Jessie Taylor
The cup game is a children's clapping game that involves tapping and hitting a cup in a defined rhythm. The game is often played in large groups, with each player possessing a cup and tapping out the rhythm in unison. While the game can be played with different rulesets, it often involves players being eliminated for making mistakes in the rhythm, with the last remaining player declared the winner. The cup game has also been used in musical performances by artists such as Christian singer Rich Mullins, Palavra Cantada, and Anna Burden, who accompanied her song When I'm Gone with the cup game in a YouTube video that went viral. Apart from its use in games and music, cups are also used to hold candles, with various candle-in-a-cup products available on platforms like Etsy and Pinterest, offering unique and decorative ways to display and enjoy candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of game | Children's clapping game |
| Equipment | A cup for each player |
| Rules | Players seated around a table tap out a defined rhythm in unison. Competitive variations involve increasing the speed of the rhythm in each "round", with players who make mistakes dropping out until only one player remains. |
| Rhythm | Begins with the cup placed upside down in front of each player. The rhythm proceeds as follows: Beat #1: Tap the bottom of the cup with the flat of the right hand so as to make a hollow-sounding hit. Beat #2: Alternating hands, quickly tap the top of the cup with the fingertips three times (sometimes the table on either side of the cup is tapped instead). Beat #3: Put the cup down onto the table (now right-side up) with a firm percussive motion, but keep the right hand on the cup. Beat #4: With the cup still in the right hand, tap the bottom of the cup with the flat of the left hand and take it with the left hand. |
| Cultural significance | The cup game has been used in various songs, including "Screen Door" by Christian singer Rich Mullins, "Fome Come" by Palavra Cantada, "Optimist (We Are Not for Them)" by P.O.S, and "When I'm Gone" by Lulu and the Lampshades and Anna Burden. The game was also featured in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect, with Anna Kendrick's version of "When I'm Gone" ("Cups (When I'm Gone)") becoming widely popular. |
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What You'll Learn
The cup game is a children's clapping game
The cup game is a popular children's clapping game that involves tapping and hitting a cup in a defined rhythm. The game is typically played with multiple players seated around a table, each with a cup placed upside down in front of them. Together, the players tap out a rhythm using their cups. The game continues indefinitely until a player makes a mistake, such as being off-beat, knocking the cup over, or missing a step.
There are several variations of the cup game. In one version, players clap their hands twice, tap the cup with their right hand twice, clap their hands again, and then move the cup to the right. In another version, players clap their hands twice, tap the cup with their right hand three times, clap their hands again, pick up the cup, turn it over, and tap it once, before turning it over again.
The cup used in the game should ideally have a little weight to it. Some versions of the game involve exchanging cups during the performance of the rhythm or slapping hands with other players.
The cup game is a fun and interactive way to test children's rhythm and dexterity, which refers to skill in performing tasks with the hands. It is a simple game that only requires a cup and can be enjoyed by large groups of players.
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It involves tapping and hitting a cup using a defined rhythm
The cup game is a popular rhythm game often played in large groups. It involves tapping and hitting a cup using a defined rhythm, and there are several variations of the game, each with its own unique pattern of taps and beats. The game is typically played with a plastic cup, although paper or foam cups can also be used. The cup is placed mouth-down on a table, and players take turns tapping out the rhythm with their hands or mallets.
The basic pattern of the cup game involves three strikes and a tap, with the cup being hit with the palm of the hand, followed by a tap on the table. This pattern is repeated in a steady rhythm, with the player alternating between striking the cup and tapping the table. As the game progresses, the rhythm can become faster and more complex, with additional taps and strikes added.
In one variation of the game, the player starts by tapping the cup with their palm three times, followed by a tap on the table. The cup is then picked up, and the same pattern is played on the bottom of the cup. The cup is then placed back down, and the player continues the rhythm by tapping the side of the cup three times with their fingertips, followed by a tap on the table. This sequence is repeated, gradually increasing the speed to add difficulty.
Another variation of the cup game involves a more complex rhythm, with a sequence of five strikes and a tap. The player starts by striking the cup twice, followed by a tap on the table. The cup is then struck three times in quick succession, creating a "triplet" rhythm, followed by another tap on the table. This pattern can be repeated and built upon, with additional taps and strikes added to create a more intricate and challenging rhythm.
