As a classically trained musician, I grew up reading music notation. The time signature tells you all you need. But once I'd heard the piece a few times I knew how it was supposed to go and didn't pay any attention to the time signature. I knew the beat and tapped my foot to stay in time (and listened to the other players, and watched the conductor).
Most of the music I play now I learn by ear - I don't have the notation or tab. But I still tap my foot. You can too. First pick a song you want to play. Just listen to it. Feel the beat. Tap your foot. You've got to internalize the song, be able to play it entirely in your head including the melody, lyrics, beat, etc. That's what I have to do when there's no written music easily available.
It's a skill just like fretting cleanly, flatpicking, fingerpicking, synchopated strum patterns, etc.
|