One Standard Phrase of Music - Comparing Beats to Bars to Counts

2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2 beats 2-beat segments
1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar one phrase in Musician-speak
8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts one phrase in Lindy Hop-speak
Beats to Bars to 8-Counts

A Lindy Hopper's View of One Chorus

8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 1st phrase

8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 2nd phrase
8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 3rd phrase
8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 4th phrase / end of the chorus
4 8-counts (one phrase) X 4 = 16 8-counts = one chorus

A Musician's View of One Chorus

1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1st phrase
1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 2nd phrase
1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 3rd phrase
1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 4th phrase / end of the chorus
8-bars (one phrase) X 4 = 32-bars = one chorus
Standard AABA Chorus
A 8-counts
A 8-counts
B 8-counts
A 8-counts
Example of an AABA Chorus - 'Taint What You Do
A Oh, 'tain't what you do;
it's the way that you do it
A 'Tain't what you do; it's
the way that you do it
B You can try hard,
A Oh, 'tain't what you do;
it's the way that you do it
ABAB Chorus
A 8-counts
B 8-counts
A 8-counts
B 8-counts
Example of an ABAB Chorus - Shiny Stockings
A Those silk shiny stockings
B Do we think of romance
A Then came along some
chick
B I guess I'll have to find
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
don't mean a thing
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
That I wear when I'm with
you
When we go to a dance
When you changed your
With great big stockings too mind about me
a new, a new kind
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
Take it easy, breezy,
Tain't what you do; it's the
way that you do it
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
8-counts
I wear 'cause you told me
Oh no, you take a glance
A guy who digs my shiny
stockings too
8-count Phrase Ender 1st phrase
8-count Phrase Ender 2nd phrase
8-count Phrase Ender 3rd phrase = the bridge
8-count Phrase Ender 4th phrase / end of the chorus
1st phrase
That's what gets results
2nd phrase
That's what gets results
Then your jive will swing 3rd phrase = the bridge
4th phrase / end of the chorus
That's what...
8-count Phrase Ender 1st phrase
8-count Phrase Ender 2nd phrase
8-count Phrase Ender 3rd phrase
8-count Phrase Ender 4th phrase / end of the chorus
That you dig that crazy
hue...
1st phrase
At those shiny stockings 2nd phrase
3rd phrase
Why, I never knew...
piano
4th phrase / end of the chorus
A Lindy Hopper's View of One Blues Phrase

8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts 8-counts

6 8-counts = one Blues phrase

A Musician's View of One Blues Phrase

1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar 1-bar
12-bars = one Blues phrase

Example of a 12-Bar Blues - Kansas City

They got a crazy way of loving

I'm going to Kansas City Kansas City here I come I'm going to Kansas City Kansas City here I come there and I'm gonna get me… ...One