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Counting broken rhythms in 12/8 time can be tricky and goes beyond the traditional 1-2-3, -2-2-3,-3-2-3-,4-2-3 or 123456-223456 counts. When soloing in 12/8 time it can be tricky to keep within the basic rhythm and as the broken rhythms become more and more complicated you can easily loose your place within the basic Rhythmic Structure.

I have broken a piece up into many many of the common rhythmic motifs that you could possibly encounter within a piece of music written in 12/8 time. The piece is limited to 1/8th and 16th notes for simplicity. I note that many more complex rhythmic motifs are possible with the addition of 1/32 notes but for the sake of keeping things simple to start with these are ignored. More complicated pieces are beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Broken rhythmic motifs in 12/8 time can be counted best using 1/16th note counts in the majority of cases, or a Hybrid Count that uses both 1/16th notes and 1/8th notes together. There are 2 ‘Rhythmic Shortcuts’ available to you to use to interpret the Broken Rhythms quickly and easily.  The first is a 1 -e-& count which equates to a dotted 1/8th note or 3 x sixteenth notes. This shortcut is denoted as (1e+). Ignore the brackets they have no musical value ( no count value) but are used to draw attention  to which parts of the music they represent in the score. When using the dotted 1/8th note count it will repeat as ( 1 e + ) plus another (1 e +) which follows it and equates to 6 x 1/16th notes which is equal to 1 beat of 12/8 or a dotted crochet 1/4 note = to 1/6th note. Or a single count of the 1 -2-3 triplet count in quavers.

The other ‘RHYTHMIC SHORTCUT’ used is 1-e-&-a ( written as 1 e + a in the example piece. This will be familiar to anyone used to counting sixteenth notes in 4/4 time. Typically this is counted as 1e&a, 2e&a, 3e&a etc. In the shortcut method being demonstrated the ‘& is substituted with a ‘+’ sign for easier notation. To use this traditional 1/16th note count in 12/8 time we must modify it by adding an extra 1/8th note quaver on to the end of it, So it would read as 1-e-&-a (+ an additional 1/8th note or 2 x 1/16th notes). To make this count up to 6 x1/16th notes we must add an extra quaver beat to this to make this up to the 1/6th beat or dotted Crochet beat. So we add either a  (3) the last  1/8th note beat of the triplet rhythm as a single 1/8th note / quaver. This makes a ‘HYBRID Count’ using both 1/16th notes and 1/8th notes. Or we can continue by using a strictly sixteenth note count by adding a (3e count) or a (1e Count) whichever method you choose amounts to the same number of beats equal to 6 x sixteenth notes. So the result is either a 1 e + a 3 e or a 1 e + a 1 e count. Both of these are equal so it makes no difference whichever you choose to use. In the example wherever I am using a ‘HYBRID Count ‘using both Sixteenth and Eigth notes I have highlighted this. So a ‘HYBRID COUNT’ Looks like this;  1 e + a 3 or a 1 2 3e   or 1e 2 3 for example. It may be best to start study of the example at this point for a clearer understanding. Reference the specific items denoted by ‘HYBRID’.

Recently I have further refined this system to bring it more into line with traditional 1/16th note counting systems that you find in Common 4/4  time. Where a beat divided between one 1/8th note and 2 x 1/16th notes. The counting in these instances occurs as 1 (+a) or 1 e (+) depending if the 1/8th note occurs in the starting position or occurs after the 2 x 1/16 the notes. Therefore the (+) sign is variable in that it can denote either an 1/8 note or a 1/16 th note. In the first example above the (+) denotes a 16th note. In the second example 1 e (+) it denotes an 8th note count. Discretion should be used initially  till you get used to the system.

Another 2 rules that are often applied is that if the first beat is a single 1/8th beat then the second note will be counted as 2. So for instance the phrase began with an 1/8th note and finished with all 1/16 th note subdivisions then the phrase would be 1 – 2 e + a. Or if the 2 was another 1/8 th note then the phrase would read as 1 – 2 e +. The other rule that applies is if the first beat of the phrase occurs as a dotted 1/8 th note or its equivalent  of 3 x 1/16ths notes. If this occurs we have a symmetry  in that the rest of the phrase will also be equal to a dotted 1/8th note or 3 x 1/16  notes since the whole phrase when broken down will be equal to 6 x 1/16ths notes. Therefore the count of a (1 e + ) repeated twice is the most convenient way of counting.