The cup game is a fun and engaging activity that promotes coordination, rhythm, and teamwork. It is often used as a team-building exercise, as it requires players to work together to maintain a synchronized rhythm. The game can be adapted for different skill levels, making it accessible to beginners and challenging for more advanced players. With its simple setup and addictive nature, the cup game is a popular pastime that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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It can be played competitively
The cup game is a clapping game that can be played by many players seated around a table, often in large groups. Each player has a cup and, in unison, they tap out a defined rhythm using their cups.
The cup game can be played competitively, with the rhythm speeding up in each "round". Players who make a mistake in the rhythm must drop out of the game, and a new "round" starts after each elimination. Gameplay continues until only one player remains, who is declared the winner.
Some versions of the game involve players exchanging cups during the performance of the rhythm, or slapping hands with each other. In the Lulu and the Lampshades version, for example, the right hand is slapped flat onto the table.
The cup game has been used to accompany songs by various artists, including Christian singer Rich Mullins in 1987, Palavra Cantada in 1998, and Lulu and the Lampshades in 2009. In 2011, Anna Burden used the cup game in a YouTube video that went viral, which was later replicated by Anna Kendrick in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect.
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Players are eliminated for breaking the rhythm
The cup game is a children's clapping game that involves tapping and hitting a cup using a defined rhythm. The game is often played in large groups, with each player possessing a cup. In unison, the players tap out the defined rhythm using their cups.
The cup game can be played competitively, where the rhythm speeds up in each "round". A player who makes a mistake in the rhythm, such as being off-beat, knocking the cup over, or missing a step, is eliminated and drops out of the game. A new round then starts after each elimination, and gameplay continues until only one player remains, who is declared the winner.
Some versions of the game involve players exchanging cups during the performance of the rhythm or slapping hands with each other. In the version performed by Lulu and the Lampshades, the right hand is slapped down flat onto the table.
The cup game has been used to accompany various songs, including "Screen Door" by Christian singer Rich Mullins, "When I'm Gone" by Anna Burden, and "Cups (When I'm Gone)" by Anna Kendrick in the film Pitch Perfect.
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The game has been used to accompany songs
The cup game is a children's clapping game that involves tapping and hitting a cup using a defined rhythm. The game can be played by many players seated around a table and is often played in large groups. Each player has a cup, and in unison, they tap out the defined rhythm using their cups. The cup game can be played competitively, with the rhythm speeding up in each "round". A player who makes a mistake in the rhythm must drop out of the game, with a new "round" starting after each elimination. Gameplay continues until only one player remains, and that player is the winner.
The cup game has been used to accompany songs. Christian singer Rich Mullins used the cup game to accompany his song "'Screen Door" on his 1987 album, "Pictures in the Sky". The cup routine is attributed to Mullins and started as a rhythmic accompaniment for his song. The cup game was also used by Palavra Cantada (Paulo Tatit and Sandra Peres) in 1998 with the song "Fome Come" from their album "Canções Curiosas". In 2009, the band Lulu and the Lampshades used the game in their performance of the 1931 Carter Family song "When I'm Gone", as modified to suit the game by "Lulu" (Luisa Gerstein). The cup routine was also used by Anna Burden to accompany the song "When I'm Gone" in a YouTube video that went viral. Anna Kendrick taught herself to copy Burden's video, and this was worked into her performance in the 2012 film "Pitch Perfect". Her version, "Cups (When I'm Gone)", became widely copied, and the single from the soundtrack rose on national and international charts.
The cup game can be used as an ostinato to accompany almost any song. Examples of this include a One Thing/What Makes You Beautiful/Cup Song mashup, a Titanium cover, and a version of "Call Your Girlfriend" by sisters Maisy and Lennon. Teacher Aileen Miracle of Mrs Miracle's Music Room has created a free downloadable resource for music teachers, which includes the cup game chant, activity directions, and the song "I've Been To Harlem". The cup game was also used in a mash-up with the chorus of "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift for a 5/6 choir.
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