How to keep time for intro of EWF's In The Stone?

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benozw12

Junior Member
While I know where the syncopations in the intro of the song, In The Stone by Earth, Wind, Fire are, I am having a hard time trying to catch/maintain the pulse after executing them, despite me counting along the quarters.

For example, in bar 3, the hit is on N of 1 = | - N - - - |.
Another example is 2 hits on beat 1 and the "a" = |1--a - - - |.
It feels jerky when I count the 2 after that hit. Alternatively, if I try to feel the length/space from the hit to catch beat 3, it feels 'uncertain'.

Is it a matter of practice? Which approach do you use for such upbeat hits to maintain pulse?

Thanks!
 
^^ what he said

But also, loop those awkward bits in isolation with a click until you can't NOT feel where the main pulse is. Then when you come to do them in the section it'll be a non-issue
 
Listened to it for the first time in years. Great track.....and I thought I heard some David Foster touch in there.......yep.
 
mrthirsty said:
Play quarter notes with your left foot on the hi hat to feel the pulse.

Take it slow and steady, it will eventually get easier.
Click to expand...
Both of my instructors in my life stressed this (except for I typically play it on the 2 and 4). Using your left foot (via hi hat) improved my concept of time dramatically. Excellent advice.
 
Yep....the accents can be throwing....I bet the band would appreciate a good solid 1/4 note pulse through it all.....with accents on 1......just to get started.
 
Earth, Wind, and Fire were a fantastic energetic band-I wish I had seen them live. The groove sounds really familiar for some reason-I can't place the song. So the band your in is playing the full intro and song -so you have a brass section? If so I'd love to see that.
 
sometimes- not saying here- there's an MD a bass player maybe- a musical director- who even in the studio will "nod" the hits and accents like what I hear there +/-
Can't say I ever played that particular EWF tune out in bar land (altho we do and have done EWF out; that tune hmm not so much)
It's almost orchestrated with a conductor someone
 

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see if combining audio with visual helps
yes. yes it does.

<now we all can play it>
thxs
 
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benozw12 said:
Thanks All for your advice! Will do that!

Also, when doing any half-bar or full-bar fills in songs, do you guys also keep pulse on left foot?
Click to expand...
I ALWAYS keep the groove going on the left foot as to not get lost. Keeps you grounded. Afro-Cuban, African Naningo, any of the more ethic grooves I play I typically will do all four quarters on left foot. Jazz, funk, rock I will play it on the 2 and 4 while riding the ride cymbal.

You will be surprised at how quickly you automatically do this with practice, and it's a life saver when trying to keep good time and not rush or drag fills.
 
mashwack said:
^^ what he said

But also, loop those awkward bits in isolation with a click until you can't NOT feel where the main pulse is. Then when you come to do them in the section it'll be a non-issue
Click to expand...
I was just re-reading the thread again.
What do you mean by 'not feeling the main pulse'? Don't we need to keep feeling the quarter pulse?
 
Seems you may be misquoting mashwack. Rather than "not feeling the main pulse" (not feeling the main pulse), mashwack wrote, "can't NOT feel where the main pulse is". Which I take to mean the pulse is so thoroughly in you due to your practicing that it is automatic, you always feel the main pulse.
 
benozw12 said:
While I know where the syncopations in the intro of the song, In The Stone by Earth, Wind, Fire are, I am having a hard time trying to catch/maintain the pulse after executing them, despite me counting along the quarters.

For example, in bar 3, the hit is on N of 1 = | - N - - - |.
Another example is 2 hits on beat 1 and the "a" = |1--a - - - |.
It feels jerky when I count the 2 after that hit. Alternatively, if I try to feel the length/space from the hit to catch beat 3, it feels 'uncertain'.
Click to expand...

Count the beat right after the hits-- 1e& 2, 1 a2. It feels wrong because those are long notes, but you won't be losing track of the beat. Do that for awhile, then you can drop counting the 2.
 
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