To note when using the pdf you will see that each bar uses a count of 1 plus the subdivided  phrase which is repeated. Traditional  counting of the 4 x triplet beat would usually follow a 1 2 3  followed by a 223 then a 323 and finally  a 423. However  to keep it simple in the examples on the pdf a triplet count of 123 occurs 4 times in each measure. Thus it would read in straight triplet  count as 123 , 123, 123, 123. In the early stages  of counting and getting  used to the method I would recommend  that you start by using  this method. A specific beat count can be incorporated  later when you become more confident using the system.

Finally I introduce you to a further Shortcut that can be used when the Phrase starts with a 16th note where the first and second notes do not sum up to a dotted 8th note therefore the ( 1 e + ) shortcut cannot be used because both sides of the phrase are not SYMMETRICAL. The shortcut is often used on the second note of the phrase where the sum total adds up to 3 x 16th notes  which is also a dotted 8th note. This shortcut is (e+a) and is derived from the count of 1 e + a.  It is a shorthand notation for a dotted 8th note when it falls off the beat following a 16th note which begins the phrase. An example of this can be seen at the end of Bar 45 and the beginning of Bar 24 on the accompanying pdf.

Please follow the pdf and there is a piece of the music in Audio form to help you hear the motifs being visualised.

Shortcut Counting in12-8 Definitive vrs

I recommend that you  further study the masters of ‘Broken Rhythmic’ playing such as ‘Albert King’ and ‘B B King’ who both commonly used to solo using motifs written in the 12/8 time signature.

When will Israel stop? What we are seeing is the indiscriminate anger of a madman on a rampage. It’s  unreasonable to cause this level of destruction to a civilian population. Israel  seems to be content and intent on eliminating and controlling  the whole of Gazza at any cost.  Israel’s anger is unhumane and disproportionate and should no longer be supported  by the American  Government nor the British  Government. Yes Hamas must be taken down but this can only be achieved by taking away Hamas’s power from within the population it serves. Isreal’s actions are simply serving as a recruiting campaign for Hamas and a justification. It’s  up to the Palestinians themselves to act to defeat Hamas and find a leadership which better serves it population. To do this Isreal must stop persecuting the people of Palestine in thiis war on Gazza. Israel’s strategy is actually fuelling more anger against Israel and as such is counterproductive. The conditions in Gazza must be improved and the expecctation of Isreal must become more realistic and sane.  Isreal cannot expect the population to continally be on the move at their will. Intense bombing of civilian areas has to stop. Already there is no where for these people to return to. Housing is now a huge issue as is obtaining and maintaining  the basic fundamentals for health and life.  Isreal has no right to bomb schools , nurseries nor hospitals and any such bombing should be seen as a war crime.

AI has 3 possible outcomes: you choose which one fits best.

The first thing you need to realise is that from the inception of Science Fiction writing there has been this notion that a future with machines will lead to a less  complicated  lifestyle for the human race as machines undertake  most of the tasks that humans have to perform  routinely in their daily lives in order to survive. This leads to a life of leisure  for humans. What needs to be understood is that this Utopia was just a fictional ideal that in reality  would never happen or only partially  happen for those that have control of the machines. What would really happen is that, as machines take over the roles of humans, an underclass will be formed without any means to survive. Economics is formed by the interactions of humans with a means to engage ( money). As more machines take over human endeavour then 2 things could occur. He first would be a shrinking economic base as more and more humans are removed from the economic equation. Economics  as we know it now could collapse in it’s entirety or there will have to occur a complete  reassessment of how Economics works.

It is unlikely that there will be any reassessment of economics or any major redistribution  of wealth to rebalance the equation, so from this point forward, and depending  upon how Economics is implemented 2 things could happen. The first is if this underclass is formed it is likely  to be in opposition to those who control the machines. Those that do control machines will most likely strive to protect their status and will use the machines to protect themselves from the ‘underclass’ and the underclass will cause distruption, sabotage and public disturbance. There will be looting and disruption in order for the underclass to survive since they have been removed from the economic equation and left without a means to survive (paid employment).

Continue reading AI only 3 possible outcomes

Concerning the Partygate Fines why was Boris Johnson and other Tory  Party Goers only fined £50 when other people were being given fines of upwards of £5000 and in some cases as much as £14,000? Why were these Partygate fines so disprotionate to other Lockdown fines. Why have the Metropolitan Police treated Partygate fines so leniently in comparison to other Lockdown Fines issued? There is a sense that the Partygate fines given were too lenient. Are other  Lockdown Fines given out excessive and in comparison. How can the Met Police explain the disproportionality between these amounts? Have the Metropolitan Police got questions that need to be asked about why the fines given out to Tory  Partygate attendees were so dimunitive? It appears that these people have been treated different from others who were also fined during Covid Lockdowns. Why was Partygate treated so superficially by the Metropolitan Police Force? Specifically why were these fines, given to Partygate attendees so diminutive in comparison to other fines that were metered out to ordinary people? Also being that the police had a presence at Downing Street throughout Lockdowns shouldn’t questions be asked as to why they apparently knew nothing or if they certainly did then why did they not act on it at the time? Why did it take a leak of information to bring the matter to the attention of the police?

