My teachers made me count. It's the only way I can be sure where I am. If I don't know where I am, I don't know where I'm going either.
This "feeling it" method of keeping time seems sketchy to me. How does that work? If the rhythm section drops out or there is no rhythm section, what are you feeling?
The stuff I feel when I'm soloing is; how much or little do I fill the time rhythmically, and what part of the beat I place accents to establish a sense of cadence/phrasing. How am I going to create a groove or feel first, before adding rhythmical complexity?
Consciously counting is not easy at first. But it's one of those basic musicianship skills that everything is organized around. A simple system that offers an unlimited platform for creativity.
1 2 3 4
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1 pulet, 2 pulet, 3 pulet, 4 pulet
1 e & a, two e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a
1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4 = 1st A section
2 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4 = 2st A section
3 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4 = bridge
4 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4 = last time A section... here comes the top...
Then the fun begins, where to place accents. Pat your feet in time. Saw a Brecker masterclass he tapped left foot on 1 & 3, right foot on 2 & 4... or left/right, 1/2, in cut time feel. Then clap the rhythm of the melody as you count it... & 1 e & a 2 rest So What.
Close your eyes, count through the record... standing on the band stand waiting to jam, count through the form. A combo class I took, we played Impressions/So What kind of tunes where we had to play half notes through A, quarter notes through 2nd A, straight eights on the bridge, sixteenths on the las A. It's crazy how many ways you can organize solos without even playing lots of scale/chord notes. Had us play good bass lines basically, then embellish them.
Then we had to play 2 bar phrases, where the game was to play either on the beat or off the beat for 8 beats, then reverse the figure. So, 1234, 2234, Rest &, Rest &, Rest &, Rest &... Rest &, Rest &, Rest &, Rest &
The next game was to play straight eighth note lines, 1 &, 2 &, 3 & 4 &. Place an accent on the beat... 1 2 3 4... then flip the accent off the beat to the Ands... & & & &
If I don't play time right at the drummer and bass player... giving them something to react to, play off of... they tend to go off and play their own little games. Nice to KNOW where I am and where I'm going, so if guys are recalcitrant and start to drop the last A section... I can keep them honest! haha