Counting difficult part

A band I'm in has decided to do the song "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5 and more recently by Sheryl Crow. It's a much more difficult and challenging song than I had anticipated it would be.

I have the whole thing down but I'm struggling with the timing on one lick. It starts the song. It has this sequence of 5 16th notes. I just cannot seem to find a way to nail that first 16th. I'm either early or late.

Ab..........B,C,Eb,F,Db

It's that b thats killing me.

http://thegreatvoid.net/pics/example.bmp

I know technically it's like...

1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a
Ab B, C, Eb, F, Db

and actually ends before one of the next measure.

I would appreciate any advice on how to count this section.

Thanks!!!

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1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
Ab Rest Rest B C Eb F Db

When I teach kids about rhythm - especially 'reading' rhythms I simplify.
For this I would have you forget about the pick-up 16th (the B) and just get to where you can nail the the group of four 16th's that are on beat 4. Once you can do that the pkup should be easier.

*Also and equally as important:
Be able to sing the lick. If you can sing it, even just in your head - in time - you'll be able to transfer it to your hands relatively quickly.

**Can you 'hear' where the pkup falls on beat 3?
Do you separate 16th's like this? 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
This is how I 'sing it' in my head (the J5 lick) ... 1 2 3 ba da da da dat.

forget about the pick-up 16th (the B) and just get to where you can nail the the group of four 16th's that are on beat 4.

Corrected to avoid potential confusion.

Corrected to avoid potential confusion.Dadgum bass clef! lol

(I had to look at it twice before I noticed too... :oops: )

Cool that it's in Ab. Fits MJs boy vocal range. I've heard later versions where the adult MJ sang it in Eb..

Nice to hear Sheryl Crow sing it again in Ab..

I kept thinking there was a 16th note missing before I finally saw the dot after 8th note rest:-(

Here's a few:
1. You can get an app for your Ipad or whatever that has a metronome that sub-divides. Not essential, but it helps.
2. Try clapping or tapping the rhythms. Then try playing the rhythm figure with just one note on the guitar.. this will help you get you down/ up strokes in sync.
3. put it all together- SLOWLY!

Corrected to avoid potential confusion.

Thank you (duh!).

You do know there is a Ohio state law that says you can only play this song if the band wears the same outfits as the Jackson Five in the video above?

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
Ab Rest Rest B C Eb F Db


THanks Scat, thats exactly what I tried to type out but somehow the formatting didn't work.

It blazes by too quick to accurately count out 16th notes. The tempo is just too quick. I think I'm just going to have to approach it as a feel thing, listen and play to it enough I can then duplicate it.

I think I'm just going to have to approach it as a feel thing, listen and play to it enough I can then duplicate it.

yes - I was just going to say "why not just play it without counting?"

I have played that song a few times and never stopped to think about how to count it... that would be too confusing for this little brain! I don't suppose the studio band thought about the count too much either.. just the groove.

the intro reminds me of jerry lee lewis's -boogie woogie r+b style the keyboards almost a shuffle count 16th's or even faster / splash! & go
early r&r -soul influence a jackson family mainstay


like a roll below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissando

the drumming and dancing are in time naturally
( like a good beating from papa jackson)

I think I'm just going to have to approach it as a feel thing, listen and play to it enough I can then duplicate it.

Now you're talking...Sing it until it haunts you in your sleep. Imagine playing it before you get to your axe. i.e. with something like this its about internalization of the pulse as well as the line. If you have issues with accuracy etc then refer to the grid to get everything in the right place. best.
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What the heck..:wink:.

You didn't say; but I'll go out on a limb and assume you're wanting to play the bass part and not the guitar part (because you posted bass clef and because that Ab octave guitar part is very important to the arrangement, but you didn't mention it). I get myself in trouble whenever I make assumptions, but anywho..

If the bass part is what you need, check this guy out. He's got it right, and he's very efficient with his fingering. Maybe play along:

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