Step 3 How to Determine the Feel Of The Song

It is very important to recognize and label the feel of the song on the chart. The feel is the way the music is played. in most genres of popular music, there is straight feel, shuffle feel, waltz (or 3/4 feel,) and 6/8 feel. “My Favorite Mistake” by Sheryl Crow, for example, is a rock song with a straight feel. An easy way to determine straight feel is to listen for evenly spaced eighth notes played on the hi-hat. To determine shuffle feel, listen for a triplet sound being played on the hi-hat – this sound is also known as swing feel. To help you get more acquainted, below are descriptions of four of the most basic feels in popular music, along with a popular song example.

Listen to the following tracks to hear the different Feels

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

When you’re listening to the recording of the song you’re charting, tap to find the feel and choose one of the four feels that matches the song the closest. This feel will help you remember the song quicker when you have to play the chart later. Write the feel on the upper right-hand side of the chart below the tempo marking. As you chart more songs, be consistent with writing the tempo, time signature, and feel in the same place on all your charts-this way, you will be able to see them quickly and easily. Keeping organized and labeling songs in detail will go a long way in making you a successful drummer.