at are arranged (from the top-down) at the web site in such a way as to allow you to achieve the BEST possible results, in the LEAST amount of time, while enjoying the MOST POSSIBLE FUN  . . .     We would follow this exact same plan if you were to enroll as a private student at my private teaching studios.  I use this lesson plan because it works!     You'll be WISE to follow the plan, FROM THE TOP DOWN, in the (early-beginner) stages of study.     MEMORIZE the BASIC DANCE BEATS at: http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/prime01.html MORE ADVANCED/INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS . . .     Skim lightly over any material that seems too basic or too simple . . . BUT DIG-IN AS THE LESSONS GET MORE DIFFICULT.   Almost every lesson in this 100-lesson course is intended as one-week of study for the average student in private study.  Some students move faster while others, slower.       Here ONLINE . . . Many of you may find it easy to absorb SEVERAL lessons per week, while others may need several weeks on each lesson!  That's the advantage of online lessons!      The cost is the same for EVERYONE. ........................................................ _________________________________ |___________HUMOR? ______________| The Indian Way The old Sioux chief sat in his reservation hut, smoking the ceremonial pipe, eyeing the two US government officials sent to interview him. "Chief Two Eagles," one official began, "you have observed the white man for many generations, you have seen his wars and his products, you have seen all his progress, and all his problems." The chief nodded. The official continued, "Considering recent events, In  your opinion, where has the white man gone wrong?" The chief stared at the government officials for over a minute, and then calmly replied: "When white man found this land, Indians were running it. No taxes. No debt. Plenty buffalo. Plenty beaver. Women did most of the work. Medicine man free. Indian men hunted and fished all the time." The chief smiled, and added quietly, "White man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that. _____________________________________________ Thanks again to my old friend Jim Casey at Vermont Drums Online: www.vermontdrums.com _____________________________________________ END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #66 JUN 5, 2002