Counting

[Olly]

My guitar teacher says that i don't stay in time.He says i should count 1..2..3..4.
I've tried this but i loose concentration because i'm looking at the sheet of music and i have to see were my fingers go at the same time.Any other ideas how i can keep in time?

[pickinngrinnin]

I'm using a metronome and practice, practice, practice.

[OmniAxiS]

well, tapping your foot is a must and helps emmensly. using a metronome will help your speed and accuracy with playing, but u cant bring a metronome on stage with you to count out the beats. this is why tapping your foot will help. soon, keeping time will be second nature. another thing, dont look at the guitar at all when u play sheet music. when u play sheet music or read chords off paper, u start to automaticly learn where the note your searching for is on the fretboard. its good to know ahead of time where it is, but when u start getting in the hang of reading music, your mind will catch up. i play trombone also and all ive been doing is sight reading with that instrument. when i see a Ab on the paper, i automatically go to third position (depending upon which Ab i play.). time will pass and you wont even have to look down.

[StoneDragon]

Heh heh... I haven't played a trumpet in many moons, but I still find myself sometimes thinking which valves to hold down for notes on the staff.

Olly,

The whole point of counting, tapping your foot and playing to a metronome is to get to a point where you can feel the time. Then you won't have to think about it aanymore and you will be able to play with anybody.

When you are practicing, it doesn't matter if counting screws you up in the beginning. Keep working with it. It's important that you become aware of where those beats are and how the music that you are playing fits together with the beat.