The Importance of Timing
One of the most important attributes of any great singer or instrumentalist is great timing. This means they have developed the ability to begin and end a note or phrase at precisely the right moment and to fit their singing in with the accompaniment for maximum musical and dramatic effect. There are two good ways to develop your timing.
One is to read rhythms from written music in time with a metronome or drum machine and the other is to have someone else play or sing rhythms and then copy them by ear. Some Rap singers are able to improvise incredibly complex and dramatic rhythms on the spot.
This is called "freestyling". Even though these singers use complex rhythms, they all had to start with the same simple note values you are learning here. It is also important to remember that all music regardless of style uses the same note values. The notes are just put together in different ways to create different sounds.
Listen to the following examples to hear first the guitar and then the voice produce each short phrase. Following these, each example is repeated with the guitar playing the phrase and then a space is left for you to reproduce it with your voice.
All the examples are in * time. To help keep time as you do this exercise, tap your foot in * time and remember to keep track of the beginning of each bar.
The Eighth Note
This is an eighth note. It lasts for half a count. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time.
When eighth notes are joined together the tails are replaced by one beam.
This example contains some common groupings of eighth notes, along with all the other note values you have learned. Clap the rhythms with your hands before singing this example and remember to count and tap your foot. Next, sing through the example using the syllable la.
Here are some phrases which contain eighth notes along with quarter notes. Breathe wherever a rest occurs. Keep the rhythm strong and steady as you sing and tap your foot on each beat.
The Dotted Quarter Note
A dot written after a quarter note means that you hold the note for one and a half beats.
A dotted quarter note is often followed by an eighth note.
Sing this example using the syllable ba. In a Rock band these rhythms are often used in the drummer’s bass drum patterns (played with the right foot).
Here is the rhythm from the previous example applied to a melody. As always, keep the rhythm strong and even, and tap your foot on each beat as you sing.
To help consolidate your timing and recognition of rhythms, practice clapping and singing this example which contains all the note and rest values you have learned so far.
