To count beats in a bar, find the time signature, count the beats from one to the top number, and divide each beat into two eighth notes, counting one and two and three and four and in 4/4 time. The count tells you where you are in the bar, and the accent tells you which beats are strong.
How do you count beats in a bar?
To count beats in a bar, find the time signature, count the beats from one to the top number, and divide each beat into two eighth notes, counting one and two and three and four and in 4/4 time. The count tells you where you are in the bar, and the accent tells you which beats are strong, and the two together keep you from getting lost. A player who counts will know where they are, and a player who does not count will get lost, especially when the rhythm is syncopated or the time signature changes. The counting is done out loud at first, and then in the head, and then it becomes a habit, and the hand keeps the time on its own. The count is the map of the bar, and the beats are the landmarks, and the player who knows the map will not get lost, even when the rhythm is complex. The metronome keeps the beat, and the G major guitar chord is the chord most players first count with, and the tap tempo tool finds the tempo of a song.
How counting beats works
Counting beats works by dividing the bar into equal parts, and naming each part, so the player knows where they are. In 4/4 time, the bar is divided into four beats, and each beat is divided into two eighth notes, so the count is one and two and three and four and, with the number on the beat and the and on the offbeat. In 3/4 time, the bar is divided into three beats, and the count is one and two and three and, with the accent on beat one. In 6/8 time, the bar is divided into six eighth notes, grouped as two beats of three, and the count is one, two, three, four, five, six, with the accents on one and four. The count also tells the player where the accents fall, because the strong beats are counted louder, and the weak beats are counted softer, and the offbeats are counted as and, which is lighter than the number. The accent is the emphasis, and the count is the map, and the two together make the rhythm. A player who counts one, two, three, four, with the accents on one and three, will play a 4/4 bar correctly, and a player who counts one, two, three, with the accent on one, will play a 3/4 bar correctly. The key of C major is the key most pieces are first counted in.
Worked example — counting a syncopated bar. A bar in 4/4 time has a note on the and after beat two, which is an offbeat, and the count is one and two and three and four and, with the note on the and after two. The player counts one, and, two, and, and the note falls on the and, which is the offbeat, and the accent is on the offbeat, which is the syncopation. The count tells the player where the note is, and the accent tells the player that it is syncopated, and the two together make the rhythm clear. Now try a bar with a note on beat two, which is a weak beat, and the count is one, two, three, four, with the note on two, and the accent is on the weak beat, which is also syncopated. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major can be counted in 4/4 time, with the chords changing on beat one of each bar.
How to practise counting beats
Practise counting beats out loud, in different time signatures, until the count is a habit and the accents are clear.
- Practise counting in 4/4 time, one and two and three and four and, with the accents on one and three, and strumming a G major chord on each beat.
- Practise counting in 3/4 time, one and two and three and, with the accent on one, and strumming a C major chord on each beat, feeling the waltz.
- Practise counting in 6/8 time, one, two, three, four, five, six, with the accents on one and four, and strumming a D major chord on each beat.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major in 4/4 time, counting out loud, and changing chords on beat one of each bar.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, and count along, until the count is a habit and the metronome is the check.
Common mistakes
- Counting only when you get lost — Counting is a habit, not a rescue, and a player who counts only when they get lost will get lost often. Count out loud from the start, and the counting will keep you from getting lost, instead of rescuing you after you are lost.
- Counting the beats unevenly — The beats in a bar are the same length, and counting them unevenly will make the rhythm uneven, and the time will be lost. Use a metronome, and count evenly, so each beat is the same length as the last.
- Forgetting to count the offbeats — The offbeats are the ands between the beats, and forgetting them will make the rhythm square, because the subdivision is missing. Count one and two and three and four and, with the and on the offbeat, and the rhythm will be complete.
Quick reference
This table shows the count for three common time signatures, with the accents for each one, so you can see the count and the accent side by side and practise counting in any time. The count is the map of the bar, and the accents are the landmarks, and the two together keep you from getting lost.
| Time signature | Count | Accents |
|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and | Beats 1 and 3 |
| 3/4 | 1 and 2 and 3 and | Beat 1 |
| 6/8 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Beats 1 and 4 |
Use the table to practise counting: pick a time signature, count out loud, and accent the beats the table shows, and strum a chord on each beat, so the count and the strum work together. When you can count in any time signature without looking, you can play any song, in any time, without getting lost.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count beats in a bar?
Find the time signature, count the beats from one to the top number, and divide each beat into two eighth notes, counting one and two and three and four and in 4/4 time. The count tells you where you are in the bar, and the accent tells you which beats are strong.
Should I count out loud?
Yes, at first. Counting out loud tells you where you are in the bar, and it stops you from getting lost, and it keeps the time steady. When the counting is a habit, you can count in your head, and then let the hand keep the time on its own.
How do I count in 6/8 time?
Count one, two, three, four, five, six, with the accents on one and four, and feel the bar as two beats of three, not six separate beats. The grouping is the key, and the accents are on one and four.
What does the and mean when counting?
The and is the offbeat, the second eighth note of the beat, and it is counted as and, which is lighter than the number. In 4/4 time, the count is one and two and three and four and, with the number on the beat and the and on the offbeat.
How do I count a syncopated rhythm?
Count the beats and the offbeats, and find where the note falls, on the beat or on the offbeat, and the count will tell you. A note on the and after beat two is syncopated, because the and is an offbeat, and the accent is on the offbeat.