"Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!" Or the English version is sometimes all the segue you need from one song to the next.
This is especially effective when you've cultivated the last segue (the "clap offering"). As the applause is dying down, the drummer can click off a four count with his sticks or on his high hat. Even if there's no clapping, that simple count-off will be enough to give the feeling of transition from one song to another. When it comes to the count-in, here are some things to think about:
Who's counting in?
In a perfect world: the drummer. In that perfect world, he's marked the beats-per-minute (bpm) for each song and might even have a metronome handy to make sure he's got the tempo down. At a previous church I served at, I could throw out a random bpm to one of my drummers, and he'd click it off faster than I could enter it in to my metronome. He was always spot on. It was a little freakish. One day I dropped a box of toothpicks beside him to see if he'd say 246. (sorry, every blog needs an 80s movie reference every few entries).
If you think your drummer may not be the best to count your band in, give that duty to your lead musician - the person that the rest of the team looks to. It's probably you. Don't be afraid to count out loud with some confidence.
Does every song need a count-in?
No. Here's a good rule of thumb for count-ins: If the whole band is starting at once (fast or slow) you need a solid count-in.
For songs starting with only one instrument, likely a guitar or piano, a count-in isn't usually needed. (Exception: if your player doesn't have the tempo internalized, and letting him start the song could likely be the precursor to a fast train-wreck or a slow plunge off a cliff--then, yes count him in.)
For songs starting with only one instrument, likely a guitar or piano, a count-in isn't usually needed. (Exception: if your player doesn't have the tempo internalized, and letting him start the song could likely be the precursor to a fast train-wreck or a slow plunge off a cliff--then, yes count him in.)
Is it always 1,2,3,4?
Not necessarily. If you're in 3/4, you certainly don't want to count-off in 4/4 time. Even if you are in 4, you can often times don't need all four beats. Counting two beats--"3, 4"--is often adequate to communicate the tempo. This is especially effective when only two instruments are starting together, like the acoustic guitarist and the drummer.
How soon should the count-in start?
If there will be no applause or any other segue element, you probably need to start the count-in before the last one dies out. Allow the last note/beat of the song to ring. As the rest of the band is holding out their last note, the drummer can begin to count in the new song. It will feel like a seamless transition.
So among all the different segues we've looked at, this probably one of the simplest. Just remember, there are three different kinds of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't.
So among all the different segues we've looked at, this probably one of the simplest. Just remember, there are three different kinds of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't.
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