How would you count

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

It shows 4/4 like most of us have posted already.

The original question was more specific than just 'what is the time signature?'

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by Tyeetime

I don't think I've seen the bass clef symbol on the treble staff before, why is that?

No idea, I never saw that before either.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Tyeetime

I guess it is simpler than I thought, but I detect a slight pause on the 3 and 4 it just doesn't seem like straight forward eighth notes.

I just checked it out. It's one full 4/4 bar in straight 8ths.

It may be Charlie's two off-beat snare hits (on 3-and and 4-and) that are throwing you - but they are right on the 8ths between the beats.

After the intro, the tempo does wobble a little. My software measures the intro as 105 bpm, the next bar as 104, then it picks up to around 108. Charlie's snare is behind the beat too - that's the Stones' "swagger". He was a jazz drummer, not a drum machine...

[Tyeetime]

Originally Posted by JonPR

I just checked it out. It's one full 4/4 bar in straight 8ths.

It may be Charlie's two off-beat snare hits (on 3-and and 4-and) that are throwing you - but they are right on the 8ths between the beats.

After the intro, the tempo does wobble a little. My software measures the intro as 105 bpm, the next bar as 104, then it picks up to around 108. Charlie's snare is behind the beat too - that's the Stones' "swagger". He was a jazz drummer, not a drum machine...

it is one of the things I love about the Stones, and not everyone can pull it off.
Brown Sugar starts around 110bpm and ends up around 125.

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by Tyeetime

it is one of the things I love about the Stones, and not everyone can pull it off.
Brown Sugar starts around 110bpm and ends up around 125.

Uh?? Lots of people myself included do that without trying or even realising untill reviewing a recording. Personally I consider it a drawback.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Tyeetime

it is one of the things I love about the Stones, and not everyone can pull it off.
Brown Sugar starts around 110bpm and ends up around 125.

Not quite true. It starts at 125 and ends up around 130. Not too bad.
But it probably happens with most bands most of the time, at least when playing live. Live performances often start faster than a studio version and then speed up! It's a natural result of adrenalin on stage. Your brain is in a different gear, and you don't realise.
Good bands can hold it back - at least if they're aware of the issue - but it can still happen.

The most extreme example I know is actually a studio recording: Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, which starts at 94 and ends around 114. It's a gradual acceleration throughout the whole 15 minutes, and I've often wondered if it was planned that way...

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Somebody put a timer on Cinnamon Girl.

[Tyeetime]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Not quite true. It starts at 125 and ends up around 130. Not too bad.
But it probably happens with most bands most of the time, at least when playing live. Live performances often start faster than a studio version and then speed up! It's a natural result of adrenalin on stage. Your brain is in a different gear, and you don't realise.
Good bands can hold it back - at least if they're aware of the issue - but it can still happen.

The most extreme example I know is actually a studio recording: Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, which starts at 94 and ends around 114. It's a gradual acceleration throughout the whole 15 minutes, and I've often wondered if it was planned that way...

Yeah my mistake, I was thinking of Honky Tonk Women. Far more drastic than Brown Sugar.