Count off

Second shortest count off, "& four &", followed by one measure of drum beat for reference. Play (high tom-tom rather than voice)ⓘ

A count off, count in, or lead-in is a verbal,[1] instrumental or visual cue used in musical performances and recordings to ensure a uniform entrance to the performance by the musicians[2] and to establish the piece's initial tempo, time signature and style.[3][4] Although a count off usually lasts just one or two bars,[2] it is able to convey the music's style, tempo, and dynamics from the leader (such as the conductor, bandleader or principal) to the other performers.[3] A count off is generally in the same style of the piece of music—for instance, a joyful swing tune should have an energized count off.[5] A misleading lead-in, one which indicates a different meter than that of the piece, is a false trail.[6][7] Counting off is evident in musical genres other than Western classical and popular music; Ghanaian ethnomusicologist J. H. Kwabena Nketia has observed the benefits of such techniques in West African music.[8]

A two-bar percussive and verbal count off played on a closed hi-hat

A silent count off, such as those given by an orchestral conductor using a baton, may be given as a value "in front" (e.g. "eight in front" refers to a count off of eight beats).[9]

In recorded music, the final two beats of the count off (one, two, one—two—three—four) are often silent to avoid spill onto the recording,[2][10] especially if the piece has a pickup. The count off is typically edited out after the recording has finished.[11] There are, however, instances where the count off is deliberately kept on a recording—sometimes even edited onto a recording. In the case of "I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles, the count off was edited onto a different take of the song.[12] A recorded count off can be made by musicians through an open microphone or through the studio's talkback system,[13] the latter being done by non-performing personnel such as the producer or engineer. The inclusion of a count off in a studio recording may give the impression of a live performance, as on the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise" (1967).[6]

Pre-count[14] and count-off[15] are functions of digital audio workstations which give an amount of click track—typically two bars[15]—before the recording begins.

  1. ^ Dunscomb, J. Richard; Willie L. Hill (2002). Jazz pedagogy : the jazz educator's handbook and resource guide. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 63. ISBN 0-7579-9125-4.
  2. ^ a b c "Count off (Count in)". Sweetwater. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b Dunscomb, J. Richard; Willie L. Hill (2002). Jazz pedagogy : the jazz educator's handbook and resource guide. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 157. ISBN 0-7579-9125-4.
  4. ^ Vradenburg, written by Wilbur M. Savidge, Randy Lee (2001). Everything about playing blues (1st ed.). Springtown: Praxis. p. 40. ISBN 1-884848-09-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Weir, Michele (2005). Jazz singer's handbook : (the artistry and mastery of singing jazz; includes jazz standards recorded by Chet Baker ...). Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 76. ISBN 0-7390-3387-5.
  6. ^ a b Shepherd, John (ed.) (2003). "Lead-in", Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: Part 1 Performance and Production, p.610. ISBN 978-0-8264-6322-7.
  7. ^ Van Der Merwe (1989), p.157. Cited in Shepherd (2003).
  8. ^ London, Justin (2004). Hearing in time psychological aspects of musical meter. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 53. ISBN 0-19-803645-0.
  9. ^ Tedesco, Tommy (2008). For Guitar Players Only. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4574-3052-7.
  10. ^ Sharp, J.D. (1992). Home recording techniques : a step-by-step guide to multitracking and mixing. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 29. ISBN 0-88284-495-4.
  11. ^ Everett, Walter (2009). The foundations of rock from "Blue suede shoes" to "Suite : Judy blue eyes". Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 353. ISBN 978-0-19-971870-2.
  12. ^ Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles recording sessions (1st ed.). New York: Harmony Books. p. 9. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
  13. ^ Hurtig, Brent (1988). Multi-Track Recording for Musicians. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co. p. 90. ISBN 1-4574-2484-3.
  14. ^ Millward, Simon (2007). Fast Guide to Cubase 4. Tonbridge: PC Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-906005-00-9.
  15. ^ a b Barrett, Don (2009). Digital Performer 6 power! : the comprehensive guide (Guide (Instructor's) ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology Cengage Learning. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-59863-907-0.