Easy Pop Rhythms, 3rd Ed, Pt. VII – Book Review

Last month concluded my series of posts on rhythm charts and included a chart for the song I’m a Believer. This month I wanted to review the book Easy Pop Rhythms (3rd edition) published by Hal Leonard which is a wonderful supplement for further rhythm chart studies. 

Easy Pop Rhythms contains rhythm charts for 20 songs of varied pop styles (country, grunge, 50’s rock, etc.…). The book has gone through several editions and some of the songs have since changed, but here is a listing of several tracks from the current 3rd edition:

· Jambalaya (Hank Williams)

· Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley & The Comets)

· Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)

· No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)

· All Apologies (Nirvana)

The rhythm charts included for each song are simplified and only use open chords in order to make the songs accessible to beginning students. Moreover, the rhythm charts also outline the songs structure: Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Solo and Outro. The song listing at the front of the book also denotes what chords are used in each song for easy reference.

Each song also has an accompanying play-a-long track; older versions of Easy Pop Rhythms came either with or without an accompanying CD. However, play-a-long tracks for the current 3rd edition are downloadable via the Hal Leonard website using an access code which comes with the book. The play-a-long tracks all have full band accompaniment however, the melody is not sung, but is played by a saxophone. Additionally, all tracks start with a measure long “metronome click” (2, 3 or 4 beats in length) to set the tempo for that particular song.

Easy Pop Rhythms retails for $14.99 and is a welcome supplement for teachers wishing to have their students gain a thorough understanding of rhythm charts. If you’d like to preview the book you may do so here.

Rhythm Charts, pt. VI – Follow the Chart

This month I’ll wrap up the series of posts on rhythm charts by looking at a full blown chart for the song I’m a Believer. The song was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond before being covered by The Monkees and later by numerous other artists including Smash Mouth for the 2001 film Shrek.

The downloadable rhythm chart is meant to simply follow the chord changes for the song – I did not put in the riff to be played as it is beyond the scope of what I have been discussing. If you have difficulty navigating the chart follow the directions below.

1. Chord changes begin in m.4 – note repeat signs in

    m.4 and m.33. Play m. 4 – 33 and repeat again.

2. After repeating continue through to m. 41 – note

    the D.S. al Coda at the end of m. 41.

3. Take the D.S. al Coda and ‘jump’ its’ sign in 

    m. 12. Play m. 12 – 33.

4. Notice the Coda sign at the end of m. 33. When 

    m. 33 is completed ‘jump’ to the matching Coda

    sign in m. 42. Repeat m. 42 – 43 six times as the

    song fades out.

I hope you enjoy the transcription and now have a better understanding of how to navigate rhythm charts! 

Rhythm Charts, pt.V - Codas

 This month I will continue the discussion of symbols and terminology one may encounter in a rhythm chart with the topic of Codas. A Coda is the final section of a piece of music and is notated with the symbol. 

 There are two forms of a Coda – there are musical examples which can be downloaded by clicking the link on each term. 

1) Da Capo al Coda: play until the words “D.C. al Coda” are reached, then go back to the beginning and play until the “sign”, until then jumping to the matching Coda sign which marks the final section. 

2) Dal Segno al Coda: play until the words D.S. al Coda, then play from the Dal Segno sign to the Coda sign and finally jump to the matching Coda sign.

  

It all may sound complicated, but after playing through them a few times it is really quite easy. Next month we’ll be getting in a full blown rhythm chart!