How to count beats in Intros, acapella and slow music??

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mystic

Member
Hello all, I am new here seeking help to learn how to count beats in acapellas, intros and slow music for DJing purposes to do beatmatching. I can locate the first downbeat [kickbass] in tunes so I can account for the 4 beats in a Bar.

Problem I am having is when I need to match beats with intros, acapellas and slow tunes, if anyone can help or refer me to an appropriate forum for this will be greatly appreciated, thanks.
 

Fade

The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
For acapellas what I usually do is get my hands on the instrumental and match that up to whatever beat I'm making. Is that what you're referring to?
 

mystic

Member
I don't think so, if we can take a tune with a long intro like Diana Ross's "I'm coming out":



Since there isn't a kick bass during the intro, is it possible to calculate a downbeat in the intro? If yes, how please?
 

Fade

The Beat Strangler
Administrator
illest o.g.
You could easily follow something else like a snare, or in this case the guitar riff. What equipment/software are you using? If you have something with "tap tempo" then you could use that.
 

mystic

Member
I use Serato DJ software. I understand what you're saying that I can match the snare of an incoming tune with the snare of the exsting tune but that still would not teach me what I wish to know concerning Intros, acapellas and slow tunes [to make mashups].
 
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mystic

Member
Thanks but that's a bpm counter which Serato and all DJ softwares do natively, it will not give you the beat grid info requested such as knowing where the first downbeat is.
 

Sucio

Old and dirty...
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 304
I just literally listen to it and I can hear it.


I'm* is the beginning.

after "up" there's a change in the progression, that's the beginning of the next bar.
 

Sucio

Old and dirty...
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 304
Thanks but that's a bpm counter which Serato and all DJ softwares do natively, it will not give you the beat grid info requested such as knowing where the first downbeat is.


Which controller are you using?
 

mystic

Member
Ok thanks, let me check further on that intro today and do some experimenting, will get back you. If you can tell me "why" the first downbeat is on the word "I'm", that will help me a lot as I can apply that knowledge to other intros.

I use Pioneer DDJ-SX2 at our rig on Saturdays whenever I go to hangout but I practice here at home with Numark DJ2GO2 controller.
 
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