Can I tap my foot and keep time

Yes you can.

One thing I have done in the past is tap on a simple midi foot pedal trigger and actually record the midi beats.

Then you can use those beats to map the tempo.

You can also do this with a microphone down near your foot, and then use Audio Snap to map the tempo. You don't need a fancy microphone to do this.

best regards,
mike

Yeah, lots of aural exercises can help keep time. In fact, this is how many children are taught. (ie: Clapping, Tapping, Snapping, etc.) Even the environment can help.

Look at the second hand on a face clock or when your alarm goes off on a digital clock or watch. They have rhythmic patterns.

And I bet this happens (I've experienced it lots) Have you ever ridden in the car and activated the turn signal or seen the headlights or tail-lights blink where they appear to be doing so rhythmically only to go off-beat later? That's more of a psychological/neural phenomenon, but quite common.

Or say you're hear a song on the radio, and the drum parts (kick/snare/hat) sync up to whatever you're looking at, (the car in front of you; the store sign the blinks off to the side).

But like Beags said: Try to internalize the clock. However, you'll get into the "Mechanical vs. Free" (Rule vs. Feeling/Uniformed/Loose) and dare I say: "Real vs. Fake" debates.

Learning in strict time/tempo is where you should start, then gradually proceed to go off-kilter.

Once you get good enough at it, when listening to songs, you'll start to realize how off-beat they are. It's the illusion of them being on beat, that makes them sound good.

I know you probably talking along the lines of performing, but this works very well when composing.

Also, doing such exercises will help you count when there is absolutely no concrete rhythm (ie: drum beat). This will be hard at first, but it helps you to not use an aural crutch (ie: metronome). Not using a crutch serves you better; however, use it until you get to that point.

Lot great response thanks. I have metronome but decide go way from that. 
I keep better rhythm with my foot and last night watch guy on youtube use Synthogy piano recording into
logic he didn't have metronome but kept on time and yes I have seen that in a car.
I have notice stuff off especially watching live performance is easier to tell. Lot times when I play I don't use metronome just play. If it classical piece I play by ear by the tempo the performer was playing

To me sounds like timing comes by feeling the music your playing. Honestly think metronome is more distracting than using your foot or head. And don't plan on using one for recording. 

Foot tapping and sense of time.... interesting topic. 

If you are a drummer..... forget that... drummers always speed up so that never works...


Seriously.... if you want to test your ability to keep time.... put a song on with a good strong beat on a CD or something..... then tap along...get the sense of the time... NOW.... have a friend turn the volume to zero and keep tapping to the clock in your head. Sing along to the words.... but know where you are in the song. After a minute or so, your friend should turn the volume back up. Are you on the same beat and word with the song? Are you close...say with in a beat or less? Or...are you way off?   This will give you a pretty quick idea as to how good your sense of timing really is. 

Most musicians will tap a foot or bob a head to keep time even when a strong beat is evident in the music.

I tend to vary between 3 methods and sometimes have 2 or more going at the same time.  One I tend to use a lot and it provides a strong beat sense but can be quiet is the heel tap. The heel and toe tap can be done silently especially on carpet. Or...take off your shoes and play barefoot. Be careful of the barefoot thing if it's an electric guitar and you are outside on the ground. 

Try tapping to a metronome. With practice you can develop a better sense of tempo so that when you play without one you don't start out slow and end up sprinting. 

My diabetes actually got better after I lost a lot of weight due to certain treatments but I did start doing drumming exercises using a simple MIDI trigger device....they do the trick here..and, as well, helps improve my timing...

Marcus... I have worked with a young lad who has CP and is wheelchair bound. For his 12th grade senior project, he asked me to mentor him and work with him on guitar. He wants to play some kind of bad and spends hours just training his hands and fingers to do simple chords.

As the project ran it's course, we discussed lots of things on guitars, and eventually got around to song writing and recording. He played a song for me that he had written. I helped him work out the parts and one Saturday, his father brought him to my studio and carried him up the steps so he could see the studio and sing his song. 

Here are the results with him singing>>>  http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10530995

@guitarhacker Song sounds really great! And for some one who's got server cp more than me. 
Mean mine is so mild nobody can tell unless I told you. Still challenge to work with like my wrist shake holding glass of water and off on my wrist cramp up writing notation playing piano. Are you still working with him?

Me either talk my older bro earlier told me he do't use metronome really just his head. And he plays drums. 
 

Not currently... Caleb has graduated from high school and is now enrolled in a community college locally, taking some basics and learning how to manage in the world on his own... I believe he now even has a car to drive, and a girl friend....

He wants to pursue music in one form or another..... and was talking about being a country music writer and moving to Nashville in 2 years to complete his college there. 

@Guitarhacker Wow! Well his song sound really great. Hopefully it work out for him. 

@Vanblah See so would metronome help should I practice both ways? Last night I listen to Chopin funereal march I was able to tap a beat but when got 2 his 2nd theme I got off. And I don't want have to depend on metronome keep time. 

@Janet did you write them songs on your page?

I like them. 

Talk my teacher he just wants me use metronome said only way for me keep perfect time. 
I still feel should be able tap to music without missing beat. Lot drum music easy 
but I listen more classical (which is what I write). 

Thank you Marcus.

Yeah, I'm better with a drum beat too.  Even then I'm usually ahead of the beat...at least when I record.  I've often wondered if there's some delay in the recording or if I'm just that off.  Fortunately it's not hard to just edit the whole track to the right a couple ticks. :)

Marcus, I honestly don't know how to classify it...I'm not that well-versed in all things musical.  Probably just pop.  :)