Continue reading Don’t pay Lockdown Fines until they are in line with Partygate Fines because the Met Police have set a precendent

Sat here on a Saturday  night wondering if I had been travelling in time with Dr Who. All repeats of the Wheel and Blankety Blank. I even knew the outcome of the Wheel because  my mindvhad been refreshed by watching Gogglebox earlier in the week which had the very same episode. So what’s  going on with Saturday  Night entertainment  on the BBC? It’s  really no fun watching repeats of game shows when you know what’s  going to happen. Either give us a new series of the Wheel or something completely  new. Watching predictable TV is certainly  not on during prime viewing.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) could determine our roles in the future and determine human societies. AI has the potential to undermine societies  and destabilise human relationships. At present we have the ability to decide which way we wish to go with A.I but we should understand the consequences of using A.I. before we go any further with it’s implementation.

Just because  we can do something doesn’t  necessarily  mean that we should do it

Artificial Intelligence (A.I) is a case in point here and just because we can do it doesn’t  necessarily mean that we should do it. To progress an implement A.I means taking away a humans ability  to do the same thing and give it to a machine of a chunk of code (or both). To progress like this and measure it in only profit and efficiency  terms could be irresponsible. To consider the implementation of A.I. there has to be more consideration given other than just implementation for profit and efficiency gains. We have to learn to consider this topics of  ethics, social  responsibility, macro economics, social factors and even matters of world order. At present the world and various big players ( companies) are pressing ahead with A.I regardless. There seems to be a free laissez-faire attitude among Government’s to just let A.I happen. Nobody  seems to be envisaging the future and what our increasing obsession with A.I. could potentially  lead to.

Continue reading A.I. Just because we can do it doesn’t mean we should

Talks without allegiance and without commitment for towards armourments are likely  to be a huge disappointment for Putin. China remains uncommitted towards Putin’s crusade. A show of strength yes but a commitment it is not. China will benefit  from trading arrangements with  Russia to replace some of what it has lost through the sanctions imposed upon Putin by the West but the deals made are not mutually  beneficial. Putin is running out of options so any deals are better than no deals but it is also a sign of Russia and Putin diminished world currency. China remains aloof and certainly  doesn’t  wish to get drawn into a possible  set of sanctions itself. China has to face it is reliant on exports to the West. To face large sanctions and boycotts on Chinese made goods would put his own regime at risk. People in China are being kept sweet and dormant by financial success. To risk upsetting that would most likely  be a huge destabilising factor putting his regime at risk. The People’s  Republic of China could be a very real possibility if this tyrannical regime were to upset those that they rule over. That Western trade are actually  shoring up this regime is a political  irony in itself. Take away this scaffolding and the Chinese are likely  to implode.

Kier Starmer’s  Labour Party needcto be aware that the job is not done yet and there is still a long way to go. Yes the Tories  have certainly  given them a good head start but success is not assured. Here are the things that the Labour  Party must get in order to be assured of winning the next General Election. They should not rely on the Tories  to do it all for them.

Were you aware that Google is suppressing left wing viewpoints like those contained on this site? Did you know that Google is withholding search results by curtailing searches? Did you know that Google has an agenda to manage and filter search results based on nothing other than political message content? Or so it seems. So has Google got political and impartial? Well it would seem so. What started out as a pretty cool idea for a search engine has sold itself out to big business and big bucks. Google is no longer impartial and is filtering out leftwing viewpoints.

Continue reading Don’t use Google as your search engine

Penny Mordaunt will basically  do anything for a job. She supported Liz Truss’s ideas to get in her cabinet when her own chances of becoming PM slipped away. Now she’s  having another go but her ideas about what she would and wouldn’t  do if she got the job remain extremely vague which basically  amounts to having no idea at all. So all in all what we do know about Penny Mordaunt is that she is ambitious and that’s  about it. She also changes her track to suit the moment and to best serve her own purpose  and ambition. We also know nothing about what her policies are because it seems that they are basically  made up on the hoof. Strikingly similar to Liz Tuss  who just couldn’t  fill in the details and hid from real scrutiny: Mordaunt  would be equally  disastrous  as the Prime Minister. Surely by now she should recognise the error of such ways given the quick demise and shining example that Liz Truss gave as a way in which to not do things. However it seems not to be the case. Mordaunt  remains vague and non-committal and as such unconvincing.