Originally Posted by: Jpin109if i count a dotted quarter not it would go like this ( 1 & ) and an eight note is just the (&).[/quote]
Yes.
[QUOTE=Jpin109]if i have a bar of music written like this i would count as follows. Dotted 1/4 note followed by 2 eighth notes followed by 2 1/4 notes in 4/4 time would be counted like this. 1 & 2 & 3 4.

The top line is the complete background rhythm for 1/8th notes & the bottom line are Xs where you would play notes:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1
X X X X X

Notice that the last 2 1/4 notes land on the upbeats of the measure (& counts). Make sense?