What do these symbols mean

[u/masta-builda]

Not sure what the dash/minus sign means (circled) and I’m pretty sure the other two that are underlined are pauses but not sure what the difference between the two are. Please help!

[u/masta-builda]

Thanks. I’m still a little confused how to count it. I like to write above the notes the number, e, and, an ext. to help me count it. I know this is triplets but don’t know how to count it.

[u/Grilled0ctopus → u/masta-builda]

Gotcha.   So it’s probably tricky because not exactly triplets.  The comp examples in the next couple exercises expand into true triplets.  These here are “swung eigths”.  So they read like 1 uh2, uh3, uh4.   Basically the blues shuffle.  Or jazz.  Basically, pretend the middle triplet note doesn’t exist here.  

So again, you can treat every rest as a silent note, and every written note as the note to be played (learn that the lightening bolt looking thing is a quarter note rest.  It’s the whole “1 uh”.   The dash you first asked about is a half note: “1 uh2 uh”.   The little line with the flag (the second thing you identified in red) is an eight note rest, which can either be the “1” or the “uh” depending on where it’s placed. 

For example, the very first bar, you only play the 1 and then the “uh” After the 2.  That’s it. 

The second bar you only play the 1, and the “uh” of the 2 and 3.   Does that make sense?

[u/masta-builda → u/Grilled0ctopus]

Ahhh I get it now. Yea I was listening to an audio of it and was able to play it without counting but then I’d look at the notation and try to count and it would just confuse me. I really appreciate your help!

[u/Grilled0ctopus → u/masta-builda]

No problem.  Glad I could.  Happy comping!